Myofunctional Therapy: Having a Trainer for your Face & Tongue

Myofunctional Therapy includes exercises that are meant to improve the strength of the muscles of the base of the tongue, tonsils, soft palate, and walls of the pharynx

Your oral health is about much more than straight or sparkling teeth. Our office has now begun incorporating orofacial myofunctional therapy and training into our services. In simpler terms, we can act as a personal exercise trainer for your face, tongue, lips and breathing muscles, treating issues such as temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ), obstructive sleep apnea, incorrect swallowing, tongue postures and more with non-invasive techniques.

All of these disorders can cause improper facial development, issues with chewing, swallowing and speech, and eventually lead to dental and orthodontic problems, such as misaligned teeth, gum disease, and tooth grinding. Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDS) such as tongue tie and mouth breathing, are also highly correlated with sleep breathing issues such as snoring and sleep apnea. A program of targeted myofunctional exercises can avert or prevent permanent damage, particularly in the developing child.

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By Cecil Lamberton

Tips to Combat Dry Mouth

Woman pointing to her open mouth with the caption Don't Ignore Dry Mouth.

If you’re experiencing the discomfort of dry mouth – hoarseness, frequent thirst, a sticky feeling, problems swallowing, bad breath – don’t dismiss it as merely a nuisance. Dry mouth, or xerostomia, can lead to an array of oral conditions you don’t want, including increased plaque, gum disease and tooth decay as well as certain mouth sores and oral yeast infections.
You can acquire dry mouth from several sources – some illnesses, prescription and over-the-counter medications, smoking, radiation therapy, nerve damage and simple aging. Whatever the cause, the result is too little saliva for good oral health.

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