Myo Mindset-Myofunctional Therapy

As a myofunctional therapist I often find myself explaining how this journey is a process and it is not something that is a quick fix. It takes dedication, time, and a team of providers to unravel the layers of myofunctional disorders.

Yesterday was the next step in my journey…I got my lip ties released…both top and bottom! It was a painless and easy experience at and I am grateful to Dr. Fattah and his team for their great care! Today, I am feeling great and I did post-release bodywork with Amy which was amazing too!

Pre and Post release pictures are shared here if you are someone who likes to see the after pictures. Now it is time to get my teeth cleaned and get ready for the next step in my journey…expansion!!!

Thank you so much Dr. Geiger of .eyes for talking to us about the neuro optometry world! It was truly fascinating what we learned today and how it all overlaps into each specific profession that was represented there today! Our Arizona is a collaborative group of professionals who truly want the best for everyone we treat!

Feeling thankful!!

Thankful that I decided to embark on this journey of learning all things myofunctional therapy a few years back! Sitting in my office today working on reports, treatment plans, and getting ready for my next client I couldn’t help by look around and feel blessed! I love hearing about all my clients journeys and seeing their wins as therapy progresses! I hear things like:
*My jaw doesn’t hurt any more
*I am sleeping better
*My allergies are not bothering me as much
*The tension in my neck is going away
*I don’t need my nightguard anymore
*I can swallow pills now
*No more snoring
And the list goes on!! Big shout out to all who have and are trusting me on their journey with myofunctional therapy!! I am thankful for you all!!

Our bodies are truly connected…so fun to learn about all the connections!

Could healthy jaw development help with eye health?

The maxilla bones form the roof of the mouth and floor of the nose. But did you know they are also part of the floor of the orbit and connect with all the other bones that form the eye socket?

When we have orthodontic problems, they tend to reflect poor jaw development.

And so, it’s not surprising that researchers have found connections between orthodontic problems and visual disturbances. These include myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and strabismus.

Here’s a link to a comprehensive review of research published on these connections.

Bite and Sight: Is There a Correlation? Clinical Association between Dental Malocclusion and Visual Disturbances in Pediatric Patients

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/17/5913

Did you know that the eye socket reaches its adult size by age 7 years.

With more research and understanding, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched that eye health becomes another reason why the approach of watchfully waiting and deferring orthodontic treatment until the permanent teeth is not necessarily the best course of action.

We need to start thinking far beyond the teeth. It will definitely be worth bringing up any vision issues your child has been diagnosed with so we can keep learning more together.

So thankful this family found Dr Shereen Lim!! She is helping and inspiring so many!!!

Mouth breathing: What every parent and child health care professional needs to know.

Here’s a patient story that I’m sharing to provoke greater attention to mouth breathing as a root cause of many child health and developmental issues.

I saw this 8.5 year old with his mother for consult yesterday.

His mother found us on an internet search around the following concerns:

• Chronic mouth breathing, despite 2 rounds of ENT surgery to remove adenoids, tonsils and insert grommets in early childhood.
• A dentist has confirmed high palate and overbite but dismissed this as an issue.
• He has always had behavioural issues incl a diagnosis of ADD. And they booked in for an autism diagnosis to get more access to more services.
• There is concern about his teeth ending up like dad’s – he had a long and narrow face and lots of problems with overcrowding, so she doesn’t want him to go down that way.

The biggest issues they want addressed are the mouth breathing and excessive teeth grinding.

Here’s some other issues I discover:

• He cried from the day he was born, until he could start running and ran away from everyone – he was medicated with Losec for reflux, he failed to put on weight, and at 6 months he wouldn’t take foods so was offered Pediasure
• Even now there are concerns with weight gain and they are on waitlist to see a nutritionist
• Taking Ducolax stool softener, and Benefiber to help address constipation
• Likes to lick his hands or objects like pencils, or chew on rope and rubbers
• A history of trips to the hospital for asthma attacks when he struggled to breathe, and a history of Ventolin
• Speech delay and 2 years of speech therapy to address speech delay, but he still has a stutter
• He’s had dental decay and extractions and fillings, and there are clear signs of erosion related to reflux disease on this teeth
• At night, he sleeps with his mouth open, neck hyperextended, breathes heavily and with some gasping. He has light, fragmented sleep. A sleep study has previously confirmed obstructive apneas.
• He takes Clonidine to help him wind down and get to sleep or he would stay up until 1am
• He is on dexamphetamine to help him get through school days
• He has been prescribed Intuitiv to help manage anxiety – the pediatrician said it would help but it hasn’t. He fears losing his loved ones.
• He still wets at night - his nappies are wet. He has been on Solicare for 2 years to see if can address an overactive bladder but this has not resolved the bedwetting
• He has been discharged from OT as they couldn’t help him any further
• Concentration and attention at school is difficult despite him having educational aides.
• There are lots of meltdowns throughout the day. Outbursts could be 10 mins or an hour. He is loved by all, yet he is exhausting for the entire family.

