Massage Therapist

How Orofacial Myology Can Benefit Your Clients

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders Can Cause Tightened Muscles in the Head, Neck & Upper Back

Disorders in the head and neck affect the spine which can cause a domino effect of discomforts and potentially painful disorders throughout your patient's body. Orofacial Myology is a great adjunct to your massages.

The Oral-Facial Advantage Program helps to soothe head/neck discomforts, potentially find the root of frequent headaches, open your client's upper airway, improve their breathing, sleeping, facial symmetry, increase endurance, focus, memory, enhance speech, and ease digestive discomforts... 
Plus much more.

Some Of The Orofacial Dysfunctions We Re-Train

Mouth Breathing

Postural Problems

Mouth breathers tend to assume a characteristic posture. Carrying their heads forward in order to compensate for the restriction to their airways to make breathing easier.20
The forward head posture often leads to: Muscle fatigue, neck pain, tension in the TMJ area, spinal disc compression, early arthritis, tension headaches, and dental occlusal problems.21

Upper Chest Breathing

Spinal Strain

Can contribute to back and neck pain because incorrect muscles are being used. This makes deep calm breathing more difficult.39
The proper use of the diaphragm strengthens the stability of the spine and core1

Ankyloglossia (Tongue-Tied)

A condition where the tongue has a varying degree of restriction (a reduced range of motion). This prevents the tongue from reaching proper positioning during eating, swallowing, breathing, sleeping, and speaking, causing the muscles and tissues in the head and neck region to over-compensate. This has many side-effects.25,26,27,28,29,30 
Ankyloglossia can also cause the upper airway to narrow, potentially creating sleep disordered breathing.58

Repetitive Non-Nutritive Oral Habits

Habits: Sucking thumb, finger, lips, or biting nails, cheeks, tongue, hair...etc.

Open Bites, Malocclusion, Crooked Teeth38,39,41,45

Narrow Jaw41,43,44

Vaulted Palate43,44

Tonsil/Adenoid infections/swelling53

Long Face Syndrome39,41,42,43,45

Ortho Relapse19

Sleep Disordered Breathing12

Asymmetrical Face39,41,42,43,45

When we consistently place something in the way of the oral structures and jaw, the anatomy will slowly form around this obstruction.39,41 Like a tree will form around a fence that is in its growth path. 
Formula: frequency + intensity + duration = negative dental and oral changes53
Placing the jaw in a repetitive incorrect position can cause severe muscle/tissue/joint strain.19

The Oral-Facial Advantage Program

Most programs last approximately 1 year.

Patients are seen weekly and assigned exercises that tone or relax the muscles in their head/neck region specific to their disorder.

At What Age Can Patients Begin Oral-Facial Muscle Therapy?

All ages.

The biggest impact can be made with children since their oral-facial structure and behavior is in a more flexible stage of growth. As adults, our muscles and tissues can be toned and relaxed where needed, making a large impact on how we age and the quality of life into our senior years. Make a difference in your health at any age.


Mature 3 to 4 year old mouth breathers can learn nasal breathing.

A mentally prepared 5 year old can begin the Oral Habit Elimination Program.

A 7 to 8 year old and up can start the 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 the patients questions to be answered and to meet the Orofacial Myologist.

Contact Us for Patient Referral Business Cards or to Book a Lunch & Learn

Please Ask Any Questions You Have

*Required

Sources

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