Frequently asked questions

Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is a program of neurological re-education exercises that retrain the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue. It helps normalize how the craniofacial structures develop and function, addressing issues with breathing, chewing, swallowing, speech, and the resting posture of the tongue and lips.

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).

Orofacial myofunctional therapy is delivered by a range of trained, licensed professionals — including speech-language pathologists, dentists, dental hygienists, orthodontists, physical and occupational therapists, and ENTs — each working within their own scope of practice and with adequate licensure and training. All should complete additional myofunctional therapy training and follow the laws where they practice.

The stomatognathic system is supported by an interdisciplinary team including speech language pathologists, otolaryngologists, orthodontists, dentists, dental hygienists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, kinesiotherapists and others. Each country’s healthcare system is different, with one specialty having differing degrees of leadership roles. In some countries, speech pathologists may take a leading role, whereas in others another profession such as physical therapy or dental hygiene may have a more prominent role. It’s a truly interdisciplinary therapy, with several professions contributing, each according to their own scope of practice. It is incumbent upon the professional to complete additional training in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy and to abide by local laws in the country in which they reside.

Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) are problems with the muscles and functions of the face and mouth. The main issues involve breathing, sucking, chewing, swallowing, and speech, along with the resting position of the lips, tongue, and cheeks — known as oral rest posture.

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

Feeding stimulates the orofacial muscles and drives healthy growth of the face. Proper sucking and chewing help the lips and tongue build the strength and coordination that clear speech later depends on, and they help prevent dental changes. In this way, early feeding lays the groundwork for producing speech sounds.

Feeding a child stimulates the orofacial muscles and this promotes the growth of the face. In the same way, proper suction and chewing prevents dental alterations and difficulties when structures such as the lips and tongue are moving. This is fundamental in the production of speech sounds.

Beyond nutrition and immunity, breastfeeding strengthens the orofacial muscles and stimulates proper development of the mouth and face. This early muscle activity supports healthy craniofacial growth and reduces the risk of future problems with breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speaking.

Besides all the nutritional and immunological benefits, the practice of breastfeeding stimulates the proper functioning of the structures of the mouth and face. Breast feeding strengthens the orofacial muscles of the infant, reducing risk of future problems in important functions such as breathing, chewing, swallowing and speaking.

Babies may struggle to suck for several reasons: weak or absent sucking reflexes, a restricted frenulum (tongue-tie), or poor coordination between sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Improper positioning of mother or baby, an incomplete lip seal around the nipple, and limited tongue or jaw movement can also make feeding difficult.

Difficulties of sucking in infants may occur due to: lack of sucking reflexes which decrease the suction force, frenulum restriction, lack of coordination between the actions of sucking, swallowing and breathing; improper positioning of the mother and/or the baby; absence of sealing (closing) of the lips around the breast nipple, and inadequate movement of tongue and jaw during breast feeding.

When direct breastfeeding isn’t possible, expressed breast milk or a pediatrician-recommended alternative can be offered by bottle, spoon, or small cup. A myofunctional therapy specialist with advanced training, working alongside a lactation consultant, can evaluate each baby individually and recommend the most suitable feeding method.

Failing to breastfeed the infant directly at the maternal breast, milk may be collected from the mother’s breast, or other milk may be recommended by a pediatrician, which also may be offered by a bottle, a spoon or a small cup. The evaluation of a specialist in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, with advanced training in this area, must be individualized in each case, and may assist in indicating the most appropriate way to breastfeed the infant, along with a lactation consultant.

For babies with a cleft lip, feeding guidelines are the same as for infants without clefts, and many can breastfeed with no changes. With a cleft palate, however, some babies can’t take in enough milk by breastfeeding alone, so specially designed feeding bottles are often used.

For breastfeeding infants with a cleft lip, the guidelines are the same as given to infants without clefts. Many babies with a cleft lip may breastfeed with no alterations. However, in cases with a cleft palate, many children may fail to have an adequate milk intake with breastfeeding alone. In these cases, the milk can be offered using special feeding bottles.