This is completely heartbreaking to me to hear. I can only imagine the exhaustion and desperation this family have experienced in finding answers. No one wants their child medicated, yet his life has been one medication after another, seeing multiple health care professionals, and he is still not close to thriving.

Yet it’s immediately obvious to me, that the underlying problem is this child is under chronic stress from difficulties breathing.

He has a narrow v-shaped palate, tongue-tie, and lip incompetence (his lips can’t seal without strain) – all risk factors for poor breathing and sleep.

Here’s what I want every parent and health care professional to know:

• Rule out tongue-tie and excessive intake of air before medicating children for reflux, and consider it when medications don’t alleviate symptoms.
• Rule out sleep and airway problems before medicating for ADHD.
• Understand that ENT surgery is never a cure. Airway problems are multi-factorial and we need to address all the risk factors including poor jaw development and oral dysfunction and restore nasal breathing for long-term resolution.
• Check your speech therapist is screening for sleep and airway problems, poor mouth structure and oral dysfunction function before commencing therapy. The growing number trained in myofunctional therapy are best equipped to do this.
• If a child has multiple decays – rule out or address any underlying mouth breathing or breathing related reflux and the presence of acid in the mouth that could be increasing risk.
• Bedwetting and teeth grinding are strong red flags a child is not breathing well during sleep. Rule out and manage airway problems before medicating.
• When there is poor weight gain, don’t overlook the importance of restful sleep. Growth hormone is released during the deep phases of sleep.
• When a child’s breathing is dysfunctional, it can be linked to a chronic activation of the fight or flight response. This can be linked to symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, and digestive issues.
• Mouth breathing is also a risk factor for asthma, sleep disturbed breathing, and sensory processing issues, further highlighting the importance of addressing it in children's health.

If you have read this far THANKYOU!

I hope that it can inspire more curiosity from both professionals and parents and encourage you to take action. Please share it with anyone you think may relate to this story.

We can help children by promoting healthy breathing, sleep, and airway development as early as possible. We just need to know what to look for.

To fill this void, please help spread word about Breathe, Sleep, Thrive (my book) and Inspiration by Integration 2024: A Practical Guide to Children's Airway Health - my upcoming integrative children’s airway health event for health care professionals in Melbourne.

Together, let's strive to create a healthier, happier future for our children.

I couldn’t be more happy with these results that one of my virtual clients is experiencing…BREATHING BETTER!!!

We started myofunctional therapy in August of last year with tonsils that were nearly touching. Six months later with the combination of dental expansion with and myofunctional therapy to tone his soft palate we see an airway that is more patent and a tongue that is more toned which leads to less airway obstruction!!

The research is published validating dental expansion and improved nasal breathing as an alternative to removing tonsils surgically. Of course, each person’s case is influenced by different factors and needs to be treated by a team of professionals making decisions with the patient.

We are still on the airway journey with this client and we are so thankful they trust us to help guide them on this path to better overall health!

We are happy to help others on this journey too! DM with your questions. 😃

Our Arizona Group is growing, learning and collaborating and it is so fun to be a part of it! Our largest group of providers yet was blessed to have ‘s Dr. Lee give us an amazing presentation at the beautiful !

Our group has dentists, physical therapists, chiropractors, dental hygienists, occupational therapists, myofunctional therapists, orthodontists, lactation specialists, speech language pathologists, doulas, naturopaths, optometrists and is continuing to grow!!!!

Thank you to all who came today…your support and collaboration means so much!! Arizona is blessed to have all these providers help see each person we treat as a whole and help them feel better, sleep better, speak better, eat better, and breathe better!!!💕

Do you know that the size of your jaw not only influences facial structure but it also affects your breathing (airway), sinus cavities, and how your tongue functions for chewing and talking?

As a myofunctional therapist, we are looking at how the muscles function around your face, mouth, and neck but we also need to look at the structure. Just like a building needs a solid foundation to be secure, our muscles need a good foundation to function at their best potential.

Are your facial muscles functioning at their best potential to help you on your journey to an overall health? We would be happy to help you find this out!

Do you or your child mouth breathe…we can help!

Mouth breathing is not normal - while sleeping or awake - NEVER! It can lead to many serious side effects like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and more. If you resonate with this don't worry, but don't wait. There are many things we can do to get your health back!

Stetson was outside enjoying some mid-day sun and I decided some mid-day sun would be good for me too.

Stetson also wanted to remind me that he practices his tongue exercises too!! I have been telling him he is not a good myofunctional mascot….he snores right beside me on many of my virtual sessions.

Do you snore? If you do, myofunctional therapy may be able to help you! Let’s chat!

We had a great meeting for our Arizona meet up! gave a great presentation about myofunctional therapy and the importance of collaboration. We are so fortunate to have these wonderful providers who provide airway-focused care and understand the importance of treating the whole person. We are working together to spread the knowledge and treat our amazing Arizona families!!

Arizona providers coming together collaborating, learning, and spreading airway awareness!

