Does Your Child Experience Frequent Digestive Discomfort?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Can help
It goes without saying that what we eat affects our health, but how we drink, chew, and swallow is equally critical.
Many digestive discomforts surprisingly come from swallowing air: bloating, belching, flatulence, abdominal distention, including some types of acid reflux and IBS.34,49,50,51,52
Retraining certain currently unconscious activities can put a stop to most air swallowing. This can relieve many digestive discomforts.
Aerophagia Definition: The swallowing of air, whether accidentally, or as an involuntary habit.52
Did You Know That Swallowing Air While Eating Can Cause Many Uncomfortable Side-Effects?
Soothe your child's stomach with our easy program that has long lasting affects
Aerophagia Produces Uncomfortable Gastrointestinal Symptoms:34,49,50,51
Abdominal Distension
Bloating
Belching
Flatulence
Some Types of Acid Reflux & IBS
Causes of Air Swallowing:34,49,50,51
Eating or Drinking Quickly
Talking While Eating
Atypical Swallowing
Drinking Through a Straw
Mouth Breathing
Daily Repetitive Oral Habit
Carbonated Drinks
Sleep Apnea/Snoring
The Advantage Program's Steps to Stop Air Swallowing
Stop Any Daily Repetitive Habit Involving the Mouth (if any)
Stop Mouth Breathing
Retrain Drinking, Chewing, and Swallowing
Retrain Sleeping with Your Child's Mouth Closed
What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Capable Of?
At Oral-Facial Advantage, we guide your child's growth towards a more balanced oral-facial foundation. Aiding to prevent, or soothe the many disorders you see through-out this website.
Reflexive vs. Conscious
We chew, swallow, breathe, and rest our mouths as an un-trained reflexive habit.
The Oral-Facial Advantage Program is a personalized straightforward set of exercises, scientifically designed to build new beneficial long-term muscle-memories.
At What Age Can My Child Begin Oral-Facial Muscle Therapy?
The younger the child the more flexible their physiology and behavior.
Mature 3 to 4 year old mouth breathers can learn nasal breathing.
Mentally prepared 5 year old's can begin the Oral Habit Elimination Program.
7 to 8+ year old's can start their Oral-Facial Advantage Program.
Who is Eligible for a Free Consult?
Everyone.
All ages can come in for a free consult.
It is a great opportunity for your questions to be answered, and for the Orofacial Myologist to assess your child's readiness for the program.
Book a Free In-Person Consultation Today
Benefits of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
Relieves digestive discomfort
Soothes or relieves headaches
Can help reduce snoring & apnea
May reverse some ADHD symptoms
Opens upper airways
Can prevent long face syndrome
Alleviates facial pain
Improves posture & core muscle stability
Increases jaw range of motion
Facial symmetry: Tones facial muscles & tissues
Improves focus, memory, productivity
Lowers harmful stress hormones
Eliminates habits involving the mouth
Much more
1Key, Josephine. “‘The core’: understanding it, and retraining its dysfunction.” Journal of bodywork and movement therapies 17, no. 4 (2013): 541-559.
2Gunduz C, et al "Obstructive sleep apnea independently predicts lipid levels: Data from the European Sleep Apnea Database" Respirology 2018; DOI: 10.1111/resp.13372.
3Jimmy Doumit, Bharati Prasad. "Sleep Apnea in Type 2 Diabetes" Diabetes Spectrum 2016 Feb; 29(1): 14-19.
4Omar A. Mesarwi, Rohit Loomba, Aul Malhotra. "Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Hypoxia, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease" ATS Journals 2018 Nov; V199, I7.
5Bharati Prasad, Sharmilee M. Nyenhuis, Ikuyo Imayama. "Asthma and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Overlap: What has the evidence taught us?" ATS Journals 2019 Dec;V201, I11.
6Ejaz, Shakir M et al. “Obstructive sleep apnea and depression: a review.” Innovations in clinical neuroscience vol. 8,8 (2011): 17-25.
7Djupesland PG, Chatkin JM, Qian W, Haight JS. Nitric oxide in the nasal airway: a new dimension in otorhinolaryngology. Am J Otolaryngol.2001 Jan; 22(1): 19-32.
8Lunn M, Craig T. Rhinitis and sleep. Sleep Med Rev. 2011 Oct;15(5):293-9
9Muliol J, Maurer M, Bousquet J. Sleep and allergic rhinitis. Journal Investigation Allergol Clinical Immunology. 2008;18(6):415-9.
10Ohki M, Usui N, Kanazawa H, Hara I, Kawano K. Relationship between oral breathing and nasal obstruction in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl. 1996;523:228-30.
11Jefferson Y. Mouth breathing: adverse effects on facial growth, health, academics and behaviour. General dentist. 2010 Jan- Feb; 58 (1): 18-25.
12Fitzpatrick MF, McLean H, Urton AM, Tan A, O’Donnell D, Driver HS. Effect of nasal or oral breathing route on upper airway resistance during sleep. Eur Respir J. 2003 Nov;22(5):827-32.
