Black Hills Orofacial Myology

07/05/2021

Do you have restless sleep or grind your teeth?

Teeth grinding often accompanies a set of other symptoms, including:

​- Low blood pressure
- Chronic stuffy nose
- Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD)
- Headaches or migraines
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Tension headache
- Hyperventilation syndrome
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Cold feet and hands
- Depression or anxiety
- Brain fog, daytime sleepiness
- Allergies, skin rashes
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Why would this be?

People who grind their teeth, often work or study long hours or report stressful family situations. Stress plays a part, but teeth grinding also reveals how people breathe during sleep. To put it more correctly, teeth grinding hints at a set of sleep disorders and lack of oxygen during sleep. It’s a little-known condition known as upper airway resistance syndrome. And it is far more common than you’d expect.

It’s estimated that 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. You may ask how the number could be so big? Many people simply don’t know they are at risk. They also have sleep disorders that are hard to pick up and even define.

The relatively small number of diagnoses are those with obstructive sleep apnea, yet it’s estimated 1 billion people globally suffer from OSA.

Teeth grinding is often associated with a condition abbreviated as UARS – UPPER AIRWAY RESISTANCE SYNDROME.

Sleep tests reveal UARS is sleep interrupted with frequent respiratory effort related arousals (RERAs). It’s due to higher pressure in the airways that send a message of ‘choking’ to your brain. If you suffer RERAs all night long, your body cannot enter deep REM sleep.
​
​UARS indicates sympathetic FLIGHT OR FLIGHT driven sleep. It is the little sister of sleep apnea, and we need to talk about it.

Imagine the sound of tooth enamel screeching against under 250 pounds of force per inch. That’s what dentists think when they see teeth grinding in patients. For a long time, I would prescribe a night splint to prevent damage to the teeth. Whilst guards can sometimes help, the real way to help a patient is to identify their breathing issue.

Do you or a family member suffer from teeth grinding?

06/28/2021

I hate to burst your bubble......but crib and rake appliances DON'T work!

That's because a TONGUE THRUST IS NOT THE CAUSE OF MALOCCLSION....

Tongue thrust is merely a symptom of POOR ORAL REST POSTURE.

We know that teeth are moved by light, constant forces...not heavy, intermittent pressures.

These appliances do nothing more than CHANGE the function.....they don't CORRECT the dysfunction.....and they MAKE ORAL REST POSTURE WORSE.

There's a better way!!! THERAPY!!!

04/07/2021

See what can happen when the tongue is no longer in the way! The pictures on the top where the first day, notice the tongue behind the teeth on the top left. This is how the tongue rested all day long. The picture on the upper right is what the tongue did during swallowing, see how it pushes against and through the teeth? On the bottom was after therapy, notice how the teeth have come together AND no tongue is visible! MYO works!

02/19/2019

If you need assistance with this, we can help. 812-454-2435

02/17/2019

If you know a mouth breather, I can help!

Dr. Momma continues her discussions about nasal congestion and mouth breathing and now focuses on long-term consequences of mouth breathing.

02/03/2019

It seems that in the past, the main reason to refer a patient to a therapist was for a tongue thrust. We now have a wide variety of symptoms we need to be looking for which can be treated by a Myofunctional Therapist that can greatly improve our patients’ quality of life. Things such as …

01/30/2019

Myofunctional Therapy isn't just for kids in braces! People of ALL ages can benefit from an evaluation!

It is never too late to make a positive change in your Oral Rest Posture and improve your function!

To find a therapist near you, visit our member directory at http://orofacialmyologist.org/

01/15/2019

Humans are designed to be nasal breathers!!

Did you know that mouth breathing can cause elongation of the facial skeleton, crooked teeth and a flattened profile over time?

Don't wait to have issues like allergies and enlarged tonsils and adenoids checked out by an Allergist or ENT!
Ask a CERTIFIED OROFACIAL MYOLOGIST to evaluate you or your child so we can evaluate Oral Rest Posture and get you back on track!

12/16/2018

09/16/2018

Take a few moments to evaluate YOUR Oral Rest Posture!

What are your lips doing? Are they gently sealed, or are they parted?💋

Where is your tongue? Is it on the roof of your mouth, or is it resting low and forward?👅

Is your face symmetrical? Are your eyes alert or tired?👀

Maybe it's time for a consultation with a CERTIFIED OROFACIAL MYOLOGIST!!

(Original artwork created for OMT of York by Carol Schottenfeld)