FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Understanding Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy: Your Top Questions Answered

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a specialized, science-based approach designed to identify, treat, and correct orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs)—conditions that occur when the muscles and functions of the mouth and face do not work together properly. These disorders can affect everyday activities such as breathing, chewing, swallowing, sucking, and speaking, and may even influence facial growth and appearance.

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Orofacial Myofuntional Therapy

Through targeted exercises and neuromuscular re-education, OMT helps retrain the muscles of the lips, tongue, cheeks, and face to restore proper function and balance. This therapy not only addresses the root causes of dysfunctional habits but can also improve airway health, oral posture, dental alignment, and overall facial aesthetics.

Because OMDs often overlap with other health concerns, treatment is highly collaborative. Myofunctional therapists frequently work alongside dentists, orthodontists, ENTs, physicians, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, nutritionists, and psychologists to deliver comprehensive care.

As this innovative field continues to grow, many people have questions about how OMT works, who it can help, and what results to expect. Below, we’ve compiled answers to the most common questions about orofacial myofunctional therapy—so you can better understand how it may benefit you or your child.

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General Information

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What Is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is neurological re-education exercises to assist the normalization of the developing, or developed, craniofacial structures and function. It is related to the study, research, prevention, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of functional and structural alterations in the region of the mouth (oro), face (facial) and regions of the neck (oropharyngeal area). (OMDs) are problems with the muscles of the face and mouth that can affect chewing, swallowing, breathing, and speech. Common signs include tongue thrusting, mouth breathing, and poor lip closure, which can lead to issues like difficulties with certain sounds, picky eating, and issues with dental development. Treatment, often called myofunctional therapy, can help correct these issues and is frequently provided by a team of professionals like speech-language pathologists, Certified Orofacial Myofunctional Therapists, and orthodontists.

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What are the main problems related to OMD’S?

The main problems related to OMDs are alterations in breathing, sucking, chewing, swallowing and speech, as well the position of the lips, tongue (including what is known as oral rest posture), and cheeks.
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Why be concerned about OMDs?

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders interrupt normalized movement patterns. Orthodontists have documented their concerns about OMDs since the early 1900’s. Failure to address an OMD can result in one or more of the following

  • Long term mouth-breathing patterns that compromises overall healthy breathing
  • Detrimental oral habits that impede further growth and development
  • Atypical patterns that impact chewing and swallowing
  • The improper development/alignment of the teeth
  • The improper development of jaw growth and facial structure
  • Slowing the process of orthodontic treatment
  • Undermining the long-term stability of orthodontic treatment, resulting in malocclusion relapse
  • Negative impact of the stability and function of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
  • Atypical Speech patterns
  • Drawing negative attention to oneself due to open mouth postures or noisy chewing and swallowing patterns

A variety of secondary issues including but not limited to…

  • Chronic facial
  • Neck and back pain
  • Headaches
  • Grinding (bruxism) and clenching
  • Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD or TMD)
  • Episodes of tinnitus and vertigo
  • Sleep apnea and sleep disordered breathing patterns
  • Feeding and swallowing disorders including but not limited to picky eating and/or self limiting diets
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What Can Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Accomplish?

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy involves an individualized program to help the patient retrain these maladaptive patterns of muscle function, and helps to create and maintain a healthy orofacial environment. Treatment goals may include the following:

Normalize oral resting postures
Establish nasal breathing patterns
Normalize chewing and swallowing
Improve the strength, endurance and dissociation of orofacial musculature

Address harmful oral habits including:

  • Prolonged pacifier use
  • Thumb and/or finger sucking
  • Fingernail, cheek, or lip biting
  • Tongue sucking
  • Clenching or grinding of the teeth

Treatment is often a collaborative process with a variety of medical and dental specialists. A Certified Orofacial Myofunctional therapist can help you determine what may be contributing to the presence of an OMD, and can help refer you to the appropriate clinicians to address these concerns.

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What are some of the causes of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?

Orofacial myofunctional disorders, or OMDs, are kind of like that annoying group project in school — there’s never just one reason things go wrong. Instead, it’s usually a team effort of multiple factors messing things up. The biggest troublemaker? Blocked nasal airways. Yep, stuff like enlarged adenoids or tonsils, chronic congestion, allergies, or a crooked septum can make nose breathing feel like trying to suck a milkshake through a coffee stirrer.

