Welcome to our page on Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy.
What is Myofunctional Therapy or OMT for short?
Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT), also known as myofunctional therapy, is a treatment that addresses imperfect muscle range of motion in the mouth and face, aiming to improve breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speaking by retraining the muscles in the face, lips, tongue, and neck.
What it is:
OMT involves exercises and techniques to strengthen and coordinate the muscles of the face, lips, tongue, and neck. In some more severe cases, some people use a procedure to cut under their tongue and then use OMT to retrain the tongue through tongue and mouth exercises.
Here below, we can see tongue range of motion ratios or, more simply, a grading system for a tongue’s range of motion. People who have a grade 3 or 4 can discover additional symptoms or concerns most people may not think to trace back to the mouth. This is part of why OMT is so important to educate ourselves about.
What it treats:
OMT is used to treat orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs), which are abnormal muscle movement patterns that can affect breathing, chewing, swallowing, and/or speaking.
Please use the check list below to determine if you need to start a conversation with Nicole about OMT.
How it works: OMT aims to re-educate the muscles. In many cases, people can improve their overall wellness using these practices, and in severe cases, this is where minor surgery can be considered. The surgery itself is fast, but the retraining and exercises are important and can lead to numerous benefits in breathing, sleeping, digestion,n and more.
Why is mouth breathing such a concern?
The three largest concerns from mouth breathing are oral hygiene. People who breathe from their mouth have a much harder time keeping their mouth clean relative to people who focus on breathing through their nose. Secondly, sleeping and respiratory issues are common among mouth breathers. Finally, mouth breathing can affect the growth and development of the face, its capacity to heal, and the entire balance of the body, including posture and psychological challenges.
Tongue Tie
As observed in the images above, being tongue-tied can cause numerous other issues throughout the body. Just being aware of this can give someone an opportunity to start a conversation about the concern and the benefits of taking corrective actions. We are here to help.
Nasal Breathing
What Are the Advantages of Nose Breathing Vs. Mouth Breathing? Please check out this Healthline Article to learn more.
Below are Nicole’s certification and badge from the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy. Since discovering the importance of OMT, Nicole has spent years educating her self and now is fully qualified to help people with these challenges.
For more information, please reach out or schedule an appointment.
705.533.3600
info@genesisdentalhygienecare.ca