Myofunctional therapy is an exercise-based program that focuses on the muscles of the mouth, tongue and face… building strength, tone and control. Did you know that you should be breathing through your nose all day & all night? And snoring, although common, is not healthy? Just a few areas we can help!
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Chronic Mouth Breathing can cause...
-Poorly humidified air into lungs
-Upper chest breathing (inefficient & tiring)
-Chronic over breathing
-Greater incidence of snoring & sleep apnea
- Bad breath, dental decay, gum disease
- Dysfunction of the TMJ
--Narrowing of dental arch, jaw & palate
-Crowded/crooked teeth
-Open bite, malocclusion
-Greater risk of orthodontic relapse
-Noisy eating, speech & swallowing problems
-Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
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Tongue Tie restriction can cause...
- Postural maladaptation
- Mouth breathing
-Low resting tongue posture
-Swallow dysfunction/tongue thrust
-Sleep issues
-Neck & Shoulder tension
-Headaches
-Clenching & grinding
-Reflux, heartburn, digestion issues
-Breastfeeding issues
-Difficulty with speech
-Development of high, narrow palate
-Airway restrictions
-Picky/messy eating
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Sleep Disordered Breathing signs in kids...
Teeth Grinding
Bed Wetting
Sleep Walking
Sweating at Night
Restless Sleep
Snoring
Growth Problems
Napping in Older Children
ADHD
Mouth Breathing
My approach
As a Dental Hygienist with over 20 years in the dental field, I have always been passionate about focusing on the root cause of a health issue. I’ve always told my patients, the head IS connected to the rest of the body, so let’s focus on whole body health! This mentality led me to my training in myofunctional therapy, a focus on restoring normal function to the tongue/mouth by focusing on healthy breathing and airway management. Myofunctional Therapy allows me to treat clients through exercises and guidance tailored to their unique needs. Clients that report sleep issues, TMJ discomfort, grinding, mouth breathing, orthodontic relapse, tongue tie restriction, etc can all benefit from myofunctional therapy. While achieving the 4 main goals of therapy, we address dysfunction and compensations to create correct habits for lifelong health.
Services
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Comprehensive Evaluation
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Myofunctional Therapy
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Functional Frenuloplasty Referral
Comprehensive Exam
During this exam, we will assess the tongue posture, mobility & tone. We will also evaluate early childhood history and habits, sleep patterns, swallowing & chewing techniques, mouth breathing habits, etc in order to develop a specific treatment plan to meet the needs on the client.
Locations
Therapy can be completed at a couple different dental practices in the DFW metroplex. Online Therapy offered for specific clients who are unable to meet in office.
Meet the Therapist
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Ashley Cotten
Myofunctional Therapist
