Improve Children’s Oral Health with Myofunctional Therapy
Description: Read the blog to understand myofunctional therapy, a specialized approach to improving children’s oral habits, its benefits, and its impact on overall well-being. Are you aware that your child’s tongue and facial muscles are vital in breathing habits, proper facial growth and development, and speech development? But what if your child is facing issues with any of these? If so, you need to consult a paediatric dentist at Rising Dental Practices to help children attain optimal oral health that goes beyond teeth cleaning. One such treatment is myofunctional therapy to improve your child’s oral habits and overall well-being.
What is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is a type of treatment that emphasizes training and strengthening muscles of the tongue, face, and lips. This therapy focuses on improving the tone and function of these muscles while boosting oral habits, like swallowing, proper breathing, and tongue posture. Due to this therapy, children with certain oral habits, like snoring, mouth breathing, or lip sucking, can learn to boost their oral health and overall development in the long run.
At What Age Can Signs of Orofacial Myofunctional Problems Begin to Appear?
Early signs of orofacial myofunctional issues can appear in children as young as 2 years old.
What Signs Should Parents Look Out For?
Your child may need myofunctional treatment if their child shows any of the given signs:
- Tongue thrust: If your child has a problem swallowing due to their tongue pushing forward against teeth. This condition often impacts speech development and tooth alignment.
- Mouth breathing: Does your kid breathe through the mouth instead of the nose? Does your child breathe primarily through their mouth instead of their nose? This can lead to dry mouth, increased risk of cavities, and even affect facial development.
- Sleeping with mouth open: If your child often keeps their mouth wide open even while relaxing, it is due to weak oral muscles. This habit can even lead to facial development problems.
- Speech difficulties: Does your child have speech issues due to lip and tongue placement? In this case, your child needs this therapy to improve the condition.
- Thumb sucking or pacifier use: These habits may be common in young children but the prolonged habits can impact jaw development and tooth alignment.
Some other signs may include:
- Frequent bedwetting
- Snoring (even in babies)
- Persistently dry lips
- Visible tongue-tie or difficulty moving the tongue
What Does Myofunctional Therapy Involve?
Myofunctional Therapy involves certain exercises for strengthening and training the tongue to rest in the correct position. In certain cases, the therapy may be supported with Myofunctional Appliances to support and assist with development and improved breathing patterns.
How Does Myofunctional Therapy Work?
When it comes to myofunctional treatment, involves various exercises for retraining and strengthening oral muscles. Some exercises to practice include:
- Tongue Presses: This exercise involves touching the tongue firmly against one’s palate 20 times. It helps in strengthening tongue muscles.
- Tongue Touches: In this, a child has to position their tongue tip on the hard palate behind the upper front teeth. After that, they have to slide their tongue backward for up to 20 times. It helps in training the tongue to rest in its exact resting position.
- Lateral Tongue Holds: Ask your child to stick out his/her tongue and then move it to one side and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat it on the other side as well. Do it for 5 repetitions on either side.
- Teeth Touch: Ask your child to press their tongue’s back against the roof of their mouth while letting the tongue touch their lower front teeth. Repeat it for 20 times. It helps in enhancing tongue posture while improving swallowing habits.
- Tongue Stretch: Keep the mouth wide open, your child has to stick their tongue out as far as possible and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise 5 times.
- Tongue Elevator: Ask your child to keep their tongue wide and flat while trying to touch the top to their chin and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise 5 times.
Benefits of Myofunctional Therapy for Children:
- Proper tooth alignment: With regular myofunctional treatment, one can attain correct tongue posture while improving their swallowing habits. It helps in proper tooth alignment while preventing the need to use braces in some kids.
- Improved breathing: This therapy also helps children breathe effectively through the nose by retraining the muscles needed for proper breathing.
- Facial development: With therapy, you can also improve your oral habits and grow your child’s facial structure optimally while boasting healthy facial development. Minimize speech difficulties: With stronger muscles, there is improvement in speech clarity and articulation.
- Prevents Dental Issues: Due to proper teeth alignment, there is a lesser risk of gum diseases, cavities, and jaw pain related to improper oral habits.
Conclusion
Being a parent, you understand how important your child’s oral health is for their overall well-being. Get started with myofunctional therapy with the help of experts at Rising Dental Practices to offer much-needed support and direction to your child. Beginning with this therapy can be overwhelming for kids. However, experts make sure that children feel comfortable while forming a proper oral exercise routine. We understand each child’s unique needs and work closely with parents and children to form a personalized therapy plan. Contact our team today to help your child improve their oral habits and overall health.
