Myofunctional Therapy in Los Gatos

What Is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy is a type of exercise-based treatment that focuses on retraining the muscles of your mouth, face, and tongue. These muscles play an important role in how you breathe, chew, swallow, speak, and even how your teeth and jaws develop.

When the muscles don’t work properly—such as in cases of mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, or incorrect swallowing patterns—it can lead to problems like crooked teeth, jaw discomfort, orthodontic relapse, speech issues, or even sleep difficulties.

At our practice, we integrate myofunctional therapy into our comprehensive dental care in San Jose, ensuring that treatment not only supports better oral function but also complements other aspects of your dental health.

Myofunctional therapy uses guided exercises, much like physical therapy but for the oral and facial muscles, to restore balance and proper function. By teaching the tongue, lips, and jaw how to move correctly, this therapy can improve oral health, facial development, and overall well-being.

Common Signs You May Benefit from Myofunctional Therapy

Many people live with symptoms of an oral myofunctional disorder without realizing there’s a name—and a solution—for the problem. Myofunctional therapy can help with issues such as:

• Chronic mouth breathing
• Underdeveloped jaw or facial structure
• Orthodontic relapse after braces or aligners
• Speech difficulties, including a lisp
• Trouble swallowing or chewing
• Jaw discomfort or TMJ-related pain
• Headaches, neck pain, or poor posture
• Snoring or symptoms of sleep apnea

If you recognize one or more of these signs in yourself or your child, it may be time to schedule an evaluation.

What Causes Myofunctional Disorders?

Myofunctional disorders often develop when normal oral and facial muscle patterns are disrupted. This can happen due to certain habits, physical restrictions, or a combination of both.

Common contributing factors include:

• Thumb or finger sucking
• Prolonged pacifier use
• Nail biting or chewing on objects
• Tongue thrusting
• Restrictive lip or tongue ties
• Avoidance of firm or chewy foods
• Poor swallowing patterns

When left untreated, these habits and restrictions can create a cycle that becomes harder to break. For example, a restrictive tongue tie may prevent the tongue from resting on the roof of the mouth, leading to a narrow upper jaw and smaller airway. This can trigger mouth breathing, further disrupting normal development and oral function.

How Myofunctional Therapy Works

Myofunctional therapy is based on the principle that muscles can shape bone and soft tissues over time. Just as orthodontic appliances use steady pressure to move teeth, targeted muscle exercises can create long-term changes in oral structure and function.

In therapy, you’ll learn exercises that help:

• Promote nasal breathing instead of mouth breathing
• Correct tongue posture at rest and during swallowing
• Improve chewing efficiency and swallowing patterns
• Strengthen and coordinate lips, cheeks, and tongue muscles

While results often come faster for children whose bones are still developing, myofunctional therapy can also be highly effective for adults. One of its biggest advantages is that once your muscles are retrained, they become your own “natural retainer,” helping you maintain improvements for life.

The Myofunctional Therapy Process at Top Down Dental

Our personalized approach to myofunctional therapy ensures your treatment addresses your specific needs and goals.

Here’s what you can expect:

1. 1. Comprehensive examination – We assess your breathing, swallowing, chewing, speech, and posture to identify concerns.
   2. Identifying contributing factors – If issues like a tongue tie or certain oral habits interfere with function, we’ll discuss options for addressing them.
   3. Customized therapy plan – We create an exercise program tailored to your unique needs and daily routine.
   4. Regular progress checks – We monitor your results and make adjustments as needed.
   5. Education for long-term success – We teach you how to maintain healthy muscle patterns so your improvements last.

Benefits of Myofunctional Therapy

Myofunctional therapy offers wide-ranging benefits for both health and appearance. Patients often experience:

• Improved nasal breathing and airway health
• Greater facial balance and a more natural profile
• Stable results after orthodontic treatment
• Reduced strain on jaw joints and muscles
• Better chewing and swallowing function
• Less snoring and improved sleep quality
• A natural, drug-free, and noninvasive treatment option

Because it addresses the underlying causes of oral dysfunction, myofunctional therapy can help prevent the return of problems that might otherwise require repeated treatment.

Is Myofunctional Therapy Right for You?

Myofunctional therapy is suitable for children, teens, and adults who want to improve oral function, breathing, and facial development without surgery. Early treatment in children can guide proper growth and prevent long-term complications, but it’s never too late to see meaningful results.

If you’ve noticed changes in your bite, difficulty breathing through your nose, or recurring jaw discomfort, an evaluation is the first step toward improvement.