OROFACIAL MYOFUNCTIONAL DISORDERS

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Mouth breathing is typically a result of a number of reasons including allergies—day to day in life.

Sings include:

• Long face syndrome
• Lip incompetence
• Tongue thrust swallow
• TMJ issues
• Chronic headaches
• Daytime fatigue
• allergic shiners
• orthodontic relapse
• digestive concerns
• clenching or grinding
• ADD/ADHD
• sleep breathing disorder

 Thumb sucking is a habit that is unfavorable due to the thumb’s ability to cause low tongue posture. The pressure of the thumb can push the roof of the mouth up, causing it to narrow. It can also push the teeth out and apart and cause the teeth to have an open bite where they are unable to come together. Thumb sucking can also cause a reverse swallowing pattern. 

A tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition that restricts tongue movement due to an abnormally short and thick band of tissue under the tongue, called a frenum. Unfortunately, it is not always detected and can lead to problems with growth and development in children and manifest into adulthood.

• abnormal craniofacial growth and development (elongated face with retracted jaw)
• Allergic shiners
• Lip incompetence
• Speech Concerns
• An increased need for orthodontia and orthodontic relapse
• A tongue thrust swallow pattern
• Acid reflux and digestive concerns
• TMJ issues, clenching or grinding
• Head, neck or shoulder tension
• Chronic headaches
• Chronic congestion
• Night sweats and terrors
• Prolonged bed wetting
• Excessive daytime fatigue
• Behavioral issues
• Mouth breathing or Sleep Disordered Breathing (SBD)

A tongue thrust (or improper swallow) is a condition that forces the tongue to push toward the front of the teeth during the swallow. This is considered “improper” because the tongue is naturally supposed to push against the roof of the mouth when swallowing.

A tongue thrust can either be a learned behavior or the result of a tongue-tie. If a learned behavior, it is developed from habits adopted as a child such as digit sucking or the use of a pacifier. A tongue-tie results in low tongue posture, thus forcing the tongue swallow improperly. Mouth breathing can also result from a tongue thrust; however, the opposite is also true, a tongue thrust can develop from mouth breathing.

When a thrust is present, the tongue is almost always not able to rest at the roof of the mouth the way it is naturally meant to. What results is a high, narrow palate with crowded front teeth and an open anterior bite. This can lead to speech or articulation issues, challenges with swallowing, airway concerns, and orthodontic needs.

Malocclusion also known as crooked and crooked teeth, include crossbite, overjet, overbite, spacing, crowding.

Malocclusion refers to situations in which the upper and lower teeth, or jaw are misaligned and come together in ways that can damage or destroy teeth. Variations in teeth and bone can be caused by environmental or behavioral factors such as masticatory muscles, nocturnal mouth breathing and cleft lip or cleft palate.

 Open mouth posture can have serious permanent consequences: it can affect the dental development and growth of children which can impact dental health and occlusion. Research shows opened-mouth posture can result in an increased length of the face known as “Long Face Syndrome”, droopy eyes with dark circles, short upper lip and retruded chin. Can contribute to Ortho relapse.