Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are patterns or habits that affect how the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue work. These can show up in kids or adults as things like mouth breathing, trouble with certain speech sounds, or a tongue that pushes forward when swallowing (called tongue thrust).

These habits might seem small, but over time they can affect how a child speaks, eats, sleeps, and even how their face and jaw grow. The good news? With early support and the right therapy, these patterns can be improved or corrected.

This page is here to help you learn what OMDs are, why they happen, and how we can help your child—or even you—build healthy habits for a lifetime.

 

 

👅 What is Tongue Tie (Ankyloglossia)?

Tongue tie is a condition where the lingual frenulum (the band of tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth) is too short, tight, or thick, restricting tongue movement.

This can impact feeding, speech, breathing, oral posture, and development—not just in infants, but also in older children and adults.

💡 Why Tongue Tie Matters
🔹 In Infants

  • Breastfeeding challenges – poor latch, clicking sounds, excessive gas/swallowing air

  • Maternal nipple pain or low milk supply due to ineffective feeding

  • May lead to early weaning or undernourishment

🔹 In Children

  • Delayed or unclear speech – especially with sounds requiring tongue elevation (like /t/, /d/, /l/, /n/, /r/)

  • Mouth breathing or poor tongue posture

  • May cause difficulty with chewing, swallowing, and messy eating

  • Often contributes to tongue thrust, dental crowding, or narrow palate

🔹 In Teens & Adults

  • Sleep-disordered breathing (like snoring or obstructive sleep apnea)

  • Neck tension, jaw pain, or headaches due to compensatory muscle use

  • Speech or articulation issues

  • Difficulty with activities like kissing, licking an ice cream cone, or playing wind instruments

🧠 How It’s Diagnosed

Diagnosis involves a combination of:

  • Functional assessment – how well the tongue moves, lifts, extends, and rests

  • Structural assessment – looking at the appearance and mobility of the frenulum

  • Tools like the Hazelbaker or Kotlow classification scales may be used by professionals

Myofunctional therapists, lactation consultants, speech-language pathologists, ENTs, and dentists often collaborate to identify and manage tongue ties.

🛠️ Treatment & Support
✂️ Frenectomy / Frenuloplasty

  • A simple procedure to release the tie using scissors, laser, or scalpel

  • Often performed by pediatric dentists, ENTs, or oral surgeons

🧘 Pre- & Post-Release Myofunctional Therapy

  • Prepares the muscles before the release to reduce compensations

  • Supports healing and teaches the tongue how to move and rest correctly

  • Helps avoid reattachment (reattachment is more common without therapy)

🌟 Why Myofunctional Therapy is Crucial

Even after the tongue tie is released, the tongue must learn to move in ways it never could before. Therapy helps:

  • Retrain oral resting posture

  • Improve swallowing and speech patterns

  • Support nasal breathing

  • Prevent future orthodontic, airway, or jaw issues

 

 

🦷 Tongue Thrust

What it is:

A pattern where the tongue pushes against or between the teeth during swallowing, speech, or even at rest.

How it affects you:

  • Can lead to dental misalignment (open bite, overjet).

  • Often results in speech distortions, especially with sounds like /s/, /z/, /t/, /d/.

  • May cause difficulty chewing and swallowing efficiently.

  • Creates long-term pressure on teeth and jaws, potentially altering facial structure.

Causes:

  • Prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use

  • Enlarged tonsils/adenoids

  • Chronic nasal congestion

  • Improper oral habits early in life

 

 

😮‍💨 Mouth Breathing

What it is:

A habitual pattern of breathing through the mouth instead of the nose.

Why it’s a problem:

  • Can dry out oral tissues and increase risk for tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath.

  • Affects facial development — often leads to long, narrow faces and underdeveloped jaws.

  • Reduces oxygen uptake efficiency compared to nasal breathing.

  • Can be linked to snoring and sleep apnea.

Common causes:

  • Allergies, nasal polyps, or chronic congestion

  • Enlarged adenoids or tonsils

  • Habit formed during childhood

 

 

👅 Incorrect Tongue Posture

What it is:

The tongue should naturally rest against the palate (roof of the mouth) when at rest — not lie on the bottom or press forward.

Why it matters:

  • Proper tongue posture helps shape the palate and jaw during growth.

  • Poor posture can lead to narrow palate, crowded teeth, and jaw misalignment.

  • Contributes to mouth breathing and may exacerbate sleep disorders.

 

 

🗣️ Speech Disorders (from OMDs)

What it is:

Speech issues, especially articulation problems, can stem from incorrect muscle function or tongue position.

Common signs:

  • Lisping (especially frontal /s/ and /z/ sounds)

  • Muffled or slushy speech

  • Difficulty with fast or clear speech

How OMDs contribute:

  • Tongue thrust or low tongue posture alters how airflow and sound are produced.

  • Limited oral-motor control or coordination affects clarity.

 

 

😬 Thumb Sucking & Other Oral Habits

What it is:

Prolonged non-nutritive sucking habits (thumb, pacifier, blanket chewing, etc.).

Why it’s an issue:

  • Creates abnormal pressure on the teeth and palate.

  • Can lead to an open bite, narrow arch, and tongue thrust.

  • These habits can disrupt normal swallowing patterns and tongue posture.

Age to watch:

Habits that continue past age 3–4 may start to cause structural issues.

 

 

💤 Sleep-Disordered Breathing / Sleep Apnea (related to OMDs)

What it is:

Interrupted or shallow breathing during sleep due to obstruction in the airway, often linked to oral and facial structure.

How OMDs are involved:

  • Improper oral resting posture or weak muscles may contribute to airway collapse.

  • A low tongue posture reduces space in the oral cavity, pushing structures backward and narrowing the airway.

  • Mouth breathing and poor jaw development are often connected to sleep-disordered breathing in both kids and adults.

Red flags:

  • Snoring

  • Restless sleep

  • Bedwetting (in kids)

  • Daytime fatigue

  • ADHD-like behavior in children

Myofunctional therapy can make a big difference in everyday life!

We’re here to help — contact us today to start the journey!