Myofunctional Therapy by Tara

Myofunctional therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy that focuses on the muscles and functions of the face and mouth. It is used to address various issues related to orofacial muscles, such as speech disorders, mouth breathing, tongue thrust, and facial development. Myofunctional therapy can help improve nasal breathing, TMJ related pain, and can help reduce snoring and sleep apnea. I learned about myofunctional therapy after researching causes for my own TMJ related pain other than stress. I discovered that sleep disordered breathing is often the cause of night time clenching and grinding, which is what contributes to TMJ disorder. I also discovered that tethered oral tissues (like tongue ties) can make it hard for one to have proper tongue posture, which can affect people from birth. It can make it harder for babies to properly breast feed, and can cause excess swallowing of air leading to digestive issues. It also contributes to poor facial development and jaw growth in kids, leading to malocclusion. Mouth breathing due to childhood asthma or allergies can also change the shape of children's developing faces as they grow. Mouth breathing children become the adults who snore, and eventually they can develop sleep apnea. Along with proper structural help such as orthodontics, or any needed breathing devices such as c-paps, myofunctional therapy can help address and correct these problems. I received my degree in Dental Hygiene from Dixie State College of Utah in 2003, and have been practicing full time as a registered dental hygienist ever since. I attended the MyoMentor program for Myofunctional Therapy in 2023. I would love to help you on your journey to your healthiest life!