Every parent hopes their child will lead a healthy, happy life. But what happens when a routine dental check-up exposes a concern that could impact your child’s everyday activities? At Miami Designer Smiles, we regularly encounter and treat conditions known as Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs).
OMDs affect muscles in the mouth and face, disturbing normal muscle movement patterns. These atypical muscle patterns can interfere with essential functions such as breathing, eating, talking, and of course, smiling. If left untreated, OMDs can have serious consequences. These alterations in muscle functionality can affect facial and skeletal growth, bite alignment, jaw joint movement, oral hygiene, and the success of orthodontic treatment.
The Era of Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy is a series of exercises that work to improve the strength and coordination of the tongue, lips, and facial muscles. At Miami Designer Smiles, we believe myofunctional therapy can play a vital role in aiding jaw joint movement, particularly in children.
The Causes of OMDs
Understanding the causes can provide insight into ways to tackle the problem head-on. Common causes are habits picked up at an early age, such as thumb sucking, finger sucking, resting with the lips apart, or a forward resting posture of the tongue. Other causes can include small jaw room and restricted airway problems.
Thumb and Finger Sucking
Thumb and finger sucking can modify the natural growth pattern of the jaws and teeth.
Lip Resting and Tongue Posture
Resting lips apart or allowing the tongue to sit in a forward resting posture can deform the balance of facial muscles, which can alter the shape of the oral cavity.
Jaw Room
A lack of space within the jaw can force the tongue to adopt an awkward posture, causing an imbalance in the muscles attached to the jaw joint.
Myofunctional Therapy: Aiding in Better Jaw Joint Movements
With myofunctional therapy, the functionality and coordinated movement of the oral and facial muscles can drastically improve. It aims to rebuild proper movement patterns, breathing habits, swallowing, speech, and overall oral health.
Raising Awareness on Oral Muscle Disorders
A report suggests that OMD affects nearly 38% of the general population and up to 81% of children. As part of our dental services in Miami, we are dedicated to raising awareness about muscle disorders in children. Early treatment intervention is key to better oral health and overall well-being in a child’s growing years.
Why Choose Myofunctional Therapy?
At Miami Designer Smiles, we strongly believe that myofunctional therapy can significantly contribute to improving a child’s health. The therapy can rebuild proper chewing, swallowing, and breathing patterns, thus enhancing jaw joint movement.
Easy to Integrate Into Daily Routine
The exercises included in myofunctional therapy are not taxing and can easily be incorporated into a child’s daily routine.
Minimal Side Effects
One of the beauties of these exercises is that they carry little risk of adverse effects when performed correctly.
Effective Results
When combined with regular dental check-ups with Dr. Concepcion Sanchez-Garcia and Dr. Raul Garcia at our clinic, expect exceptional results.
Final Thoughts
Healthy habits nurtured at a young age often carry forward into adulthood. Do not let OMDs hamper your child’s growth. Miami Designer Smiles looks forward to serving your need for oral health care. From our range of services including general, family, and pediatric dentistry, to myofunctional therapy, we stand ready to provide comprehensive care to keep your child’s smile healthy and bright.