Myofunctional
Therapy
What is myofunctional therapy?
Also known as orofacial myology, it is the study and treatment of oral and facial muscles as they relate to speech, dentition, chewing/bolus collection, swallowing, and overall mental and physical health.¹²
Myofunctional therapy consists of a program set up to require increasing demands with regard to the habituation of correct tongue rest postures, nasal breathing, chewing, suction, bolus collection and swallowing. This training is delicately interwoven into an exercise program involving the tongue, soft palate, lips, cheeks, and the other facial muscles, with the goal of habituation on all levels.
The joy of eating, speaking, and correct breathing can be regained along with confidence, self-esteem, and improved quality of life.¹³
Who would benefit from Myofunctional Therapy?
Based on published studies, individuals who have the following concerns or conditions, including those with other abnormal movement patterns of the face and mouth (orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs)) not listed may benefit from myofunctional therapy :
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Oral myofunctional therapy was shown to be effective for the treatment of temporomandibular disorders, alone or associated with other treatments, in three out of four studies evaluated in a systematic review by Mellis et al ¹⁴, with significant reduction of pain intensity when compared to other conservative treatments and no treatment.
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Myofunctional therapy facilitates the elimination of unfavourable oral habits that lead to malocclusion.
Eliminating oral habits better prepares the individual for for orthodontic treatment and retention. ¹⁵ For example, tongue thrusting and thumb sucking leads to breathing and speech difficulties, open bite, and protruded teeth. These patients are likely to have relapse (where teeth start moving back to their original positions) after completion of orthodontics if the tongue is positioned correctly.
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Systematic reviews and meta-analyses by Carrasco-Llatas et al ¹⁶ and Camacho et al ¹⁷ found positive effects with myofunctional therapy reducing polysomnographic (sleep study) measurements and clinical variables, of sleep apnea such as sleepiness. Camacho et al ¹⁷ noted that myofunctional therapy decreased the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) by approximately 50% in adults and 62% in children in the studies they reviewed.
The evidence is solid for snoring reduction measured objectively via polysomnography or subjectively with scales.¹⁶⁻¹⁷
Both analyses conclude that the available evidence suggests that myofunctional therapy is a safe treatment modality that could serve as an adjunct to other obstructive sleep apnea treatments.
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Although surgery has been shown to be more effective than myofunctional therapy alone, better results are achieved if both are combined in the treatment of ankyloglossia.
Improvements have been found in maternal pain, weight gain of babies, duration of breastfeeding, tongue mobility, strength and endurance, sleep apnea, mouth breathing and snoring, quality of life, clenching teeth, myofascial tension, pain after surgery and speech sound production.¹⁸
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Speech issues, such as lisps and difficultly enunciating certain letters or sounds may often be a result of orofacial myofunctional disorders and addressing these issues is imperative to success in speech therapy, especially when the patient is having difficulty progressing.
If left untreated, orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) may interfere with normal growth and development of the muscles and bones of the face and mouth. OMDs may also interfere with how the muscles of the face and mouth are used for eating, talking, and breathing. People who have an OMD may also have problems with talking, swallowing, and breathing through their nose.¹⁹