If your child is swallowing incorrectly, breathing through their mouth frequently, sucking their thumb, or has other poor habits, this could affect their oral health and development. Even in adults, these patterns can contribute to orthodontic issues and affect quality of life.
At Inspira Advanced Dentistry, our doctors are here to help. We offer advanced, interdisciplinary treatment with myofunctional therapy in Campbell, CA. With our providers on your side, you can take steps to correct your child’s habits, encourage healthier oral development, and put them on a path to a lifetime of healthy smiles.
What Is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy uses a variety of stretches, exercises, and other physical therapy techniques to correct orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs). These disorders include things like mouth breathing, improper swallowing, and other undesirable habits.
Myofunctional therapy is usually used for children, though adult myofunctional therapy may also be recommended for older patients in some cases. Treating orofacial myofunctional disorders is extremely important for kids. If left untreated, they can cause serious oral health problems as your child’s teeth, mouth, and jaws develop.
Tongue thrusting, for example, is a common habit in kids. It consists of pushing the tongue against the front teeth while speaking, swallowing, or even while the tongue is resting. It may surprise you, but over time, the pressure of tongue thrusting can actually alter the position of your child’s teeth and lead to bite problems, speech issues, and improper tooth alignment.
With myofunctional therapy, the dentists at Inspira Advanced Dentistry can diagnose your child, identify the root of their “bad habits,” and provide techniques, exercises, and other resources to help them get back on track.
Benefits of Myofunctional Therapy
Choosing myofunctional therapy for yourself or your child has lots of benefits. Here are just a few of them:
- Improved breathing
- Better overall sleep quality
- Eliminate harmful oral habits
- Ensure proper oral development in kids
- Improve clarity of speech
- Enhance overall oral health
- Reduce or eliminate the need for orthodontics in the future
- Lower risk of TMJ/TMD, sleep apnea, and other disorders
Candidates for Myofunctional Therapy
Anyone with an OMD may be a good candidate for myofunctional therapy, regardless of age. Myofunctional therapy is typically recommended for kids, but may be appropriate for adult patients in some cases. You or your child may be a good candidate if you have issues such as:
- Tongue thrust: Tongue thrust occurs when the tongue is in contact with the teeth when swallowing, speaking, or at rest. This is also sometimes called a “reverse swallow,” which mostly occurs during swallowing food.
- Open mouth posture: This occurs when your child’s mouth is open at rest. Mouth breathing is also common in patients with an open-mouth posture.
- Speech impediments: If your child is unable to speak clearly, it may be due to an OMD interfering with their oral development. This is especially likely if your child has issues making “s” or “sh” sounds.
- Thumb sucking: Over time, thumb sucking can interfere with proper oral development and lead to problems like crooked teeth, a narrow palate, and other orthodontic problems.
It may not always be possible to recognize OMDs on your own. If you suspect your child has an OMD, it’s best to work with a pediatrician, speech-language pathologist, or a dentist specializing in myofunctional therapy to properly diagnose their issues.
Common Myofunctional Therapy Exercises
Not sure what myofunctional therapy exercises may be recommended for you or for your child as part of your treatment plan?
The exact treatment plan tends to vary based on each patient’s age, their specific OMD, their oral development, and many other factors. However, myofunctional therapy typically includes the following types of exercises.
Facial Muscle Strengthening
OMDs can often be caused or worsened by imbalances in facial muscles. Children who tongue thrust or have a reverse swallow, for example, may have learned this habit due to issues with the muscles in their jaws, lips, and other facial muscles. Facial muscle exercises can help strengthen these muscles, restore balance, and correct common OMDs.
Tongue Positioning Exercises
For patients with OMDs related to tongue positioning, a variety of tongue-positioning exercises may be used to “retrain” the tongue’s position. For example, in myofunctional therapy, a child may be taught exercises to strengthen their tongue and to ensure it is in the proper position (on the roof of the mouth) during swallowing.
Breathing Techniques
One of the primary goals of myofunctional therapy is to ensure proper oral posture, including nasal breathing. Breathing through the nose helps filter allergens, improve oxygen uptake, warm and humidify air, and more. Specialists can use a wide variety of breathing techniques and exercises to train both children and adults to avoid “mouth breathing” and encourage nasal breathing.
Changes in Habits
In many cases, you may need to make changes to your child’s routine or lifestyle as part of their myofunctional therapy routine. For example, our dentists may encourage you to move away from sippy cups, eliminate pacifiers, and take steps to ensure your child’s nasal passages are clear, among other things.
Myofunctional Therapy Works Best With An Integrated Approach
Treatment for OMDs can be complex and should involve multiple medical professionals, especially for kids. At Inspira Advanced Dentistry, our team can work closely with your child’s pediatrician and speech-language pathologist to ensure that they get the best possible care.
Treatment Cost & Financing Options
The cost of myofunctional therapy in Campbell can vary based on the specifics of your case or your child’s case. Typically, it will cost between $100 and $250 per session. However, if myofunctional therapy is necessary to correct an orofacial myofunctional disorder, it may be partly or fully covered by your insurance plan.
Along with insurance, we offer financing options at Inspira Advanced Dentistry that let you split the cost of your treatment or your child’s treatment. This makes it easier to get the care you need without going over budget. For more information and to see if you qualify, just ask one of our team members during your visit to our office.
Why Choose Inspira Advanced Dentistry For Myofunctional Therapy in Campbell, CA?
At Inspira Advanced Dentistry, our doctors have decades of combined experience in treating both children and adults with OMDs. Led by Dr. Stephanie Loller, our dental team includes four dentists and two specialists in Campbell, CA. We understand how challenging it can be for parents to deal with OMDs in their children, and we provide patient, understanding, and gentle care for kids of all ages.
We know how difficult it can be to keep your child’s treatment on track, too. That’s why we’ll always provide plenty of techniques you can use at home, tips to help ensure your little one keeps up with their treatments, and advice on lifestyle changes you can make to protect your child’s oral health and development.
FAQs
Get Help With OMDs – Contact Inspira Advanced Dentistry!
Whether you’re struggling with OMD as an adult or you think that your child may have an issue like mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, or anything else, our team is here to help.
The dentists at Inspira Advanced Dentistry offer expert care for kids, as well as myofunctional therapy for adults to help restore your oral health and enhance your well-being. Give us a call at (408) 298-0777 or contact our team online to set up your first appointment.