So, what does your body do when the nose isn’t pulling its weight? It switches to mouth breathing — which might sound harmless (hey, air’s still getting in, right?), but over time, it’s kind of a big deal. Think of mouth breathing as your jaw, tongue, and lips deciding to go on vacation from their usual positions. Once they’re out of place for long enough, they can actually change how your face grows, leading to bite problems (aka malocclusion) that make orthodontists very busy — and very rich.

And that’s not all. Mouth breathing skips the VIP filtration system built into your nasal passages, which normally cleans, warms, and humidifies the air before it hits your lungs. Without that natural air-prep station, your body can end up dealing with more health issues and functional challenges than it bargained for.

So, while mouth breathing might seem like an easy shortcut, it’s more like using the emergency exit every day — convenient at first, but eventually it causes bigger problems.

Evidence based practice suggests that OMDs may also develop as a result of:

  • Hypotonia (low tone)
  • Structural or physiological abnormalities such as cleft palate, or maxillary insufficiency
  • Tethered Oral Tissues (lingual, labial, buccal ties)
  • Neurological deficits
  • Developmental delays
  • Genetic predisposition
  • Birth trauma

Before we jump into fixing an orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD), it’s super important to figure out why it’s hanging around in the first place. Think of it like trying to mop up a leak without turning off the faucet — if the cause is still there, treatment might not work as well as it should.

That’s where a Certified Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist comes in! They’re like your personal detective for all things lips, tongue, and cheeks — helping you uncover what’s causing the problem. Once they know what’s behind the OMD, they can connect you with the right medical or dental pros to tackle those root issues. Together, you’ll have a much better chance of getting lasting, successful results.

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Lingual Frenulum (Tongue-tie)

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What is tongue-tie?

Tongue-tie is a popular term used to characterize a common condition that often goes undetected. It occurs during pregnancy when a small portion of tissue that should disappear during the infant’s development remains at the bottom of the tongue, restricting its movement. When an infant is born with tongue-tie, it is important to research other family members, since this change has a genetic influence.
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Who can detect the presence of tongue-tie?

A specialist in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy should be well suited to detect a tongue-tie since they should know about the lingual frenulum and also the normal way the newborn sucks. In the case of infants, a pediatrician and a lactation consultant may also be involved.
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May the tongue & frenulum be inspected as soon as the baby is born?

Yes, but there are varying degrees of tongue-tie, so the importance of having a test or validated protocol that evaluates the tongue and the “trickle” under the tongue (lingual frenulum) is crucial, as well as the way the infant sucks. This will ensure an accurate diagnosis, and indicate whether or not the need to do a frenotomy (or small “cut” under the tongue) is recommended.
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How & when should tongue-tie be treated?

When the tongue cannot perform all the necessary movements and thus jeopardizes the way of sucking, swallowing, chewing or talking, a small surgery or frenotomy in the tongue is indicated. The “cut” of the frenum in infants is a simple procedure done with scissors, scalpel, or laser and anesthetic gel, which lasts about five minutes. In older children and adults the most common procedure is the frenectomy (partial removal of the lingual frenulum).
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When is a surgical procedure indicated to release the lingual frenulum?

In infants, surgery is usually indicated when the lingual frenulum restricts the tongue’s movement and compromises breastfeeding. In older children and adults, the indication is made when the tongue is visibly restricted, is unable to adequately reach the palate, or when possible distortions in speech are caused by limitation of the elevation of the tongue tip (especially in producing the sound of the “L” and “R”) that could not be corrected in speech therapy. A lactation consultant may also be indicated for consultation.
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What can happen with an infant if not treated?

Many people with tongue-tie suffer the consequences without knowing the cause. There are infants who have changes in the feeding cycle, causing stress for the infant and for the mother; there are also children with difficulties in chewing, children and adults with speech problems affecting communication, social relationships and professional development. With the chronic oral rest posture of the tongue in the floor of the mouth, many of the Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) enumerated above may result.
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Mouth Breathing

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What is mouth breathing?

Mouth breathing refers to breathing performed predominantly by the mouth. In this way of breathing, the individual does not use, or uses very little, the nose to inhale and exhale the air.
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Can mouth breathing cause damage?