Yes. Depending on their intensity, frequency, and duration, thumb sucking and pacifier use can alter facial growth and tooth position (causing an anterior open bite), weaken the orofacial muscles, and affect breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speech. A pacifier soothes a baby, but the habit should be phased out as early as possible.

Depending on the child’s facial features, the intensity, frequency and the duration of these oral habits may cause changes in facial growth, alteration of tooth position (anterior open bite), problems in the orofacial muscles, impairment of breathing functions, chewing, swallowing, and may also lead to slurred speech, such as an anterior lisp (placing the tongue between the teeth). The pacifier soothes the baby, because it satisfies the need to suck, but its use can be eliminated as soon as possible.

Start by understanding how the habit began and why it continues, and support the child without ridicule — awareness and cooperation are key. Depending on the case, a myofunctional therapy specialist may prescribe exercises to strengthen the lips and tongue and balance breathing, chewing, and swallowing. An occupational therapist may also help.

The first step is to understand how these habits began and why are they still occurring. The child must be understood and not ridiculed. Awareness is crucial to gain the cooperation of the child. Depending on the case, the Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Specialist may indicate exercises for strengthening the orofacial muscles (especially the lips and tongue), and the balance of the stomatognathic functions (breathing, chewing and swallowing). An occupational therapist may also be indicated for consultation.

A strong preference for soft foods can signal weak chewing muscles or enlarged tonsils, since these foods require little or no chewing. Introducing a variety of food textures early on helps build orofacial muscle strength and supports the harmonious development of the face and jaws.

The preference for soft foods may be related to the reduction of the strength of the muscles of mastication (chewing) and also because of enlarged tonsils. Some children prefer foods with such consistency, as they would not need to chew much or at all. Feeding early on with different consistencies may stimulate the strength of the orofacial muscles and enhance harmonious development of the face.

A lisp is a distortion of speech in which the tongue is placed between the front teeth during production of the /s/ and /z/ sounds, giving them a soft, “th”-like quality. It is often associated with tongue posture and orofacial muscle patterns.

A lisp is a distortion of speech, characterized by placing the tongue between the front teeth during the production of the sounds /s/ and /z/.

Mouth breathing is breathing predominantly through the mouth rather than the nose, using the nose very little or not at all to inhale and exhale. While occasional mouth breathing is normal, doing it habitually can affect the development and function of the mouth, face, and airway.

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.

Yes. Chronic mouth breathing can affect both the structure and function of the mouth and face, with effects that reach beyond the airway. Over time it can influence sleep, feeding, learning, hearing, and speech, especially in children during key stages of development.

Yes in several aspects, such as the mouth’s and face’s structures and their function, including sleep, feeding, learning, hearing and speech.

Signs of mouth breathing include nasal congestion, an open mouth at rest, and dry, parched lips. Others include a long face, forward head posture, dark circles under the eyes, sagging cheeks, wheezing, and snoring. If you notice these signs, an ENT or allergist should be consulted.

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.

Breathing through the nose filters, warms, and humidifies air before it reaches the lungs, removing many impurities. Mouth breathing skips this process, so air arrives less clean. It can also alter tongue and jaw posture, palate width, craniofacial growth, and head and neck posture.

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.

Any trained orofacial myofunctional therapist can help treat mouth breathing, though some pursue extra training in breathing re-education techniques. Therapy begins only after the cause is evaluated. It’s best done within an allied team that may include an ENT, a breathing specialist, and an allergist.

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 otolaryngologist/ENT, a breathing specialist and/or an allergist as well.

Common causes of mouth breathing include allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and bronchitis; enlarged adenoids or tonsils; and weak facial muscle tone that keeps the mouth open at rest. Habits like thumb sucking, along with nasal tumors, enlarged turbinates, and nose fractures, can also be responsible.

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.

