Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT)

I provide specialised orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) service that is backed by 20 years of experience that addresses issues such as mouth breathing, teeth grinding, snoring, and more.

Orofacial myofunctional disorders encompass a range of conditions affecting the face, mouth, and tongue, with potential implications for various aspects of health and development such as facial growth, chewing, swallowing, speech, and more. These disorders can impact functions like breathing, oral hygiene, and even the effectiveness of orthodontic treatments.

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Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT)

Orofacial myofunctional disorders are disorders of the face, mouth, and tongue. These disorders may directly or indirectly affect facial growth and development and includes chewing, swallowing, breastfeeding, speech, occlusion, jaw movement, oral hygiene, stability of orthodontic treatment, facial aesthetics, breathing and more.

Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) addresses these disorders through individually prescribed sets of exercises to coordinate the muscles and nerves of the mouth, tongue, face, and throat to allow for normal function.

By facilitating normal function in these areas, OMT can help alleviate a variety of issues, including breathing difficulties, sleep problems, dental crowding, and jaw-related concerns.

OMT treatment may be helpful with the following:

  • breathing dysfunction
  • open-mouth posture
  • sleep disordered breathing, sleep apnoea and snoring
  • coughing
  • gagging/choking
  • dental crowding
  • oral hygiene issues
  • alongside orthodontic treatment adjustments (braces and plates)
  • dummy usage
  • excessive drooling
  • oral fixations
  • teeth grinding
  • jaw problems
  • incorrect chewing
  • tongue-thrust swallow

A consultation involves an in-depth case history and an intra-oral examination. This can be done in person or online.

With my breathing expertise, osteopathic knowledge and OMT experience I create a precise program for everyone. Although some individualised treatment is needed in some cases, there is much that can be done at home to help with these myofunctional disorders.

OMT treatment may be helpful with the following:

  • Breathing Dysfunction: Aims to address issues related to breathing patterns, helping individuals achieve more efficient and optimal breathing function.
  • Open-Mouth Posture: Can assist in correcting the habit of open-mouth posture, promoting proper alignment and function of the oral structures.
  • Sleep Disordered Breathing, Sleep Apnoea, and Snoring: Target the muscles involved in breathing during sleep, potentially reducing symptoms of sleep-related disorders like sleep apnea and snoring.
  • Coughing: Exercises can be done to help improve coordination and control of the muscles involved in coughing, leading to more effective cough responses.
  • Gagging/Choking: Addresses sensory and motor issues that contribute to gagging and choking reflexes, promoting better control and coordination.
  • Dental Crowding: Can play a role in addressing orofacial muscle imbalances that may contribute to dental crowding, potentially supporting orthodontic treatment outcomes.
  • Oral Hygiene Issues: Focus on enhancing oral muscle function and coordination, which can positively impact oral hygiene practices and overall mouth health.
  • Alongside Orthodontic Treatment Adjustments (Braces and Plates): Complement orthodontic treatment by targeting muscle imbalances and promoting proper alignment for more effective outcomes.
  • Dummy Usage: Assist in addressing habits like dummy usage, promoting healthy orofacial muscle function and reducing reliance on pacifiers.
  • Excessive Drooling: Target muscle coordination and control, potentially reducing issues related to excessive drooling.
  • Oral Fixations: Aims to address oral fixation behaviors by promoting healthier oral muscle function and coordination.
  • Teeth Grinding: Help individuals manage teeth grinding habits by addressing underlying muscle imbalances and promoting proper muscle function.
  • Jaw Problems: Focus in improving muscle coordination and function in the jaw to address issues such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.
  • Incorrect Chewing: Optimize muscle function and coordination in the mouth for more effective and efficient chewing patterns.
  • Tongue-Thrust Swallow: Target the muscles involved in swallowing, helping individuals correct tongue-thrust patterns for improved swallowing function.
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Dr Christina Fraval

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist

Osteopath BAppSc (ClinSc), BOsteoSc

Breathing Educator

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