13“ADHD and Sleep.” ADHD & Sleep Problems-National Sleep Foundation. National Sleep Foundation, 2017. Web. 11 Feb.2017. https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems/adhd-and-sleep.
14Shur-Fen Gau S. Prevalence of sleep problems and their association with inattention/hyperactivity among children aged 6-15 in Taiwan.J Sleep Res. 2006 Dec;15(4):403-14.
15Borres MP. Allergic rhinitis: more than just a stuffy nose. Acta Paediatrica. 2009 Jul;98(7):1088-92)
16Pereira F, Motonaga S, Faria P, Matsumoto M, Trawitzki L, Lima S, Lima W. Myofunctional and Cephalometric Evaluation of Mouth Breathers. Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology. 2001. 67 (1): 43-49.
17Garliner D. Myofunctional Therapy. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1976. Print.(10-12)
18John E. Hall, Arthur C Guyton. Tongue posture and swallowing. Guyton and Hall textbook of medical physiology, 12th edition. 2010; 763-765.
19Paskay L. OMD Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders: Assessment, prevention and treatment. JAOS. 2012 march-april; 34-40.
20Okuro RT, Morcillo AM, Ribeiro MÂ, Sakano E, Conti PB, Ribeiro JD. Mouth breathing and forward head posture: effects on respiratory biomechanics and exercise capacity in children. J Bras Pneumol.2011 Jul-Aug; 37(4):471-9.
21Damaging Effects of Forward Head Posture.(2015, January 22). Retrieved from http://www.denvertechchiro.com/files/fhp_revised.pdf
22Svensson S, Olin AC, Hellgren J. Increased net water loss by oral compared to nasal expiration in healthy subjects. Rhinology. 2006 Mar;44(1):74-7. PMID: 16550955.
23Surtel A, Klepacz R, Wysokińska-Miszczuk J. Wpływ toru oddechowego na jamę ustną [The influence of breathing mode on the oral cavity]. Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2015 Dec;39(234):405-7. Polish. PMID: 26802697.
24Steffen, Patrick R et al. “The Impact of Resonance Frequency Breathing on Measures of Heart Rate Variability, Blood Pressure, and Mood.” Frontiers in public health vol. 5 222. 25 Aug. 2017, doi:10.3389/fpubh.2017.00222
25Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia). American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/content/tongue-tie-ankyloglossia. Accessed Feb. 13, 2018.
26Isaacson GC. Ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) in infants and children. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Feb. 14, 2018.
27Chinnadurai S, et al. Treatment of ankyloglossia for reasons other than breastfeeding: A systemic review. Pediatrics. 2015;135:e1467.
28Baker AR, et al. Surgical treatment of ankyloglossia. Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology. 2015;26:28.
29Walsh J, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of ankyloglossia in newborns and infants. JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2017;143:1032.
30O'Shea JE, et al. Frenotomy for tongue-tie in newborn infants. Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011065.pub2/abstract. Accessed Feb. 14, 2018.
31Davidson, J R et al. “Growth hormone and cortisol secretion in relation to sleep and wakefulness.” Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN vol. 16,2 (1991): 96-102.
32Takahashi, Y et al. “Growth hormone secretion during sleep.” The Journal of clinical investigation vol. 47,9 (1968): 2079-90. doi:10.1172/JCI105893
33Honda, Y et al. “Growth hormone secretion during nocturnal sleep in normal subjects.” The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism vol. 29,1 (1969): 20-9. doi:10.1210/jcem-29-1-20
34Morabito G, et al. (2014). Functional aerophagia in children: A frequent, atypical disorder. DOI:10.1159/000362441
35Timmons, Beverly H., and Ronald Ley. “Behavioral and Psychological Approaches to Breathing.
36https://news.stanford.edu/2020/07/21/toll-shrinking-jaws-human-health/
37Schmidt JE, Carlson CR, Usery AR, Quevedo AS. Effects of tongue position on mandibular muscle activity and heart rate function. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2009;108:881-888
38Warren JJ, Slayton RL, Bishara SE, Levy SM, Yonezu T, Kanellis MJ. Effects of nonnutritive sucking habits on occlusal characteristics in the mixed dentition. Pediatr Dent. 2005 Nov-Dec;27(6):445-50. PMID: 16532883.
39Bishara SE, Warren JJ, Broffitt B, Levy SM. Changes in the prevalence of nonnutritive sucking patterns in the first 8 years of life. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2006 Jul;130(1):31-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2004.11.033. PMI: 16849069.
40Farsi NM, Salama FS. Sucking habits in Saudi children: prevalence, contributing factors and effects on the primary dentition. Pediatr Dent. 1997 Jan-Feb;19(1):28-33. PMID: 9048410.
41Garattini G, Crozzoli P, Valsasina A. Ruolo del succhiamento protratto nell'insorgenza di alterazioni dento-scheletriche del distretto facciale: revisione della letteratura [Role of prolonged sucking in the development of dento-skeletal changes in the face. Review of the literature]. Mondo Ortod. 1990 Sep-Oct;15(5):539-50. Italian. PMID: 2280788.