An open-mouth posture can cause dry, chapped lips and weaken the muscles of the lips, cheeks, jaw, and tongue. It lowers the tongue’s resting position, which can shift tooth alignment, lengthen the face, pull the lower jaw back, and make the palate narrower or deeper.

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.

Mouth breathing leads to chewing with the lips apart, which is faster, noisier, and less efficient, and can cause more air swallowing, digestive issues, and choking risk. It can also change swallowing patterns, increase saliva, and contribute to an anterior lisp during /s/ and /z/ sounds.

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/.

Sleeping with the mouth open can cause restless sleep, snoring, headaches, drooling on the pillow, and thirst on waking. It’s also linked to morning grogginess, sleep apnea (breathing interruptions during sleep), and reduced oxygen levels in the blood.

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.

Yes. Mouth breathers may have a poor appetite, weaker chewing, and difficulty swallowing, so they often prefer soft foods and liquids. Reduced smell and taste can further lower appetite, sometimes leading to weight loss and poor nutrition — or, in some cases, weight gain.

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. 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 improvement or, conversely, obesity.

The sleep disturbances linked to mouth breathing can cause agitation, anxiety, impatience, low alertness, and discouragement. In children, these effects often translate into trouble with attention, concentration, and memory, leading to learning difficulties — especially during critical stages of development.

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.

Children who mouth breathe tend to have more colds and nose, throat, and ear infections. Chronic ear infections can lead to hearing loss, speech problems, and language delays. A constantly open mouth also dries the voice structures, which can cause hoarseness.

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.

Mouth breathing commonly shifts the head forward as the body seeks more room to breathe, since the tongue often rests low in the mouth. It can also weaken and stretch the abdominal muscles and pull the shoulders forward, along with causing tired eyes and dark circles.

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 compress the abdomen.

Yes. Chewing on only one side overuses the muscles on that side of the face, which can lead to facial asymmetry over time. It can also alter your bite and overload the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) on the opposite side, contributing to jaw strain and discomfort.

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.

An open bite is a problem of occlusion (how the teeth meet) caused by several factors. Common contributors include harmful oral habits such as thumb sucking or prolonged pacifier use, along with functional disorders like mouth breathing and improper tongue pressure during swallowing or speech.

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).

It depends on the case. Myofunctional therapy and orthodontics are closely linked, and treatment may be recommended before, during, or after braces. By improving the tongue’s resting posture and balancing the orofacial muscles, myofunctional therapy helps stabilize orthodontic results and reduce relapse after braces are removed.

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.

Tongue-tie is a common, often undetected condition in which a small band of tissue under the tongue — the lingual frenulum — remains too tight and restricts the tongue’s movement. It develops before birth and tends to run in families, so checking relatives can be helpful.

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.

An orofacial myofunctional therapy specialist is well suited to identify tongue-tie, since they understand both the lingual frenulum and how a newborn normally sucks. For infants, a pediatrician and a lactation consultant may also be involved in the assessment.

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.

Yes. Because tongue-tie varies in degree, using a validated test or protocol to evaluate the tongue, the lingual frenulum, and how the baby sucks is important. This ensures an accurate diagnosis and helps determine whether a frenotomy — a small release under the tongue — is needed.

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 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.

When a tight frenulum limits sucking, swallowing, chewing, or speech, a minor procedure is indicated. In infants, a frenotomy is a simple release with scissors, scalpel, or laser and numbing gel that takes about five minutes. In older children and adults, a frenectomy (partial removal) is more common.

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).

In infants, release is usually recommended when the frenulum restricts tongue movement and interferes with breastfeeding. In older children and adults, it’s considered when the tongue is visibly restricted, can’t reach the palate, or causes speech distortions — especially with “L” and “R” sounds — that speech therapy alone can’t correct.

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.

Untreated tongue-tie can cause lasting problems that people often don’t connect to the cause. Infants may struggle with feeding, creating stress for baby and mother, while children and adults may face chewing and speech difficulties that affect communication, relationships, and careers. A low tongue rest posture can also trigger other OMDs.

