Orofacial Physique Myofunctional Therapy

07/31/2025

🗣️Thinking About a Frenectomy? Here’s Why Myofunctional Therapy is a Must – Before AND After👅

If you or your child is scheduled for a frenectomy (a procedure to release a tongue, lip, or cheek tie), don’t skip one of the most important parts of the healing journey: myofunctional therapy!

🔍 What is Myofunctional Therapy?
It’s a series of targeted exercises that retrain the muscles of the mouth, tongue, and face to improve breathing, swallowing, speaking, and posture.

💡 Why Before the Procedure?
➡️ Prepares the muscles for proper movement
➡️ Reduces tension and compensations
➡️ Helps ensure a more effective and comfortable release
➡️ Builds awareness and strength for better post-op recovery

💡 Why After the Procedure?
➡️ Speeds up healing and prevents reattachment
➡️ Reinforces proper tongue and lip function
➡️ Improves long-term outcomes like speech, sleep, and oral habits
➡️ Maximizes the benefits of the release!

👶 🧒 👩‍🦱 Whether it’s for a baby, child, teen, or adult, myofunctional therapy can be the missing piece that transforms a simple release into a truly successful functional change.

✅ Partnering with a myofunctional therapist before and after a frenectomy can make all the difference!

📲Have questions or want to know if myofunctional therapy is right for you or your child? Message or call me — I’m here to help! (223)267-9802

07/28/2025

✨Did You Know? Facial Muscles Shape Facial Bones!✨

Your child's facial muscles do more than just help them smile-they actually play a critical role in how their facial bones develop.

👶 When muscles like the tongue, lips, and cheeks function improperly-such as with mouth breathing, tongue thrust, or low tongue posture-it can lead to:

🔹Narrow palates
🔹Crooked teeth
🔹Long, narrow faces
🔹Jaw misalignment
🔹Poor airway development

💪 The bones of the face grow in response to
consistent muscle pressure. That's why Myofunctional Therapy is so important! It retrains these muscles to work properly, guiding healthier growth and development.

✅ Early intervention = lifelong impact.

07/24/2025

Have you been hearing about tongue ties but aren’t sure what to believe? Let me clarify: tongue ties are NOT a fad!

It’s important to understand that tongue ties do not only affect babies; they can impact individuals throughout their lives in various ways.

Many practitioners might ask you to stick out your tongue as part of their assessment, but this action is NOT an accurate measure of a tongue tie. While practitioners may assess based on their training, there is substantial research and emerging guidelines on tongue tie assessments that are not yet included in medical school curricula.

If you suspect that you or your child may have a tongue tie, it’s crucial to consult a provider who understands how to assess using the five pillars of assessment. If you feel dismissed or don’t receive adequate information to support their decision, it may be wise to seek a second opinion.

Myofunctional therapists are trained not only to assess tongue and lip ties but also to collaborate with a network of providers who understand the effects of tongue ties. Connecting you or your child with the right provider at the right time is essential for success!

Do you need an opinion? Call or message me at (223)267-9802

07/21/2025

Range of motion (ROM) in the tongue and jaw is essential for optimal airway health. When these areas can move freely and function properly, it supports better breathing, proper tongue posture, and efficient swallowing.

07/20/2025

07/18/2025

Your jaw develops not only based on your oral resting posture but is also significantly influenced by your diet. You might think, "I generally eat healthy." For example, you may start your day with a protein shake or fruit smoothie, have oatmeal for breakfast, eat yogurt and a salad for lunch, and enjoy whole grain pasta for dinner. While these choices seem healthy, many of them are soft foods that require minimal chewing.

Our jaws and palates develop in response to the forces applied from our tongue and facial muscles. A diet low in chewing, consisting mainly of soft foods, does not generate the optimal forces needed to maintain a healthy jaw and facial structure. Like any muscle in the body, disuse can lead to atrophy and weakness.

If you find yourself avoiding chewing or deliberately choosing soft foods, it’s important to consider the reasons behind it. Are you experiencing choking or gagging? Are you struggling to chew due to pain or fatigue in your jaw?

These are crucial questions to discuss with a professional, such as a myofunctional therapist. With the right provider and care plan, you can address and potentially eliminate these concerns.

07/16/2025

⛳It’s tee time for the tongue-tied!

Who says therapy can't be fun? Mini golf +
myofunctional therapy = smiles, movement, and
muscle training all in one! 🎯 Let's work those
orofacial muscles while we play! 😄

07/14/2025

✨If no one has told you this, I will. Your child may benefit from having their airway checked.

I'll be honest, in all the years I spent as a practicing hygienist before learning about airway health, I missed all the signs, too.

The child with flat teeth from grinding every night. The ones who couldn't tolerate X-rays because of their gag reflex, or who had perfect brushing habits but still got cavities from mouth breathing. The child who was anxious or antsy because their sleep was so poor.

I wish I had known then what I know now. When you know better, you do better, and now I’m here to help!

If you notice these signs below, please don't ignore them. If your doctor or dentist is dismissing the concerns you've pointed out - get a second opinion, your gut is always right!

Here they are:

😴 Snoring
👄 Mouth breathing
🪥 Recurrent cavities
💤 Restless sleep
🫩Dark under-eye circles
😠 Excessive daytime crankiness or poor focus
🦷 Crowded teeth, narrow jaws
😦Chronically enlarged tonsils/adenoids
😬Teeth grinding
💧Bedwetting past age 5

🚩These are all red flags. Without proper knowledge about them, they can be easily overlooked - but they're important. They mean something is NOT functioning as it should!

✨SEND this to another parent. Let's bring awareness to airway health and the importance of identifying and correcting facial muscle dysfunction.

07/12/2025

📣Let's Talk About Dysfunctional Breathing!

Did you know the way your child breathes can shape their face and impact their overall health?

👃Dysfunctional breathing, like chronic mouth breathing or shallow chest breathing, disrupts the natural development of the face and jaws. It often leads to:
• A narrow palate and crowded teeth
• Elongated face shape
• Poor tongue posture and jaw alignment
• Increased risk of sleep-disordered breathing

But it doesn't stop at facial development.

🚨Dysfunctional breathing can also contribute
to:
• Fatigue and poor concentration
• Anxiety and behavioral issues
• Weakened immune function
• Digestive problems

Proper nasal breathing with correct tongue posture is essential for developing healthy facial structures and supporting whole-body wellness.

⏰Early intervention through Myofunctional
Therapy can help correct these patterns before they lead to lifelong complications.

Let's help our kids breathe, grow, and thrive! 💪💤👶

07/08/2025

✨Early intervention through myofunctional therapy can support proper growth, airway health, and lifelong breathing wellness.

💬Want to learn more?
Visit www.orofacialphysique.com

07/04/2025

🎉🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day from Orofacial Physique! 🎆✨ Today, we celebrate freedom, unity, and the spirit of our great nation. Wishing you all a day filled with joy, laughter, and unforgettable moments with loved ones. Stay safe and enjoy the festivities! ❤️🤍💙