Myofunctional therapy/ speech therapy

You can find help for malocclusion problems caused by mouth breathing through myofunctional therapy.

What is myofunctional therapy? While a significant number of babies suck on pacifiers or thumbs, this can lead to changes in the muscles and positioning of the face and mouth in a one-year-old child. Myofunctional therapy, performed in dental clinics, is effective against such deformations and addresses incorrect positioning and functional disorders of the facial and oral muscles.

If a child breathes through the mouth, makes faces when swallowing, produces more saliva than usual, or presses the tongue between the teeth while speaking, it may indicate a myofunctional disorder. The most common symptom is mouth or mixed breathing, where the child breathes through the mouth for comfort. Additionally, signs of myofunctional disorders often include continued pacifier or thumb sucking in a child who has outgrown the baby stage, as well as nighttime teeth grinding and nail biting.

Physical problems such as pain or clicks in the jaw joints, as well as nighttime breathing issues like snoring and sleep apnea, may also indicate a myofunctional disorder. However, the primary indicator is mouth breathing.

When to refer to a myofunctional therapist:

• Mouth breathing
• Incorrect swallowing pattern
• Harmful oral habits
• Incorrect tongue resting position
• Lack of lip contact
• Before and after frenulotomy
• After adenoidectomy
• After tonsillectomy

Goals of myofunctional therapy:

• Nasal breathing
• Lip contact
• Correct resting position and improved mobility of the tongue
• Correct swallowing pattern
• Optimal development of the facial and jaw system
• Proper occlusion
• Straight teeth

The duration of myofunctional treatment is 9-12 months.

Initial visit (1 hour):

• Gathering medical history
• Patient assessment (resting tongue position, tongue tie, lip closure, swallowing pattern, body posture, breathing, oral motor skills)
• Counseling the patient and their family (explaining the need and content of therapy, explaining the need for transforming bad oral habits, setting and justifying goals)
• Creating a therapy plan (intensive period and automation period)

Subsequent visits (30 minutes to 1 hour):

• Evaluating the patient’s previous exercise performance
• Teaching new exercises
• Informing the patient and explaining the goals of exercises in the therapy plan
• Motivating the patient and the parent.