Myofunctional Therapy
Improve your child’s speech, sleep, and breathing with myofunctional therapy at Castle Creek Pediatric Dentistry
Enjoy more restful sleep
Boost social confidence
Safeguard whole body health
What is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is a treatment that focuses on the muscles of the face and mouth, particularly those involved in vital functions like breathing, swallowing, and speech. The goal of myofunctional therapy is to retrain these muscles so that they work more effectively.
What Can Myofunctional Therapy Treat?
Myofunctional therapy can be used to address a variety of issues, including:
Tongue Thrust
When a person swallows, their tongue should press against the roof of the mouth. In some cases, kids develop a habit of pushing their tongue against their teeth, which can cause teeth to shift, facial features to change, and even cause choking or aspiration, especially in young children. Myofunctional therapy from Castle Creek Pediatric Dentistry in the Ogden area can help retrain the tongue to swallow correctly.
Speech Problems
Many speech difficulties are the result of improper tongue and lip movements. Speech problems can make it difficult for children to communicate with adults and peers, which can lead to challenges with education and social development. Myofunctional therapy helps individuals improve the coordination and strength of face and mouth muscles, which can lead to clearer speech.
Mouth Breathing
Breathing through the mouth, as opposed to the nose, is normal when it happens sparingly. However, when it becomes a chronic habit, mouth breathing can become a serious medical problem for our patients in the Ogden area, leading to respiratory irritation and infection, increased risk of cavities, and even disrupted sleep patterns. Myofunctional therapy can help individuals learn to breathe through their nose.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues
Dysfunction in the jaw joint can often cause significant pain and discomfort that interferes with daily activities like eating, speaking, and even smiling. TMJ issues have also been linked to headaches, ear pain, teeth grinding, and tooth misalignment. Myofunctional therapy focusing on the muscular aspects of the condition can help to manage and alleviate some TMJ symptoms for our Ogden patients.
Tongue Tie
A tongue tie is a condition in which the strip of skin beneath the tongue that connects it to the floor of the mouth is shorter than usual, limiting the tongue’s range of motion. A significant tongue tie can potentially lead to problems with feeding, nutrition, and speech, especially if left unaddressed. After the dentists at Castle Creek release a tongue tie, myofunctional therapy can be used to retrain the tongue and associated oral muscles to work correctly.
Sleep Apnea and Snoring
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder linked with snoring, typically caused by an obstruction of the airway during sleep that causes the sleeper to make repeated pauses in breathing during the night. In addition to interrupting sleep, sleep apnea can have severe cardiovascular consequences and metabolic effects. Myofunctional therapy can help strengthen the muscles involved in keeping the airway open during sleep to reduce snoring and sleep apnea symptoms.
How Can My Child Get Started With Myofunctional Therapy?
At Castle Creek Pediatric Dentistry, we want the very best health outcomes for children in North Ogden and the surrounding areas. That’s why we offer pediatric myofunctional therapy to help their muscles gain strength and coordination, improving their speech, breathing, facial alignment, and overall health.
Getting started is easy. Simply book an appointment and we will consult with you about myofunctional therapy and the best way to address your child’s health needs.
