What Disorders May Benefit from Myofunctional Therapy?
A large percentage of people have some type of oral-facial disorder that would benefit from myofunctional therapy. The reason for such high numbers is because so many people have been exposed to situations that prevent their tongues from functioning correctly and naturally. Such items include:
- Mouth breathing
- Tongue tie
- Thumb and/or Digit / non-nutritive sucking habits
- Processed foods (even baby foods)
- Baby bottles
- Sippy cups
- Pacifiers
According to researchers when a child mouth breathes this in turn may lead to learning disabilities and behavior problems due to lack of oxygen to your brain. Mouth breathing also promotes allergies and other common ailments. Once your tongue doesn’t function properly, it may also affect your oral posture and your ability to breathe correctly as it may cause your airway to collapse. More importantly, mouth breathing encourages a low tongue posture.
With today’s emphasis on whole body fitness, people forget about their face and mouth muscles. It’s just as important to keep the orofacial structures strong, just like going to the gym, because they influence your ability to speak, chew, swallow, and breathe correctly.