Yes in several aspects, such as the mouth’s and face’s structures and their function, including sleep, feeding, learning, hearing and speech.
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How can one identify a person who breathes through the mouth?

The person may have one or more of the following characteristics: nasal congestion, open mouth at rest; parched lips, lip color change, appearance of a large tongue that may be recessed and projected forward; long face syndrome; forward head posture; dark circles under the eyes, sagging cheeks, wheezing, and snoring. In such cases it is recommended that an otolaryngologist (ENT) and/or allergist be consulted.
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Is there a difference between nasal & oral/mouth breathing?

Yes, when breathing is done through the nose, the air is filtered (cleaned), warmed and humidified, and thus it reaches the lungs with less impurities that are in the air. When you breathe through your mouth the air does not go through this process and reaches the lungs full of impurities. The oral rest posture of the tongue and the mandible when mouth breathing may also alter mandibular posture, palate width, and other craniofacial growth patterns as well as posture of the head, neck, and upper body.
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Which kind of specialist in OMT should a mouth breather seek?

An individual who breathes through the mouth can seek an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Specialist to assist in the treatment of mouth breathing, as any general Myofunctional Therapist is trained to deal with these cases, but some seek additional training in respiratory education techniques that may be helpful in treatment. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is commenced only after evaluation of the cause. It is advisable to also work within an allied team, with an otholaryngologyst/ENT, a breathing specialist and /or an allergist as well.
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What can cause mouth breathing?

The most common causes of mouth breathing are: allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, enlarged adenoids; enlarged tonsils; weakness or low tone of facial muscles that may lead to open mouth rest posture, habits such as thumb sucking, tumors in the region of the nose, enlarged turbinates, and nose fractures, amongst others..
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Mouth Breathing Continued

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How can mouth breathing cause changes to the structure of the mouth & face?

Keeping an open mouth posture can cause: dry and chapped lips, short and fast breathing; diminished strength of the muscles of the lips, cheeks, jaw and tongue; a lowered and more anterior oral rest posture of the tongue, leading to changes in aesthetics and position of teeth/occlusion (improper fit of the teeth); elongated face, retruded mandible, and palate (“roof of the mouth”) becoming more narrow and /or deep.
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How can mouth breathing affect functions related to the mouth & face?

Mouth breathing leads to chewing food with lips apart, which becomes faster, noisier and less efficient than with lips closed. This can lead to greater digestive problems and potential for choking due to the poor coordination between breathing, chewing, and an increase in the swallowing of air. It’s hard to breathe through the mouth when the mouth is full, thus an individual will need to choose whether to chew or to breathe. In the process of swallowing, one may also notice changes such as: anterior projection of the tongue, noise, contraction of muscles that wrap around the mouth and movements of the head. There may also be excessive production of saliva and an anterior lisp: which is a distortion of speech characterized by placing the tongue between the front teeth during sound production of /s/ and /z/.
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What are key issues that may be caused by mouth breathing during sleep?

When sleeping with the mouth open, a person may have some of these characteristics: restless sleep, snoring, headaches, drooling on the pillow, thirst when waking up, morning sleepiness, sleep apnea (breathing interruptions during sleep), and decreased oxygen saturation in the blood.
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What are disadvantages that mouth breathing may contribute with regards to body weight?

Mouth breathers may have poor appetite, lower strength for chewing and swallowing difficulties. Thus they may prefer softer foods and the use of liquid to assist feeding. The feeding of mouth breathers may also be impaired because of decreased olfaction (smell) and taste (taste). As a result of changes in chewing, smell, and taste, the individual may have decreased appetite, gastric changes, constant thirst, gagging, pallor, anorexia, and weight loss with less physical improving or, conversely, obesity.
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What are the main disadvantages to learning caused by mouth breathing?

Sleep disturbances that have been previously explained can generate agitation, anxiety, impatience, decreased levels of alertness, impulsiveness and discouragement. All of these changes can cause difficulties with attention, concentration, memory problems, and subsequent learning difficulties in children. During the critical periods of a child’s development, mouth breathing can be more detrimental to learning.
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What are the main disadvantages to hearing & speech caused by mouth breathing?

