If you have been suffering from discomfort in your jaw, breathing issues, speech or swallowing problems, or other similar conditions, myofunctional therapy may be an effective and non-invasive way to address your symptoms. Myofunctional therapists specialize in treating oral and oropharyngeal disorders and can help you improve the function of your facial muscles and oral cavity. When you first consider scheduling an appointment for myofunctional therapy, it’s natural to wonder what to expect. This article will outline what you are likely to experience during your first few appointments and provide an overview of the different techniques and exercises the therapist might employ.
Your Initial Myofunctional Therapy Sessions: What to Expect
During the first one to three appointments for myofunctional therapy, your therapist will ask you about your symptoms, medical history and any significant physical or emotional stress you might be dealing with. They may also perform a brief physical exam of the oral cavity, neck, shoulders and posture. This will help the therapist understand the root cause of your symptoms and create a personalized treatment plan for you. You will also be asked to perform some exercises or tasks to help the therapist identify the types of exercises and techniques that will be most beneficial for you.
Myofunctional Therapy Exercises and Techniques
The exercises and techniques used in myofunctional therapy can be very helpful in improving the strength, flexibility, coordination and balance of facial muscles and oral structures. These are all critical factors when it comes to improving the function of the mouth, jaw, tongue and cheeks. Some of the exercises and techniques your therapist might use during your appointments include:
Exercises to improve tongue posture: These exercises help to improve the positioning of the tongue at rest and during swallowing, speaking and breathing. Your therapist may use specially designed cards which you can use to practice tongue position at home.
Sucking and pushing exercises: These can help to improve lip and tongue strength, lip seal, facial postural control and the tone of the lips and cheeks.
Exercises to improve swallowing function: These exercises can include stretching and strengthening techniques to help improve the range of movement of the tongue, the strength of the swallowing muscles and the coordination of things such as chewing and swallowing.
Exercises to improve breathing: These exercises can help to increase nasal breathing, strengthen the nasal passages and improve the strength of the diaphragm.
Posture training exercises: These exercises can help to improve overall body posture and reduce the tension in the neck, shoulders and back that can become a problem, especially in people who suffer from poor oral posture.
Can Myofunctional Therapy Really Help Me?
Myofunctional therapy has been found to be effective for symptoms such as mouth breathing, snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
disorder, osteoarthritis of the jaw, tension-type headaches, dysarthria and dysphagia. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, myofunctional therapy could be an excellent treatment option for you.
Conclusion
Scheduling an appointment with a myofunctional therapist can be a crucial step on your journey to feeling better and improving the function of your facial muscles and oral cavity. You can expect your first few appointments to involve discussing your symptoms, an initial physical examination and some exercises or tasks to help your therapist tailor your treatment plan. The exercises and techniques that will likely be used can help to improve a wide range of symptoms, including mouth breathing, snoring, sleep apnea, TMD symptoms, tension-type headaches, problems with speech and swallowing and much more. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, myofunctional therapy can be a great treatment option for you.