Our dentist and team are committed to helping you and your family enjoy a healthy quality of life as well as healthy smiles. Dr. Michael E. Kun offers oral myofunctional disorder therapy to improve your oral habits and oral health so you can enjoy a better quality of life. We invite you to call 610-709-6774 today to schedule your appointment and find out more about oral myofunctional disorder therapy in Whitehall, Pennsylvania!
What Is An Oral Myofunctional Disorder (OMD)?
Orofacial myofunctional disorders are inappropriate behaviors and patterns in muscle function and poor habits involving the tongue, lips, jaw and face. These disorders interfere with normal growth, development and function of orofacial structures. OMDs can be found in children, teenagers and adults, and often cause problems for everyday activities such as eating, drinking and speaking. OMDs include:
- Chronic non-nutritive habit patterns, including finger and thumb sucking, lip sucking, cheek sucking and sucking habits with objects (pacifiers, blankets, pencils, etc.)
- Poor oral rest posture, such as sitting with the mouth open and the tongue low and forward.
- Tongue thrusting during speaking and swallowing (when the tongue moves forward or laterally between the teeth).
What Causes OMD?
Orofacial myofunctional disorders are caused by many factors and include anything that impacts and prevents the tongue from maintaining a normal oral resting position and opens the teeth beyond a natural resting position. If something affects normal development of the dental arches or the position of the teeth and OMD can occur.
Common factors which contribute to OMDs include:
- Restricted nasal airways: including enlarged tonsils and adenoids, allergies, asthma, sinusitis and restricted airflow through the nose.
- Oral habits: prolonged thumb and finger sucking, teeth clenching, cheek and nail biting, etc.
- Structural abnormalities: restricted tongue mobility, macroglossia (an abnormally large tongue) and micrognathia (an abnormally small jaw).
- Neurological or developmental abnormalities
Proper Oral Rest Posture
One of the ways to manage OMDs effectively and improve oral function and quality of life is to maintain a proper oral rest posture. Proper oral rest posture includes keeping the lips together and breathing through the nose, with the teeth slightly parted and the tongue resting on the roof of the mouth.
Treating OMD
Other options our dentist may recommend for treating orofacial myofunctional disorder include:
- Oral muscle exercises
- Speech and language therapy
- Breaking negative oral habits, such as finger sucking and tongue thrusting
- Myofunctional therapy using an oral appliance
- Establishing proper breathing and posture
Our dentist will evaluate your OMD to determine which type of treatment is right for your needs.
Schedule Your Consultation
Contact us today to schedule your consultation with our Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist and learn more about how orofacial myofunction therapy can benefit you!
