Orofacial myofunctional therapy is a customized exercise program for the tongue and surrounding structures to facilitate proper oral rest posture, increase nasal breathing, encourage palate development, and promote restful sleep.

Therapy is implemented to correct orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs). These disorders can result in snoring and sleep apnea, chronic fatigue, sinus congestion, grinding and TMJ pain, malaligned teeth, orthodontic relapse, tongue thrusting, tooth decay, swallowing and chewing difficulties, poor facial tone, neck and shoulder tension, hunched posture, headaches and more.

Mouth breathing dries out the oral environment, encouraging tooth decay and dehydrated/inflamed tissue. Breaths taken in through the mouth are not filtered through our nasal passages, which makes us more susceptible to allergens, germs and particles in the air. Chronic mouth breathers as children may experience underdevelopment of the mouth, facial structures and airway, leading to further dysfunction.

Our nasal passages filter out debris, warm and moisten the air we're taking in, and create nitric oxide - an important gas that improves oxygen circulation in the body. Breaths through the nose are slower, which can reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, improve heart health, increase energy and concentration, and more.

Also, your tongue should be up in the roof of the mouth, which is only possible while you are breathing through your nose!

At rest, both during sleep and while awake, we should have our lips sealed - breathing through the nose, tongue lightly suctioned to the roof of the mouth, and have a slight space between the teeth called the "freeway space".

This may be difficult or impossible if the nasal passages are not clear, the tongue is undertoned, or it's lacking the range of motion to rest in this position naturally.

Our tongue should naturally rest in the palate to:

• keep it "up" and "forward" - out of the throat

• to stimulate the vagus nerve and it's "rest and digest" response

• encourage lip seal and nasal breathing

• encourage proper development and width to the jaw during growth - making room to properly accommodate the tongue, teeth and growing an adequate upper airway system

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A myofunctional therapist can assess you for tongue and lip ties, as well as their level of severity.

Tongue restrictions are not always obvious. A clear tongue tie may be noted in an infant when it interferes with proper feeding, but sometimes the attachment is not addressed because it lies further back (a "posterior tie" or "mid-tongue restriction"), causing improper function of the tongue.

Unless very severe, a tissue tie's effect on function and development cannot be assessed with a quick look. A functional assessment is necessary to determine if your range of motion is limited due to tissue restriction. A provider who is untrained in assessing tethered oral tissues cannot determine the level at which your potential ties are affecting you.

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Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.

Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.