Initial Therapy Assessment

Unlock the full potential of your health with our Initial Therapy Assessment at MYOral Facial Therapy. This thorough evaluation is your gateway to understanding your unique therapy needs, pinpointing underlying issues impacting oral and facial wellness. 

I work closely with you, analyzing your specific concerns to craft a tailored treatment plan directly linked to your well-being goals. You'll gain deeper insights into your health and clarity on the steps forward, setting a solid foundation for a personalized therapy journey. 

How It Works

Myofunctional therapy works much like physical therapy but focuses on the muscles of the face, tongue, and throat. The primary goal is to restore proper function in four key areas:

• Tongue Posture: Training the tongue to rest gently against the roof of the mouth, keeping the airway open and stable.
• Mouth Breathing: Encouraging nasal breathing to improve airway health and oxygen intake.
• Swallowing Patterns: Teaching proper swallowing techniques to prevent undue pressure on teeth and the jaw.
• Oral Muscle Strength: Strengthening the muscles of the tongue, lips, and throat to support healthy breathing and prevent airway collapse during sleep.

Therapy typically involves 5 minutes a day of simple exercises twice a day. Over time, these consistent, targeted movements create profound, lasting changes in breathing, swallowing, and overall oral function.

Clenching, Grinding, and Neck Pain Connection

Many people who experience jaw issues also suffer from clenching or grinding their teeth, a condition known as bruxism. While this may seem like just a dental concern, it often leads to significant pain in the neck and shoulders due to the interconnected nature of these muscles.

How Clenching and Grinding Cause Neck Pain

• Muscle Overuse: The chewing muscles — especially the masseter and temporalis — are among the strongest in the body. When clenching or grinding occurs, these muscles remain in a constant state of intense contraction, often for hours during sleep, leading to fatigue, tenderness, and tightness.
• Referred Pain: Jaw tension often spreads to the neck, shoulders, and upper back, causing discomfort and headaches.
• Postural Imbalance: Chronic jaw tension can result in a forward head posture, which puts additional strain on the neck and upper back muscles.
• Underlying Causes: Bruxism is often linked to deeper issues such as stress, anxiety, or airway problems like sleep apnea, where the body subconsciously clenches to keep the airway open during sleep.

How Myofunctional Therapy Helps with Clenching and Neck Pain

Myofunctional therapy addresses the root causes of clenching and grinding rather than just the symptoms. By retraining the orofacial and airway muscles, therapy helps reduce tension, improve posture, and promote long-term relief.

• Muscle Retraining: Exercises strengthen and coordinate the tongue, lips, and facial muscles, creating a stable and balanced oral environment.
• Correct Tongue Posture: A tongue that rests too low in the mouth can destabilize the jaw and lead to poor posture. Therapy trains the tongue to rest correctly, easing tension on the jaw and neck.
• Improved Nasal Breathing: Many clenchers are also mouth breathers. Nasal breathing exercises improve oxygen intake and reduce the body's need to clench during sleep, lowering strain on the jaw and surrounding muscles.
• Reduced Muscle Over-Activity: By restoring balance, therapy teaches the muscles to relax when not in use, reducing unconscious clenching and grinding while alleviating pain and headaches.