Myofunctional therapy focuses on improving the way the tongue, lips, cheeks and breathing muscles function. It supports healthy nasal breathing, correct tongue posture, effective swallowing patterns and better oral muscle balance.
At Vivid Smiles, we believe it is important to look beyond just the teeth. Crowding, narrow arches, mouth breathing, open bites, relapse after orthodontic treatment and some jaw growth concerns can be linked to underlying habits or functional issues. These may include low tongue posture, tongue thrust swallowing, lip incompetence, thumb sucking, prolonged dummy use or chronic mouth breathing.
By taking a more holistic approach, myofunctional therapy can work alongside orthodontic treatment to help address the cause of the problem, not just the visible result. When the muscles of the face and mouth are functioning well, orthodontic treatment can be more stable, breathing patterns may improve, and the jaws and teeth are better supported as they grow and develop.
Myofunctional therapy may also be used in conjunction with other providers, such as ENT specialists, speech pathologists, lactation consultants or other health professionals where needed. This team-based approach helps ensure that airway, muscle function, oral habits and dental development are all considered as part of a child’s overall health and wellbeing.