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Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs)

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders are conditions characterized by abnormal resting postures and movement of the tongue, lips, and jaw that affects breathing, chewing, swallowing and speaking.  

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Proper oral rest posture is when lips are closed, tongue is elevated to the palate, and there is a slight space between your teeth. Oral rest posture matters because this resting position affects almost every daily function we do like: sleeping, eating, breathing, speaking, and even can influence our nervous system regulation. 

Have you noticed any of these issues?

Mouth Breathing​

Habitual mouth breathing—rather than nasal breathing.  This habit may contribute to narrow facial development, orthodontic relapse, enlarged tonsils, poor sleep quality, and less efficient oxygen intake.

Tongue Thrusting​

Tongue thrusting occurs when the tongue presses against the teeth during swallowing, speaking, or at rest, potentially causing misalignment and speech problems.

Trouble swallowing

The tongue should press against the roof of the mouth, not against teeth, when swallowing.

TMJ​

Pain or discomfort in your jaw upon chewing or opening, it could be linked to muscle dysfunction or improper jaw alignment.

Speech Problems​

Lisping, slurring, or unclear speech may be linked to muscle imbalances in the mouth and tongue.

Sleep Problems​​

Improper tongue posture and mouth breathing during sleep can contribute to snoring or sleep apnea.

Posture Problems

Poor posture is often associated with OMDs, as improper tongue rest can influence overall body alignment.

Teeth alignment or bite

Misaligned teeth or bite issues (overbite, underbite, open bite) may be linked to dysfunctional muscle habits.

At Myo Health Tampa Bay, myofunctional therapy focuses on four key goals:

  1. Nasal breathing

  2. Lip seal

  3. Proper tongue posture

  4. Correct swallowing pattern

We may have more specific goals to alleviate the issues related to your OMD's, but these four goals remain the key focus throughout every patient's myofunctional therapy journey. 

Our Mission

"Our Mission is to help every patient breathe better, sleep better and function better - one habit at a time"

Our Credentials

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