Myofunctional Therapy

If you experience issues with your nose, throat, tongue, or mouth, it’s important to find a specialist that will try every minimally-invasive treatment before recommending surgery. One treatment for a multitude of these issues is called myofunctional therapy. This is a series of exercises that strengthens your muscles and significantly improves tongue placement, chewing, swallowing, speaking, and breathing. Our skilled team at Rockland Dental Specialists in New City, NY can help determine if this treatment is right for you.

With over 24 years of experience in the industry, you can trust us to provide the best care and take your condition seriously. We consider every possible treatment, including myofunctional therapy, before recommending surgery. Our compassionate team understands that seeing a dentist can be overwhelming, so we always prioritize your comfort and safety in our relaxing, high-end offices. Ultimately, we strive to give you a stress-free experience that leaves you satisfied with your smile and overall oral health.

What Is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy targets the muscles you use to chew and swallow to strengthen your tongue, mouth, and throat. It involves exercises that can be done by anyone over six years old, and you can do them at home. These exercises typically include the following:

• Placing the tip of the tongue against the hard palate on the roof of your mouth and behind your teeth and pushing upwards
• Sticking out your tongue and trying to touch the tip of your nose and the bottom of your chin
• Sticking out your tongue and moving it as far right and left as you can
• Rolling your tongue so the edges fold towards the middle and sticking it out as far as you can
• Making loud clicking sounds with your tongue against the roof of your mouth
• Pushing the tip of your tongue against a spoon while keeping straight
• Holding the handle of a metal spoon between your lips, keeping it parallel to the floor, and adding items to the spoon as you improve

A professional can help you determine what exercises you need to do and how long the therapy will last based on your condition. Every patient is different, so some take longer to see results, while others see results in just a few sessions. 

4 Goals of Myofunctional Therapy

When we suggest implementing myofunctional therapy exercises, we want to accomplish four primary goals for your mouth, tongue, and throat. Achieving the following objectives can improve your tongue and mouth’s overall functionality and relieve any pain in these areas:

• Correct swallowing pattern
• Seal your lips
• Proper tongue posture
• Nasal breathing

If you experience allergies, congestion, and other sinus issues, you may find it difficult to breathe through your nose. This may result in an open-mouth habit and cause your tongue to rest low in your mouth. These habits may change the shape of your face, and weaken your facial and tongue muscles, preventing them from functioning properly. Myofunctional therapy works to correct these habits and meet the goals of the treatment.

Who May Benefit from Myofunctional Therapy?

This type of treatment can be helpful for those with certain medical conditions, as well as different habits that may have developed over time, that may cause low tongue placement and open-mouth breathing. If you have any of the following conditions or practice the following habits, you may benefit from myofunctional therapy:

• Sleep apnea
• Thumb or finger sucking
• Orthodontic issues
• Headaches
• Nail biting
• Temporomandibular joint pain
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Neck pain

Our specialists may suggest this treatment if they are concerned about the movement of your teeth when your tongue pushes against them. Depending on your health history and comfort level, you may not want to take medications that have potential side effects or get surgery. In this case, myofunctional therapy in New City, NY exercises may be the ideal solution that fixes your issue with minimal risk and maximum benefits.

Discuss Myofunctional Therapy With the Knowledgeable Professionals at Rockland Dental Specialists in New City, NY

If you are experiencing neck pain or are having trouble swallowing, your doctor may recommend myofunctional therapy treatment. At Rockland Dental Specialists in New City, NY, we may suggest these exercises to speed up the orthodontic treatment process. Our highly-qualified team takes a personalized approach and creates a plan based on your unique needs and the severity of your condition. We utilize state-of-the-art technology and the latest methodologies to give you the best care possible. This gives you the peace of mind that you are in capable hands. Our caring team supports you before, during, and after your treatment so you never feel alone. We also offer free insurance verifications and custom payment plans, so you can receive treatment in a way that fits your budget. To schedule a consultation, call (845) 400-9205 or fill out our contact form.