It is common in mouth breathing children to have more colds, infections in the nose, throat and chronic ear infections. Ear infection may lead to hearing loss, speech problems, language delays and vestibular issues. It is important to pay close attention to children in such cases: listen well to determine if they have difficulty hearing in the presence of noise; if they are unable to answer questions or follow direction, or could be considered inattentive. Most common changes are hoarseness in voice. This is because of the constantly open mouth leading to a drying out of all the structures that produce the voice and because the muscles are contracted for a long time, they may also appear to frequently have a cold and a runny nose.
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What are the main disadvantages of mouth breathing regarding body posture?

One major alteration is a change in the head’s postural position. The head will go forward seeking a larger space to breathe better, as often the tongue is resting in the floor of the mouth. We can also find other changes in the body caused by mouth breathing, as the abdominal muscles are weakened and stretched; dark circles with asymmetric positioning of the eyes, tired eyes, and shoulders that may come forward and compresses the abdomen.
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Chewing and Open Bite

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Can chewing on one side only be harmful?

Yes it is. By chewing only on one side, only the muscles of one side of the face are emphasized. This can cause a facial asymmetry over time. In addition, the bite can be altered and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ, the joint that connects the jaw to the skull and allows the mouth to open and close) on the opposite side of mastication, may suffer an overload.
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What can cause an open bite?

An open bite corresponds to a problem of occlusion caused by multiple factors. Harmful habits (such as finger sucking or pacifier use) as well as the presence of functional disorders (such as mouth breathing and inadequate pressure for an optimal position of the tongue during swallowing and /or speech).
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Should Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy occur before or after orthodontic treatment?

Orthodontic and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can be closely related with each directly impacting the other. Each case must be analyzed and discussed by the professionals involved. Treatment may be indicated before, during, and or after orthodontics. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy specialists promote a balance of the muscle and orofacial functions, improving the oral rest posture of the tongue and thus the stability of these cases treated by orthodontists by helping diminish orthodontic relapse after the removal of braces.
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Sleep Apnea

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What is snoring?

Snoring is defined as partial obstruction of the upper airways causing noise and vibration produced by some muscles of the mouth and throat during sleep.
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Does snoring contribute to the emergence of obstructive sleep apnea?

Yes, due to constant vibration, the muscles of the mouth and throat become larger, and may bring about changes in size, width and thickness. This may contribute to the appearance of total or partial obstruction of breathing during slee
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What is obstructive sleep apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome is defined as an obstruction of the airflow channel during sleep.
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How could OMT be related to cases of snoring?

Whoever snores and presents Obstructive Sleep Apnea should be treated by a multidisciplinary team including a sleep specialist. In this team, the Orofacial Myofunctional Specialist may help by directing and performing specific exercises to strengthen the muscles of the mouth and throat and exercises that may help, if indicated, in improving oral rest posture.
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TMD (Temporomandibular Dysfunction)

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What is Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction?

The term temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) is used to define some problems that can affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), as well as muscles and structures involved in chewing.
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What causes Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction?

TMD may be related to various factors such as dental changes (loss or wear of the teeth, poorly fitting dentures), unilateral chewing, mouth breathing, lesions due to trauma or degeneration of the TMJ, muscle strains caused by psychological factors (stress and anxiety) and poor habits (nail biting, biting objects or food too hard, resting a hand on the chin, grinding or clenching teeth during sleep).
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How is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy carried out for patients with TMD?

Most cases of TMD should be treated by a team of allied health professionals such as an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Specialist, dentist, psychologist, physical therapist, neurologist and otolaryngologist. The Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Specialist, after conducting a thorough assessment, working in an allied approach, may apply techniques to rebalance the muscles of the mouth, face and neck, and restore the functions of breathing, chewing, and swallowing. With this, there may be attenuation and/or elimination of the signs and symptoms of TMD. The patient should be made aware about any harmful oral habits and oriented to contribute to the evolution of its clinical case.
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What are the main signs & symptoms of TMD?

Pain may be present around the TMJ (it may radiate to the head and neck), along with earache, tinnitus, ear fullness, sounds when opening or closing the mouth (popping or other noises in the TMJ), pain or difficulties when opening the mouth, and pain when moving the jaw and the muscles involved in chewing.