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) may result.

Snoring is the sound and vibration produced when the upper airway is partially obstructed during sleep. As air passes through the narrowed space, the soft tissues and muscles of the mouth and throat vibrate, creating the familiar noise.

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.

Yes. Constant vibration can enlarge and thicken the muscles of the mouth and throat, changing their size and shape. Over time, this can narrow the airway further and contribute to the partial or total breathing obstructions that characterize 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 sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition in which the airway becomes blocked during sleep, interrupting the flow of air. These repeated obstructions briefly stop breathing throughout the night, disrupting sleep and lowering oxygen levels.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome is defined as an obstruction of the airflow channel during sleep.

People who snore or have obstructive sleep apnea should be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team that includes a sleep specialist. Within that team, a myofunctional therapy specialist can prescribe targeted exercises to strengthen the muscles of the mouth and throat and improve the tongue’s resting posture.

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.

Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) is a group of problems affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) — the joint connecting the jaw to the skull — along with the muscles and structures involved in chewing. It often causes jaw pain, clicking, and difficulty opening the mouth.

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.

TMD can stem from many factors: dental changes like tooth loss, wear, or poorly fitting dentures; chewing on one side; mouth breathing; trauma or joint degeneration; and muscle strain from stress and anxiety. Habits such as nail biting, clenching, or grinding teeth during sleep also contribute.

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).

Most TMD cases are best managed by a team — a myofunctional therapy specialist, dentist, physical therapist, and others. After a thorough assessment, the specialist uses techniques to rebalance the muscles of the mouth, face, and neck and restore breathing, chewing, and swallowing, which can ease TMD signs and symptoms.

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.

Common TMD symptoms include pain around the jaw joint that can radiate to the head and neck, earache, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and a feeling of ear fullness. Many people also notice clicking or popping when opening or closing the mouth, and pain when moving the jaw.

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.

Facial paralysis falls into two types. Peripheral facial paralysis affects the facial nerve outside the brain and can result from trauma, tumors, infections, or unknown causes. Central facial paralysis is caused by brain injury, such as a stroke, head injury, or brain tumor.

There are two types of facial paralysis: Peripheral Facial Paralysis, that affects the facial nerve (lesion outside the brain) and can be caused by trauma, tumors, infections or unknown factors, and Central (brain injury) caused by cerebral vascular accident (stroke), head injuries and brain tumors.

In peripheral facial paralysis, one side of the face — or the entire face — is affected. In central facial paralysis, only the lower part of the face, around the mouth and nose, is paralyzed. Any facial paralysis needs prompt medical evaluation for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

In Peripheral Facial Paralysis, only one side of the face or the whole face is affected. In Central Facial Paralysis, only the lower region of the face (around the mouth and nose) is paralyzed. In the presence of a facial palsy or any facial paralysis, it is critical to seek medical advice, seeking a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Working alongside ENTs and neurosurgeons, a myofunctional therapy specialist can help retrain the affected facial muscles to “relearn” functions like chewing, swallowing, sucking, and facial expression. Starting therapy as early as possible is important to prevent muscle atrophy and support recovery.

A specialist in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy may work, with advanced training and according to their particular specialty’s scope of practice, on the underlying muscles that may be involved. This work should be performed in conjunction with otolaryngologists and neurosurgeons. The main objective of the Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist is to rehabilitate the functions of chewing, swallowing, sucking and facial expression (essential to human communication). The muscles of the face are manipulated so that they can “relearn” the functions performed by them before the injury. The Orofacial Myofunctional intervention should be initiated as early as possible, in order to prevent muscle atrophy.

Wrinkles can develop from poor posture, habits, and repetitive movements during chewing, swallowing, breathing, and speaking. Excessive or unbalanced strain on the facial muscles over time also influences how and where wrinkles form on the face.

Wrinkles may be the result of inadequate postures, habits and repetitive movements, when chewing, swallowing, breathing and in speech. Furthermore, the wrinkles may be influenced by the exaggerated strain of the facial muscles.

