Myofunctional Therapy in Decatur, GA
Few people understand the relationship the muscles in their mouth and face, including the tongue, have with their oral health.
During early development, the tongue is responsible for the growth of the upper and lower dental arches. Poor habits like thumb-sucking or pacifier use for children, or improper swallowing techniques for adults can cause the sinus cavity and airway to develop incorrectly, leading to many oral and physical health issues.
At Signature Smiles Studio, Dr. Jocelyn Spaulding offers myofunctional therapy to patients who experience difficulty talking, breathing, or swallowing. Myofunctional therapy is a type of physical therapy focusing on the muscles in your face and mouth. By examining how you use and move your facial muscles and tongue, Dr. Spaulding can help correct issues like snoring, sleep apnea, speech problems, trouble eating or swallowing, and cosmetic concerns.
To find out if myofunctional therapy at Signature Smiles Studio is right for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Jocelyn Spaulding by calling (404) 634-5738 or completing our online consultation form. We proudly serve our community of Decatur, GA, and our neighbors in surrounding cities.
What Is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy combines different physical therapy exercises that aim to improve the breathing, bite, and resting facial posture of individuals suffering from the symptoms of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs). These training exercises target the soft tissue in the face, neck, and mouth, teaching correct tongue position and oral rest posture. OMDs affect people of all ages, and treatment can be customized based on your age and symptoms.
Dr. Spaulding will create an individualized program to improve your orofacial muscles and their overall function. Some goals of training might include normalizing the resting posture of your tongue and lips, establishing nasal breathing patterns, or eliminating problematic habits like thumb-sucking.
As these patterns are retrained, Dr. Spaulding will help increase awareness of your mouth and facial muscles. She will give you exercises to complete at home, focusing on ideal swallowing techniques, breathing, and resting patterns. By consistently implementing these behaviors and movements, your muscle strength and coordination will continue to improve.
What Are the Common Causes of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?
An orofacial myofunction disorder is the result of an abnormal lip, jaw, or tongue position that has interfered with the function and development of the orofacial structures. OMDs can have a negative impact on breastfeeding, chewing, swallowing, and talking in children. They can also affect your jaw movements, oral hygiene, and your facial appearance.
Some common causes of OMDs include:
- Upper airway obstruction—Enlarged tonsils, deviated septum, or allergies can all restrict the nasal airway. When nasal breathing is obstructed, your body will learn to adapt by mouth-breathing, which can alter the natural position of your tongue, jaw, and lips.
- Long-term thumb-sucking or extended pacifier and bottle use—Having an object placed in the mouth for an extended period of time can put pressure on the backside of the teeth, moving them out of their proper alignment and causing malocclusion. It can change the tongue’s natural resting position and interfere with swallowing patterns.
Signs of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder?
Some common symptoms of OMDs include:
- Misaligned teeth
- Tongue thrusting
- Teeth grinding
- Facial or jaw pain
- Speech impediment
- Mouth breathing
- Sleep apnea
- Stomach discomfort
Experience Comfortable, Compassionate Dental Care
Dr. Spaulding, our Decatur dentist, and our entire team approach dental care differently. We work together to embody our shared vision of uncompromising excellence in dentistry. This includes offering dental care in a tranquil, spa-like atmosphere.
How Does Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder Impact Your Oral Health?
OMDs can not only contribute to aesthetic issues, such as overbite, overset, underbite, or crowding of the teeth, but they can also lead to gum disease and tooth decay if left untreated. Abnormal tongue, jaw, and lip position can cause irregular tongue activity and disrupt saliva flow, which all play an important role in the prevention of bad bacteria and plaque. Individuals with OMDs will need to prioritize regular dental care, including brushing twice a day, flossing between the teeth daily, and regularly visiting their dentist for oral exams.
Myofunctional Therapy with Dr. Jocelyn Spaulding
At Signature Smiles Studio, Dr. Jocelyn Spaulding has completed advanced training in OMDs and therapy techniques, and she is excited to offer her knowledge and experience to individuals as a part of her holistic approach. She will create an individualized treatment plan to retrain your orofacial muscles and improve their overall function. Some goals of your treatments might include regulating the resting posture of your tongue and lips, establishing a normal breathing pattern, or eliminating harmful habits like thumb-sucking.
As you implement these new patterns, Dr. Spaulding will help increase your awareness of your mouth and facial muscles. She will most likely give you exercises to practice at home, focusing on ideal swallowing, breathing, and resting techniques. With continued practice, your muscle strength and coordination will continue to increase.
Over time, myofunctional therapy will improve your OMD symptoms, including speaking more clearly, eating more efficiently, and sleeping more soundly. You may even notice some cosmetic changes in your face and smile.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Myofunctional Therapy?
Many people who would benefit from myofunctional therapy don’t know they have OMD or aren’t aware that there are treatments that can help their symptoms. At Signature Smiles Studio, we hope to change that in our Decatur community and beyond.
If you or your child suffers from any of the orofacial myofunctional disorders mentioned, myofunctional therapy may be a good treatment option. The best way to find out is by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Spaulding. She will carefully assess your condition and determine whether you might benefit from myofunctional therapy. During this exam, she will look for signs of:
- Muscle imbalance
- Tongue tie
- Overactive lips or cheeks
- Difficulty swallowing
- Poor muscle tone in the tongue, lips, and cheeks
- Mouth breathing
- Trouble breathing through the nose
- Speech impediments
The ideal candidate is someone who is willing and able to commit to following their treatment plan or, in the case of a child, has a guardian who can help them consistently follow their program.
Schedule Your Myofunction Therapy Consultation at Signature Smiles Studio
At Signature Smiles Studio, we feel honored and privileged to help our patients improve their oral health and smile with confidence. We believe oral health is essential to overall physical health and growth. If you live in or near Decatur, GA, and are looking for a myofunctional therapist near you, reach out to our office by phone at (404) 634-5738 or by completing our contact form, and a member of our patient care team will contact you soon!
