FAQ

My child sleeps with their mouth open, should I be concerned?

Yes! If your child snores, mouth breaths, noisy breathing or gasping noises during sleeping, experience restless sleep (moves around in bed a lot), experience behaviour and learning issues at school, shows signs of hyperactive behaviour or wets the bed, you're on the correct path. OMT is necessary. We work together finding simple and effective exercises to suit your individual concerns.

Does OMT replace braces or orthodontics?

This is a complex question. Maybe, especially if the dysfunction is corrected at an early age. OMT will guide your jaw growth to your full potential resulting in wider healthier jaws allowing space for all your teeth.

Why is a tongue-tie bad?

Tethered oral tissues can have a significant impact on speech, breathing, feeding, facial growth and development and oral function.

How long does it take?

The initial appointment will take approximately 90 minutes. A tailored exercise and breathing program suited for your individual needs. Your program may take 8 weeks - 12 months to finish depending on your concerns. We continuously support you throughout this process and provide you skills to maintain for life. Remember: The tongue is a muscle. If you don't use it, you'll lose it!

What does a Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist do?

OMT helps to rehabilitate the oral structures, reposition the tongue, improve nasal breathing, and increase muscle tone, endurance, and coordinated movements of the face, neck and tongue muscles. We will complete your integrative health assessment, identify compensations, address structure, function, and behaviour, and create collaborative therapy plan.

I have a referral, what is the first step?

Firstly, you don't need a referral. Next is to get your comprehensive myofunctional exam scheduled. Make sure to follow the instructions on your email confirmation so that you can correctly prepare for the appointment. You will send your paperwork, any photos and videos about a week before your appointment.

How can a Myofunctional Disorder impact swallowing?

A person usually swallows 600-1000 times every day. The act of swallowing is one function that depends on our muscles working in a balanced manner. To swallow properly, muscles and nerves in the tongue, cheeks and throat must work together in harmony.

Correct swallowing depends on a proper relationship between muscles of the face, mouth and throat.

When a person swallows normally, the tip of the tongue presses firmly against the roof of the mouth (palate). The tongue acts in unison with all the other muscles involved in swallowing. The hard palate, meanwhile, absorbs the force created by the tongue, resulting in proper development of the airways and jaws, creating space to fit all your teeth.

Although improper swallowing causes a variety of problems, it is the resting position of the tongue that does the most damage.

What ages should I start Myofunctional therapy?

We help toddlers and up. No matter your age, we provide support and guidance for your individual needs.

Is it true that chronic obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can lead to health issues?

Yes! There is lots of evidence that OSA can lead to many health issues such as, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, obesity, and neuropsychiatric and development issues.

Is it necessary to have my tonsils or adenoids removed?

We work closely with a multidisciplinary team of professionals to provide the best outcome for you. ENTs determine if surgery if required. This is dependant on multiple factors i.e airway size, age, symptoms and function.

Sleep apnea only affects the elderly and the overweight?

False! Sleep apnea can impact individuals of all ages and body types. Factors such as anatomical features, medical conditions and lifestyle can contribute to the development of sleep apnea.

How far in advance should I start therapy before having my frenectomy released?

For optimal outcomes, we require 4-6 weeks of pre-procedure therapy before we “give the green light” for a frenectomy. Post-release requires 4 weeks of therapy to ensure reattachment doesn't occur. Some clients with advanced needs require more time.

How often is therapy?

It depends upon the case but our clients will have appointments anywhere from weekly to monthly depending upon what stage they are in therapy.

Does Myofunctional Therapy help to improve speech?

A person with abnormal oral muscle patterns may suffer a lisp or have difficulty in articulating sounds. If muscles in the tongue and lips are incorrectly postured, this can prevent a person from forming normal speech sounds.

A Myofunctional Therapist will help to balance orofacial muscles, however a Speech Therapist will help with enunciation of sounds.

Can orofacial myofunctional therapy help you?
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Mouth Breathing

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can help correct mouth breathing in children and adults. In children, it can prevent detrimental effects to the growing jaws, while in adults it can prevent or alleviate health problems associated with chronic mouth breathing.