42Kuijpers-Jagtman AM. Gevolgen van zuiggewoonten voor de ontwikkeling van het tandkaakstelsel [Effects of sucking habits on the dentofacial development]. Ned Tijdschr Tandheelkd. 1989 Jun;96(6):256-8. Dutch. PMID: 2635279.
43Estripeaut LE, Henriques JF, de Almeida RR. Hábito de sucção do polegar e má oclusão--apresentação de um caso clínico [Thumbsucking and malocclusion--presentation of a clinical case]. Rev Odontol Univ Sao Paulo. 1989 Apr-Jun;3(2):371-6. Portuguese. PMID: 2639459.
44Grippaudo C, Paolantonio EG, Antonini G, Saulle R, La Torre G, Deli R. Association between oral habits, mouth breathing and malocclusion. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2016 Oct;36(5):386-394. doi: 10.14639/0392-100X-770. PMID: 27958599; PMCID: PMC5225794.
45Doğramacı EJ, Rossi-Fedele G. Establishing the association between nonnutritive sucking behavior and malocclusions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Dent Assoc. 2016 Dec;147(12):926-934.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2016.08.018. Epub 2016 Sep 28. PMID: 27692622.
46Lee SH, et al. How Does Open-Mouth Breathing Influence Upper Airway Anatomy? The Laryngoscope 2007; 117:1102-1106. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLG.0b013e318042aef7
47Meerman R, Brown A J. When somebody loses weight, where does the fat go? BMJ 2014; 349 :g7257 doi:10.1136/bmj.g7257
48Camacho, Macario et al. “Myofunctional Therapy to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” Sleep vol. 38,5 669-75. 1 May. 2015, doi:10.5665/sleep.4652
49Merck Manual Professional Version. Gas-related complaints. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gastrointestinal-disorders/symptoms-of-gi-disorders/gas-related-complaints?query=gas-related complaints#. Accessed Jan. 8, 2020.
50Chitkara DK, Bredenoord AJ, Rucker MJ, Talley NJ. Aerophagia in adults: a comparison with functional dyspepsia. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2005 Nov 1;22(9):855-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02651.x. PMID: 16225495.
51Abraczinskas D. Overview of intestinal gas and bloating. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 8, 2020.
52https://www.healthline.com/health/aerophagia
53Proffit WR. Contemporary Orthodontics Fourth Edition. Elsevier, Health Sciences Education, Marketing.
54Guimarães KC, Drager LF, Genta PR, Marcondes BF, Lorenzi-Filho G. "Effects of oropharyngeal exercises on patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome." Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009 May 15;179(10):962-6. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200806-981OC. Epub 2009 Feb 20. PMID: 19234106.
55de Felício, Cláudia Maria et al. “Obstructive sleep apnea: focus on myofunctional therapy.” Nature and science of sleep vol. 10 271-286. 6 Sep. 2018, doi:10.2147/NSS.S141132
56Trevisan, Maria Elaine, Jalusa Boufleur, Juliana Corrêa Soares, Carlos Jesus Pereira Haygert, Lilian Gerdi Kittel Ries, and Eliane Castilhos Rodrigues Corrêa. “Diaphragmatic amplitude and accessory inspiratory muscle activity in nasal and mouth-breathing adults: a cross-sectional study.” Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 25, no. 3 (2015): 463-468.
57Deacon, Naomi L., Rachel Jen, Yanru Li, and Atul Malhotra. “Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Prospects for personalized combined modality therapy.” Annals of the American Thoracic Society 13, no. 1 (2016): 101-108.
58Huang YS, Quo S, Berkowski JA, Guilleminault C (2015) Short Lingual Frenulum and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children. Int J Pediatr Res 1:003
What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?
The mouth, head, and neck are a complex weave of muscles, tissues, joints, bones, blood vessels, and nerves that all need to work together for a smooth, discomfort free daily function.
Currently, we are born and grow with little direction and training in this area of our bodies. We eat the way we eat, we chew on the side that is most comfortable, we swallow whichever way gets the food down, our tongues rest wherever they rest, we breathe the easier way, and we have repetitive habits that soothe our stress that can involve our faces and mouths.
All of these reflexive habits can create abnormalities in your child's oral and facial structures, and since they have been doing them throughout their youthful growth, their bones and muscles have molded around these untrained habits, potentially creating ingrained disorders in their later years.
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapists specialize and only focus on the muscles and tissues throughout the tongue, jaw, face, head, and neck. Weekly exercises are given that either tone or relax these muscles and tissues aligning them to your child's center. Working from their foundation up. Progressively resetting years of habits. Most children will complete the program within the year and yet their new symmetry could last their lifetime.
A Stanford University Systematic Review revealed the lasting beneficial effects of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in a wide cohort:
“Current literature demonstrates that orofacial myofunctional therapy decreases apnea-hypopnea index by approximately 50% in adults and 62% in children. Improvements to snoring and daytime sleepiness. Shown effective in children and adults of all ages studied thus far; youngest patient 3 yrs old to 60 yrs old. Therapy has an important role in preventing relapse.”48