We may have the missing piece to your child’s health
Behavioral concerns? Speech issues? Restless sleep?
The Gulf Coast Mom is so thankful to Felicia Morris of Gulf South Myofunctional Therapy for sharing her wisdom with us as we recognize Mouth Breathing Awareness Month!
Myofunctional Therapist, Felicia Morris. She is a MS Gulf Coast native & a 2005 Bay High School graduate. After graduating from PRCC with degrees in both Arts & Applied Sciences in 2010, she moved back to the coast & has been working in the dental field ever since. In 2016, Felicia became trained in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy & began treating patients with myofunctional disorders.
Mouth breathing... Snoring... Behavioral concerns... Speech issues... Restless sleep... Drooling... Teeth grinding... TMJ pain... Sleep apnea. What do all of these issues have in common? They are all signs of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs). OMDs are dysfunctions of the muscles in the face & mouth & can be treated by a neuromuscular therapy called Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT). Yes, I know; it’s quite a mouthful.
But if you or your child has any of these issues, you’re going to want to continue reading.
The human body is remarkable at figuring out how to function in order to survive, by any means possible... enter OMDs! Myofunctional disorders can be caused by numerous things, such as: oral restrictions (aka tongue & lip ties), chronic nasal obstruction, pacifier or finger sucking habits, congenital disorders, nail biting habits, etc. When these issues are present, our muscles adapt & begin to function improperly, causing a plethora of problems.
“He’s been in speech therapy since he was 18 months old, but we still have trouble understanding him. His little sister helps translate for him.”
“She’s 4 years old & still has trouble drooling & I don’t know why!”
“He has always been a slow & messy eater. His dad & I have to get onto him constantly about chewing with his mouth open, but I also feel like he can’t help it.”
“She grinds her teeth so badly at night & rolls around like an alligator. Every time that I’ve voiced concern, I was told that she will grow out of it.”
These are real concerns that some of my patients have voiced to me. As you can see, each patient has different concerns, but they are all issues that we are successfully treating with myofunctional therapy &, in some cases, additional co-therapies. Among myofunctional disorders, the most common sign is mouth breathing.
Mouth breathing occurs due to nasal airway blockage. The nose is an AMAZING organ that warms & humidifies our air, filters allergens, & produces Nitric Oxide, a super gas that kills bacteria, viruses, fungi, mold, & parasites. While mouth breathing, none of these processes occur, leading to inflammation & frequent infections. Though some return to nasal breathing, oftentimes, mouth breathing becomes the norm.
Chronic mouth breathing in children causes an increased risk for several health issues including abnormal craniofacial growth, speech impediments, dental malocclusion, & sleep disordered breathing (SDB). SDB is a condition that is associated with an increased risk for poor academic performance, anxiety, depression, ADD, & ADHD in children. Chronic mouth breathing in adults is also associated with an increased risk for countless health conditions including high blood pressure, gum disease, heart disease, & stroke.
So, what’s the moral of this story? Be proactive! Ensuring that your child has a healthy airway could change the trajectory of their life. If I’ve learned anything from motherhood, it is that mother’s instinct is a VERY REAL THING! We know our children better than most. It is very common for a mom to pick up on issues that their child may be having, while others don’t. Since practicing myofunctional therapy, I have met numerous mothers who have done exactly that.
So, my advice to moms on the MS Gulf Coast is to CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CHILD!
If you want to learn more about OMT & airway health, please reach out. I am here to help advocate for our children & lead them to healthier lives - one exercise at a time.
Felicia R. Morris, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist
Gulf South Myofunctional Therapy
Sources:
● 7 Signs of Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Children. By: By Sarah Fabozzi Winter, DMD and
Suzanne Robertson, RDH, Myofunctional Therapist
● What to know about Mouth Breathing. By: Jacquelyn Cafasso
