Goals of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a specialized therapy that focuses on improving the function and coordination of the muscles in the face, mouth, tongue, and jaw. It’s used to address disorders or habits that can interfere with normal breathing, speaking, chewing, swallowing, and other oral functions.

Here are the goals of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy here at West Virginia Orofacial Wellness:

Breathing through our nose is the way we were all meant to breathe. It filters, warms, and adds moisture to the air. Nitric oxide, shown to have beneficial anti-inflammatory properties, is also created and released when we breath through our nose. Nasal breathing also increases oxygen saturation, triggers a parasympathetic state, and has a slew of additional health benefits.

Our lips should be able to rest comfortably and naturally together. A proper lip seal ensures we are breathing through our nose all day and all night, thus allowing us to sleep better at night. It also decreases our risks of dry mouth, tooth decay, and gum disease by allowing and encouraging an increase in oral moisture content.

The tongue plays a pivotal roll in oral development and facial appearance. It’s intended to rest in the roof of our mouth, providing internal support and guidance for our upper jaw growth. This high-resting tongue position also promotes nasal breathing. If our tongue is often found resting in the bottom of our mouth, there is likely an underlying breathing issue also present.

A tongue that pushes forward when swallowing is referred to as a tongue thrust. This swallowing pattern can cause harmful changes in our occlusion (the way the upper and lower teeth fit together, or bite) and can cause the swallowing of air when we eat and drink, often resulting in acid reflux, stomach pain, gas, and bloating. This is also a common relapse after orthodontic care.