Wrinkles and expression marks are directly tied to how the facial muscles function — an area a myofunctional therapy specialist understands well. Because the therapy works to balance these muscles and correct habits, it links the health of oral function with the appearance of the face.

Wrinkles and marks caused by facial expressions and habits are directly linked to the function of the muscles of the face, which should be quite familiar to the specialist who works in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy.

A myofunctional therapy specialist works on the functions of chewing, swallowing, and breathing. When these functions are working well and harmful habits are eliminated, gently manipulating the facial muscles can lead to noticeable improvements in facial appearance, including rejuvenation and the smoothing of wrinkles.

The Specialist in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy works with the functions of chewing, swallowing, and breathing. When these functions are working adequately and habits are eliminated, with the manipulation of the facial muscles, one may achieve a significant improvement in facial aesthetics with facial rejuvenation and smoothing of wrinkles.

Burns to the face and neck can interfere with breathing, opening and closing the mouth, chewing, and swallowing, and they also affect facial appearance. Because these functions and the surrounding tissues are closely connected, burn injuries in this area often need specialized, coordinated care.

Burns that affect the face and neck can trouble breathing, the act of opening and closing the mouth, chewing and swallowing. The aesthetics of the face is also affected.

As part of a multidisciplinary team, advanced myofunctional therapy specialists can help patients with third-degree burns. Early on, therapy aims to prevent scarring complications; later, it works to restore breathing, chewing, speech, voice, and swallowing while reducing tissue tightening and improving facial balance and appearance.

A burned patient must be treated by a multidisciplinary team. Within this team, advanced specialists in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy may help patients with third degree burns. In an initial period, the therapy aims to prevent scarring sequelae. In later periods, it seeks to improve the functions of breathing, chewing, speech, voice and swallowing, as well as reducing tissue retraction affected by burning (to promote balanced muscles of the face and neck and improve the aesthetics of the face).

Once a medical team has evaluated and treated the burn and the patient is clinically stable, a myofunctional therapy specialist with advanced training can begin an evaluation. Starting at this point helps prevent lasting complications, known as sequelae, from developing.

After being evaluated and treated by a medical team and finding that the patient is clinically stable, they may now be evaluated by an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Specialist, with advanced training in this area, in order to help prevent the emergence of sequelae.

Facial trauma refers to injuries and fractures to the face. Common causes include traffic accidents, falls, assaults, and firearm accidents, any of which can damage the bones, muscles, and teeth of the face along with other parts of the body.

The traumas and fractures caused on the face are called facial trauma. Traffic accidents, falls, assaults, accidents with firearms, among others, could cause trauma and fractures in various parts of the body, including the face.

Chewing and swallowing are usually the most affected functions, because facial trauma often damages the facial muscles, teeth, and jaw bones. Speech articulation and the movement of the mouth during eating and talking can also change, and the jaw joint (TMJ) and facial appearance may be impaired.

Chewing and swallowing are the functions more impaired, because facial trauma is mainly comprised of damage to the facial muscles, teeth and bones of the maxilla and mandible. Thus, a change occurs in speech articulation and also in the opening and closing of the mouth during speech and chewing. The TMJ and the aesthetics of the face may also be impaired. Speech is in the domain of a Speech-Language Pathologist.

Treatment after facial trauma is multidisciplinary and specialized. A myofunctional therapy specialist works to rebalance the facial muscles, which can help relieve pain, reduce swelling, and improve chewing, speech, scarring, and facial appearance. Patients often benefit from re-educating their chewing, swallowing, and breathing patterns.

Treatment of a patient who has suffered a facial trauma is multidisciplinary and specialized. The goal of the specialist in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is to promote the balance of the muscles of the face which may help to relieve pain, decrease swelling, improve chewing, speech, and the appearance of scars and facial aesthetics. Patients may also benefit from re-education of chewing, swallowing, and breathing patterns.