Malocclusion -Crooked or Crowded Teeth

Orofacial myofunctional therapy can help eliminate crooked teeth and promote better jaw growth by addressing the underlying causes of misaligned teeth. Through the use of exercises, the therapist will help to correct the underlying muscle imbalances that cause small jaws therefore, crooked teeth, as well as improve the patient's posture and habits that contribute to the misalignment. By creating a healthier environment for the teeth, better jaw growth can be encouraged and the crooked teeth can be corrected.

Snoring

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can help address snoring in both babies and adults. Snoring is not normal and can be a sign of an underlying issue, such as airway obstruction, or sleep apnoea, that needs to be addressed. Our trained professionals are here to help determine the root cause of the snoring and develop a treatment plan to address it. If untreated, it may lead into a lifetime of chronic sleep issues.

Sleep Apnoea

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy offers treatments for Sleep Apnoea, a sleep disorder that can cause serious health issues such as

Cardiovascular problems
Daytime sleepiness and fatigue
Cognitive impairment and mental health
Metabolic disorders including obesity, type 2 diabetes
Complications during pregnancy including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia
Increased risk of accidents

Our treatments focus on strengthening the muscles of the face, tongue and throat, as well as improving posture and breathing techniques. With our help, you can achieve a better night's sleep and improved overall health. If you are already using a CPAP machine, we may be able to eliminate it all together.

Tongue tie/ tethered oral tissues

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can help with tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, to improve the mobility and range of motion of the tongue. This is a condition in which the thin piece of tissue called the lingual frenulum that connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. It is part of a network fascia that runs throughout our body, from our tongue to our toes! If it is shorter, thicker, or tighter than usual, it can restrict the normal movement of the tongue and severely impact other functions of the body. It can affect infants, children, and adults. With the help of an experienced practitioner, a tongue-tie can be released. OMT can help the patient learn to use their tongue properly. This specialised treatment can make a huge difference in a patient's life.

>Please note, it is extremely important that OMT is done 4-6 weeks before your release and 4 sessions post-release, to ensure reattachment is avoided.

Oral Habits

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy offers a comprehensive program to address oral habits such as, thumb sucking. Our program includes a detailed assessment of the underlying causes of the thumb sucking and a tailored treatment plan to reduce the habit. We also provide guidance and support to parents and children throughout the treatment process.

Habits can impact dental and facial development. Habits like nail biting, digit or lip sucking, prolonged pacifier (dummy) and bottle use, or sucking on blankies and toys can have a long-lasting effects on your child's oral health and facial development. These habits can lead to improper alignment of teeth, changes in jaw structure, and even facial development.

Thumb, pacifier and digit sucking.

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy offers a comprehensive program to address thumb or digit sucking habits. When babies are born, they have a natural instinct to suckle, this helps them feed and feel secure. Thumb or digit sucking is an extension of this instinct. However, if the habit continues, especially beyond 4 or 5, it can cause problems such as misalignment of teeth, open bite, high or narrow palate, which can lead to weaker muscles and difficulties with swallowing, breathing, sleeping and speaking. When children suck, they apply pressure on the developing jaw which can change the way the jaw develops. Therefore, a detailed assessment of the underlying causes of thumb sucking and a tailored treatment plan to stop the habit. Quit Day! We provide guidance and lots of support for parents and children throughout the treatment process.

Diet/ Chewing therapy

With the ever-evolving landscape of dietary choices, it is important to understand the implications of our food choices on our oral and facial development. Recent studies have shown that a diet high in processed and refined foods can lead to an imbalance in jaw growth and even malocclusion (crooked teeth). We provide a dietary advise to ensure essential chewing actions and nutrients needed for optimal jaw growth and development.

TMJD or facial pain

Orofacail Myofunctional Therapy specialises in treating Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders and pain. We provide comprehensive care to help alleviate pain and improve muscular function, encourage better swallowing and jaw position, which can significantly reduce pain and improve your quality of life. We are experienced in diagnosing and treating a variety of TMJ issues. We may require a multidisciplinary team approach.

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