At OMT Charlottesville, we’re basically the personal trainers for your mouth and face. Our job is to help everything in there — your tongue, jaw, breathing, and even how you swallow — work together like a well-rehearsed band instead of a bunch of instruments playing out of tune.

We focus on fixing unhelpful habits (like mouth breathing or weird tongue positions) and teaching your muscles to do their jobs the right way. This can make a big difference in how you breathe, sleep, chew, talk, and even how your face develops over time — plus, it can make you feel and look better, too.

Think of it as a full-body workout, but just for the muscles in your mouth and face. By retraining how those muscles move when you chew, breathe, swallow, and speak, we help your teeth, jaws, and airway develop the way they’re supposed to. And we don’t do it alone — it’s a team effort with you and your care team every step of the way.

In short: we help your mouth and face get their act together so you can breathe easier, feel healthier, and smile brighter.

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in Charlottesville, VA

Breathe better. Swallow easier. Smile more. At OMT Charlottesville, we retrain the muscles of the face, tongue, and jaw to restore healthy function and long-term facial balance—backed by interdisciplinary, evidence-informed care.

Patient-Centered

Airway-Focused

Tongue-Release

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🗣️ How Myofunctional Therapy Improves Speech and Articulation

The way we speak depends on more than just our vocal cords — it’s a finely tuned performance involving the tongue, lips, cheeks, and jaw all working together in perfect coordination. When those muscles are out of balance or not functioning properly, speech can become unclear, imprecise, or effortful. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) helps retrain those muscles to move, rest, and work the way they’re meant to, which can dramatically improve speech clarity and articulation.

👅 Builds Stronger, Smarter Muscles

If the tongue or lips are too weak, too tense, or don’t know where to go during speech, certain sounds — like “s,” “sh,” “ch,” “t,” “d,” or “l” — can be tricky to pronounce. OMT uses targeted exercises to build strength, coordination, and control in these muscles, making it easier to produce clear, crisp sounds.

🧠 Corrects Oral Posture and Tongue Placement

Speech starts with proper oral posture. If the tongue rests too far forward, low, or against the teeth (a common issue with orofacial myofunctional disorders), it can distort sound production or cause a “lisp.” Myofunctional therapy trains the tongue to rest on the palate where it belongs and move in precise ways during speech, setting the stage for better articulation.

🗣️ Improves Coordination for Fluid Speech

Speaking clearly isn’t just about strength — it’s about timing. OMT improves the muscle memory and coordination needed for smooth transitions between sounds and syllables. This can help speech feel more natural and reduce effort, especially for children developing language or adults working on lingering articulation issues.

💨 Supports Better Breathing for Better Speaking

Clear speech also depends on breath control. Because OMT encourages nasal breathing and proper oral posture, it can improve breath support — helping you speak with more power, consistency, and confidence.

✅ The Result: With stronger, better-coordinated oral muscles and improved tongue placement, speech becomes clearer, more accurate, and easier to produce. Whether it’s helping a child overcome articulation delays or giving an adult more confidence in communication, myofunctional therapy addresses the root causes of speech difficulties — not just the symptoms.

🌟 How Myofunctional Therapy Enhances Oral Health and Breathing

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) focuses on retraining the muscles of the mouth, tongue, and face so they work in harmony. These small changes can make a big difference — not only for oral health, but also for the way you breathe every day.

🦷 Enhancing Oral Health

  • Prevents orthodontic relapse: By teaching the tongue, lips, and jaw to rest in their proper positions, OMT helps keep teeth aligned after braces or orthodontic work.

  • Reduces harmful habits: Thumb-sucking, tongue thrusting, or chronic mouth breathing can strain teeth and jaws. Therapy helps eliminate these patterns before they cause long-term damage.

  • Improves chewing and swallowing: Retraining muscles creates a more efficient bite, reduces strain, and helps protect teeth from uneven wear.

  • Supports gum and dental health: Closed-lip posture encourages nasal breathing, which keeps the mouth from drying out and lowers the risk of cavities, gum irritation, and bad breath.

💨 Improving Breathing

  • Promotes nasal breathing: OMT helps retrain the body to breathe primarily through the nose, which filters, warms, and humidifies air before it reaches the lungs.

  • Reduces airway obstruction: Proper tongue posture keeps the tongue from collapsing backward, helping keep the airway open — especially important during sleep.

