Breathing, talking, and eating all depend on the proper function of muscles and tissues in the oral cavity. When these muscles do not function properly, Myofunctional Therapy is required to retrain the muscles and tissues to return to their natural state. Myofunctional therapy is a type of physical therapy that aims to improve the function of the facial, jaw, and neck muscles; and improve breathing, speaking, and swallowing.
The benefits of Myofunctional therapy can be extremely powerful. Many research studies have shown that addressing tongue thrust and poor swallowing through Myofunctional therapy can have significant aesthetic, functional, and clinical improvements.
Tongue Thrust and Myofunctional Therapy
Tongue thrust is a condition that many patients experience when they swallow. Instead of using the traditional swallowing method, the tongue is thrust forward and pressed against the lips while swallowing. This can have a negative impact on facial and dental development – it can lead to open bites, malocclusion of the teeth, incorrect speech development, and a variety of other issues.
Myofunctional therapy helps to retrain the tongue to swallow properly. Using simple exercises and gentle hands-on techniques, a myofunctional therapist can work with patients to retrain the tongue and develop better swallowing techniques.
Improving Breathing
Myofunctional therapy also has the power to improve breathing. When the oral muscles and tissues are out of balance, it can lead to a range of upper airway issues such as snoring, sleep apnea, breathing through the mouth, and stunted growth in the cavity. Myofunctional therapies can help correct these issues by teaching patients to use their lips and tongue correctly when breathing.
Speech Improvement
Myofunctional therapy can also help improve speech. The tongue and lips are both major components of speech production and when they are not functioning properly, it can result in speech impediments. Myofunctional therapy can be used to teach patients how to use their tongue and lips correctly for speech production.
What Science Says
Many research studies have found that myofunctional therapy can be extremely helpful. A study published in the Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics found that myofunctional therapy can greatly improve tongue thrust and open bite in adolescents. Another study published in the American Association of Orthodontists Journal found that myofunctional therapy can be used as an adjunct treatment to orthodontic treatment to improve malocclusion.
Myofunctional therapy can also have significant effects on speech production. A study found that after just four weeks of myofunctional therapy, subjects displayed improved speech intelligibility compared to control subjects.
Conclusion
Myofunctional therapy can have great benefits for those experiencing tongue thrust, speech issues, and breathing. There are numerous research studies that support the use of myofunctional therapy as an adjunct treatment for a variety of orthodontic and speech issues. If you are experiencing any of these issues, consider taking myofunctional therapy to unlock the secrets of proper function.