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| Myofunctional Therapy |
What is myofunctional therapy?
Myofunctional therapy consists of a series of very specific exercises designed to retrain and normalize the position and movements of the tongue, lips and jaw during the act of swallowing and while at rest. The course of treatment is typically completed in 15 to 20 office visits of approximately one half-hour each, and requires commitment to a few brief practice sessions on a daily basis.
Normal swallow versus a tongue thrust
During a normal swallow the tip of the tongue is placed on the alveolar ridge (gum ridge behind the upper teeth), the jaw closes with occlusion of the rear molars, and the tongue moves up in a wave-like motion to propel food back and downward. The most common swallowing disorder is a tongue thrust. In an anterior tongue thrust the tip of the tongue typically presses on or between the upper and/or lower front teeth. In a lateral tongue thrust the tongue presses out the sides, often creating open spaces in the pre-molar area. These types of movements can cause and/or contribute to a disturbance in the relationship of the teeth, referred to as a malocclusion. In addition, the resting position of the tongue and jaw may also be contributing factors.
How can myofunctional therapy help?
Myofunctional therapy can provide:
- A normalizing influence on the position and growth of teeth
- Assistance in establishing correct tongue placement for production of specific speech sounds in correction of articulation
- Assistance to orthodontic treatment by removing the antagonistic force of incorrect tongue movements
- Assistance in retention of a correct bite once orthodontic treatment has been completed
- Improvement in overall facial appearance once correct jaw and tongue resting positions have been established
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