Myofunctional Therapy


Sellwood-Moreland and Portland OR

Bad habits can be difficult to break, but for bad habits that affect your oral health or orofacial system, a course of myofunctional therapy can stop the behavior in its tracks.

What is myofunctional therapy?

Also called orofacial myology, orofacial myofunctional therapy (also known as OMT) re-educates the oral and facial muscles. It can focus on the muscles of the lips, tongue, cheeks, and face or their related functions—breathing, sucking, chewing, swallowing and even speech. 

What can myofunctional therapy treat?

  • Mouth breathing – People who breathe habitually through their mouths may suffer from “long face syndrome,” which leads to the face and jaw growing vertically, rather than the ideal growth in width that encourages optimal sized dental arches and a wider airway. Mouth breathing while asleep also can be a precursor to the development of a sleep breathing disorder.
  • Tongue thrust – This oral issue occurs when the tongue pushes against the back sides of the front teeth with excessive force, which causes teeth to protrude, speech impediments, and more. Myofunctional therapy can be used to correct the behavior of the tongue and restore an ideal resting posture and function.
  • Sleep apnea – Myofunctional therapy can encourage a wider airway, preventing the blockages that disrupt sleep during the night that occur in a sleep apnea patient.

Do I need myofunctional therapy?

The following symptoms or behaviors could be signs of an orofacial muscular problem that could be treated with OMT:

  • Chewing with the mouth open
  • Mouth breathing
  • Swallowing difficulty, or a facial grimace during swallowing
  • Low tongue resting position
  • Snoring
  • Thumb sucking
  • TMJ disorder

At Whole Health Dentistry, our staff has been trained in myofunctional therapy and its applications. We can use myofunctional therapy to re-pattern your orofacial muscles and eliminate negative habits through behavior modification while promoting positive growth.

Have you or a member of your family been diagnosed with any of the problems listed above? Have you observed any of the listed symptoms? If so, myofunctional therapy could provide the help you need.

Whole Health Dentistry offers complete oral care to patients of Sellwood-Moreland and Portland, Oregon. To schedule an appointment, contact Whole Health Dentistry today at (503) 462-1538.