Eastern Shore Myo

07/25/2025

Why do some children prefer soft foods?

A consistent preference for soft foods—like pasta, bread, yogurt, or ice cream—can sometimes signal more than just taste. Children may choose these textures because:
🔹 They have reduced orofacial muscle strength.
🔹 There’s limited tongue mobility (often due to a tongue-tie).
🔹 Chewing feels tiring or uncomfortable.

Over time, relying mainly on soft foods can limit the natural exercise that chewing provides. This can affect orofacial muscle development, which plays an important role in balanced facial growth, proper breathing, swallowing, and even speech.

What can you do?
If you notice your child consistently avoiding chewy or crunchy foods, consider having them evaluated by a qualified professional—such as a myofunctional therapist, airway focused pediatric dentist, or feeding specialist. Early identification and intervention can help strengthen oral muscles and support healthy development.

Remember: Chewing isn’t just about eating—it’s a key part of growing and thriving!

07/25/2025

07/15/2025

The tongue plays a key role in guiding proper facial growth and development.
When it rests on the roof of the mouth and moves well, it helps form wide dental arches, supports airway health, and promotes balanced facial structure. 🦷👃

But when tongue function is limited — whether due to a restricted range of motion (like in a tongue tie), low muscle tone, etc — it can impact:
🔹 Jaw and facial development
🔹 Tooth alignment
🔹 Breathing and sleep
🔹 Long-term oral function

At The Breathe Institute, we take a functional approach — addressing the root causes to support healthy growth from the inside out.

📞 310-579-9710
🌐 thebreatheinstitute.com

05/30/2025

💡Did you know ?

The buccinator muscle — tucked right into your cheeks — plays a much bigger role than just helping you smile! It’s actually a key player in making sure we swallow correctly. 🍽️💧💬

This often-overlooked muscle helps hold food and liquids in the right place while you chew, preventing it from getting stuck in your cheeks. But when the buccinator is weak or uncoordinated, it can cause a ripple effect of issues — especially for kids with orofacial myofunctional disorders.

👀 Here are some signs to look out for:
• 🍗 Food getting trapped in the cheeks
• 👅 Tongue thrust while swallowing
• ⏳ Mealtimes that are messy or take too long
• 🗣️ Speech clarity issues in children

That’s where orofacial myofunctional therapy comes in! With targeted exercises, we help strengthen and train the buccinator (and other muscles) so they can do their job effectively. The result? Better eating, clearer speech, and healthier oral habits overall!

🎺 Fun fact: “Buccinator” comes from the Latin word for “trumpeter” — because this muscle also helps us blow air out effectively. Yes, it even helps with playing wind instruments!

Let’s give those cheeks the credit they deserve. 🙌

05/28/2025

Crowded teeth in kids aren’t just a cosmetic issue—they’re often a red flag for underlying problems like underdeveloped jaws, mouth breathing, or tongue posture issues.

Early signs to watch for:
• Snoring or open-mouth sleeping
• Speech delays or grinding teeth
• Early crowding of baby teeth

What to do:
Get an airway-focused evaluation, consider myofunctional therapy, and support nasal breathing early on. Intervention as young as 3–5 years can make a huge difference!

Learn more at www.thebreatheinstitute.com

05/19/2025

🧠💪 Happy ! Did you know that myofunctional therapy can help improve breathing, sleep, speech, and even facial development? It’s like physical therapy—but for your mouth, tongue, and face!

Let’s get those muscles moving the right way. 💬👃😴

05/14/2025

🌙 Struggling with Sleep Apnea? There’s a Natural Solution You May Not Know About…

Did you know that myofunctional therapy can significantly improve sleep apnea symptoms—without surgery or a CPAP machine?

Myofunctional therapy targets the root causes of sleep-disordered breathing by retraining the muscles of the tongue, mouth, and throat. When these muscles are strong and function properly, the airway stays open during sleep—reducing snoring, improving oxygen flow, and helping you wake up rested and refreshed.

✅ Helps reduce airway collapse during sleep
✅ Supports proper tongue posture and nasal breathing
✅ Great for adults & kids with mild to moderate sleep apnea
✅ Often used alongside other treatments like CPAP or oral appliances

If you or your child are dealing with poor sleep, constant fatigue, or behavioral changes from lack of rest, myofunctional therapy could be the missing link. 💡

📩 Send us a message to schedule a consultation. Let’s work together toward better breathing and better sleep. 😴💙

05/14/2025

🌟 What is Myofunctional Therapy – and Why Does It Matter? 🌟

Did you know the way you breathe, swallow, and even rest your tongue can impact your overall health?

Myofunctional therapy is a natural, exercise-based approach that helps retrain the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue. It can support better breathing, improved sleep, clearer speech, and even proper facial development in kids and adults!

✅ Helps reduce snoring and sleep apnea symptoms
✅ Supports orthodontic treatments and long-term stability
✅ Improves oral posture and facial muscle tone
✅ Encourages nasal breathing over mouth breathing

Whether you’re struggling with sleep issues, jaw pain, or your child is facing speech or dental concerns, myofunctional therapy may be the missing piece.

💬 Curious if it’s right for you or your child? Let’s talk! Message me or drop a comment below.

05/12/2025

At REMastered Sleep, our mission is to enhance your airway health and elevate your sleep quality. The REMplenish myo-nozzle, is designed to encourage nasal breathing and support optimal tongue posture. Our myo-nozzles are a great tool that can be used in conjunction with traditional myofunctional therapy methods. Recognizing the right moment to consult a myofunctional therapist can significantly advance your wellness journey.

Why should you go see a myofunctional therapist? Staying informed about your airway health is vital for your overall well-being. If any of the following issues resonate with you—such as frequent snoring, daytime fatigue, or difficulty concentrating—we invite you to reach out to a myofunctional therapist for personalized guidance. Taking proactive steps today can lead to a healthier tomorrow.

12/16/2024

Early detection of airway issues in children is so important. Problems with the airway, particularly related to breathing, can impact a child’s growth, sleep, speech, cognitive development, and overall well-being.

Dentists, particularly those trained in airway management, can detect signs of mouth breathing, poor tongue posture, or dental issues linked to airway problems. How often does your child go see their dentist? What questions are they asking?

Parents, pediatricians, and dentists should be proactive in identifying potential signs of airway concerns, so timely intervention can be made to promote healthy growth and overall well-being.

12/16/2024