Research has discovered that around 38% of the population has some type of OMD condition
OMD refers to abnormal resting posture of the face and mouth, atypical swallowing patterns, dental malocclusions, blocked nasal airways and speech issues. OMD’s include a wide variety of oral postures, habit patterns and functions which interfere with normal growth and development or function of structures. These disorders can lead to incorrect muscle patterns that can lead to different problems.
Sometimes a single cause can be established for the development of OMD, but many times the result is due to a combination of various factors. These may include structural abnormalities such as being tongue-tied. Another factor can be improper habits such as nail biting, cheek biting, teeth clenching and grinding, or sucking of the thumb or fingers. Deviations in the pharynx or nasal cavity, allergies, or airway restrictions resulting from an enlargement of the tonsils or adenoids may also be part of the cause of OMD. Heredity also plays a factor in determining who might develop some of these conditions.
Research has discovered that around 38% of the population has some type of OMD condition. It has also been found that in children who have speech issues and articulation problems, that 81% of these children have some type of OMD disorder. OMD disorders can also affect:
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of orofacial myofunctional disorders can be very obvious or happen over a period of time and be unclear. Certain habits or conditions can interfere with proper actions of orofacial muscles causing OMD. These muscles include cheeks, jaw, lips and tongue. When these muscles function incorrectly due to habits or conditions, it can lead to improper development. This atypical development causes the muscles to have incorrect adaptations and not work in balance which can cause a variety of problems.
Why be concerned?
If not addressed and corrected, consequences of these behaviors can be:
Our Program
Our program is appropriate for children, teens and adults. Program goals are individualized and are meant to create new healthy oral habits. The benefit of healthy habits can include nasal breathing, favorable resting tongue position and preserving orthodontic results from a program. A variety of exercises are assigned each week to be performed daily or multiple times a day. Exercises focus on resting tongue posture, lip strength and swallowing . A commitment to daily consistent exercise is required to obtain success in our program. The exercises must be carried out until permanent habits are corrected and proper muscle patterns take place.
Thumb/finger sucking elimination
Our program is appropriate for children, teens and adults. Program goals are individualized and are meant to create new healthy oral habits. The benefit of healthy habits can include nasal breathing, favorable resting tongue position and preserving orthodontic results from the program. A variety of exercises are assigned each week to be performed daily or multiple times a day. Exercises focus on resting tongue posture, lip strength and swallowing . A commitment to daily consistent exercise is required to obtain success in the program. The exercises must be carried out until permanent habits are corrected and proper muscle patterns take place.
Orofacial Myofunctional Program
This is the typical program for children and adults. This program is comprehensive and covers a variety of oral problems. This program helps reverse damaging habits, such as tongue thrust. This program can last from six months to a year. The objective of this program is to eliminate bad habits, demonstrate therapeutic facial exercises, develop proper lip seal and tongue placement and teach chewing and swallowing patterns to reinforce good habits. These goals will help the structures in the mouth stay in balance and habitualizing the learned behaviors is most important for long term success.