  • Supports better oxygen flow: Efficient nasal breathing improves oxygen delivery, which boosts energy, focus, and overall wellness.

  • Helps with restful sleep: Stronger oral and facial muscles reduce snoring and sleep-disordered breathing, leading to deeper, more restorative sleep.

✅ The Big Picture: Myofunctional therapy isn’t just about fixing oral habits — it’s about creating healthy patterns that support lifelong oral wellness and optimal breathing. From protecting your smile to improving the way you sleep and breathe, OMT lays the foundation for better health, one small muscle movement at a time.

🌙 How Myofunctional Therapy Can Improve Restful Sleep

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) isn’t just about helping your tongue and facial muscles “behave” — it can actually play a major role in improving how well you sleep. That’s because the way you breathe, swallow, and rest your tongue and lips is closely tied to how efficiently your airway functions while you sleep. When those muscles aren’t working in harmony, it can lead to problems like mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, or even sleep-disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnea.

Here’s how OMT helps you sleep more soundly:

🫁 Encourages Nasal Breathing:
Myofunctional therapy retrains your muscles and breathing patterns to promote nasal breathing — the body’s natural and healthiest way to take in air. Breathing through the nose filters, warms, and humidifies air, reduces airway resistance, and supports deeper, more efficient sleep.

😴 Improves Airway Stability:
Strengthening and properly positioning the tongue, lips, and throat muscles helps keep the airway open and stable during sleep. This can significantly reduce snoring and lower the risk of airway collapse that contributes to sleep apnea.

🧠 Enhances Oxygen Flow and Sleep Quality:
Better breathing means more consistent oxygen flow to the brain and body throughout the night. This leads to deeper, more restorative sleep cycles — the kind that improves memory, mood, focus, and overall health.

🪶 Reduces Sleep Disruptions:
Many people with orofacial myofunctional disorders wake up frequently without realizing it, often due to breathing issues. By addressing the root cause, OMT can help you stay asleep longer and wake up feeling refreshed.

🪥 Supports Healthy Growth in Children:
For kids, correcting oral posture and breathing early can support proper facial and airway development, helping prevent future sleep-related issues altogether.

✅ The Bottom Line: Myofunctional therapy works on the foundation of restful sleep — the muscles and habits that shape how you breathe and how your airway functions. Whether you’re struggling with snoring, frequent awakenings, or daytime fatigue, improving muscle tone and function in the mouth and face can be a powerful, natural solution to help you finally enjoy deep, restorative sleep.

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Who Can Benefit?

Individuals of all ages may benefit from OMT, especially those who have orofacial myofunctional disorders or experience symptoms such as: Mouth breathing, Tongue thrusting, Lip incompetence, Speech difficulties, and TMJ pain

What Are the Benefits of Orofacial Myology?

People of all ages enjoy multiple benefits from seeing an orofacial myologist. Patients report an improved quality of life after treatment without having to resort to surgery. The non-invasive and painless therapy addresses the root cause of the problem, which helps alleviate the OMD symptoms, and also contributes to successful orthodontic intervention. When it comes to children, addressing orofacial muscle problems early on prevents the condition from progressing and allows them to experience normal growth and development.

What Does Myofunctional Therapy Involve?

Treatment by your orofacial myologist involves short exercises, a form of physical therapy that trains your oral and facial muscles to function properly, similar to going to the gym to build up other muscles in your body.

Signs and Symptoms of OMDs

Symptoms of OMDs include pain or discomfort around the face, jaw, or mouth, pain or impairment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), mouth breathing, obstructive sleep apnea, and poor posture. Signs you need to see an orofacial myologist also include crooked teeth, a crowded mouth, an asymmetrical appearance of the lips or face, tongue thrust, incorrect chewing function, speech sound errors or distortion, and dental abnormalities such as an overjet and open bite. Some patients seeking treatment may not have OMDs, but want to improve an aging facial appearance, without the need for cosmetic surgery.

What Are the Causes of OMDs?

OMDs often result from extended pacifier use, chronic thumb sucking, prolonged bottle use, lip licking, nail-biting, upper airway obstruction due to enlarged tonsils, adenoids or allergies, or a restricted lingual frenulum. They can also result from muscular and structural differences or genetics.