It is truly an honoring to help organize these meetings on behalf of ! There is something special about getting like-minded professionals from different specialties coming together! Arizona Airway Circle is growing and helping to make positive impacts in health for patients throughout our state!

.eyes .cline.10 .nickbelden

Stories like this is one of the many reason I LOVE what I do….

We are so grateful to this mother for taking the time to share her daughter's experience with tongue-tie release at 15 years 10 months.

It's not uncommon for for me to hear parents report their paediatrician said something like, "I don't believe in tongue-ties." But for each story like this shared, I hope more minds can be opened.

"Jenna was born in a country hospital in 2006 with a severe tongue tie and only one formed kidney (Unilateral Renal Agenesis). At the time, we asked the medical staff about having the tongue tie “snipped” but were assured that it was only ever done for cosmetic reasons, and that if it didn’t affect her speech in the future then not to worry. Being my first child, I didn’t question it, and as my own family hadn’t had any history of tongue tie, I had no other sources of help or information available; also given the kidney situation, we were mostly focused on making sure that was ok and didn’t really think to ask more questions about the tie.

As a baby, she struggled with both feeding and sleep. I was unable to breastfeed despite my best efforts, but at no point did anyone suggest it may have been related to her tongue tie (insert mothers guilt here!). We put her on formula by the end of the first week, and while she was getting some food down, she would projectile vomit after almost every meal, and had terrible wind pain. Eventually we changed her to a formula with a thickening agent, and that seemed to work a little better. She loved solid food and never complained about any pain - actually, she never once mentioned that it hurt to chew a steak until she was 15 years old in the Sparkle office!

Her sleep situation was disastrous, I nicknamed her “the midnight kid” by the age of 1 as it was impossible to get her to sleep before that time, once finally asleep she would sleep for a few hours, regularly up and down but always with intermittent snoring. She met all her milestones and once she began talking, she didn’t stop! There was a small period of switching R’s for W’s, but once we picked that up and practiced it with her, it wasn’t long before she was pronouncing her words correctly.

Around the age of 14 Jenna experienced some very low points. Her mental health was suffering and it was a very hard time for her. We found a wonderful therapist, and with help and guidance from the GP she tried an antidepressant medication and Melatonin to sleep. Unfortunately Jenna was the exception to the rule, and the antidepressant medication had an adverse effect on her. She experienced a rapid increase in intrusive thoughts, depression and anxiety, so she stopped taking them. As a family, we are neither “for” nor “against” medication of children - we were so frightened of what might happen, of how sad and miserable she had become, that we were prepared to try absolutely anything to help her feel better, and ultimately to keep her alive. Whatever works, right?

In 2022 (15yrs old) we visited the dentist for a check up, and to discuss the possibility of braces as her bottom teeth were becoming quite crooked. He recommended we contact Sparkle Dental and discuss the possibility of a tongue tie release. He explained that there had been a lot of research done in regards to the benefits of a tongue tie release, and that it would assist the braces to helping keep her teeth straight once the braces were off.

We visited Sparkle, and with every visit, we were blown away by the research and information Shereen and Karli shared with us. The links between the tongue functioning properly and the release of “happy” chemicals in the brain when it hits the N-Spot, the way it affected the way she ate, what she would eat, the inability to get good sleep… all the pieces fell into place for us. Once she (begrudgingly if I’m honest) had done her tongue exercises and strengthened the muscle, and frequented the Osteopath for body work, it was finally time for the release. She was asked to try and touch her toes before the surgery - Jenna had NEVER been able to touch her toes, despite also having joint hyper mobility, and she couldn’t do it. She reported to me that she felt all of the tension in her shoulders and neck release WHILE undergoing the procedure, and that was pretty incredible! Once the procedure was done, she rested a while and then tried to touch her toes once more, and it blew her mind that she could actually do it! It became her party trick for the next few weeks, showing anyone and everyone who’d pay attention.

I remember saying to Shereen that I wished I’d known all these things when Jenna was a baby, as it would have saved her from so much pain and distress. However, I am so glad this was suggested when it was, as we have noticed some incredible changes in our daughter since the procedure. She sleeps well, no need for Melatonin anymore. Her general mood improved almost immediately - and for the most part, has stayed in a good healthy space. She happily eats a steak with no pain. She is motivated and excited for life and her future, and we will all be forever grateful that we were pointed in this direction."

Disclaimer:

Any surgical procedure carries risk, and individual results may vary.
Before proceeding with this surgery, you should seek a second opinion with an appropriately qualified practitioner

Getting that Myo Munchee time everyday can be fun…especially when you have moms who do a crazy dance while we munch!!

We worked up to 10 minutes a day of chewing on our Munchees to help improve the tone and function of the jaw, lips, and face muscles! Both KIDS and ADULTS can use the Myo Munchee to help with lip seal, train the tongue where it should rest, and promote nasal breathing.

As a Myo Munchee practitioner, we are happy to answer any questions you may have about it and help you get started with one!

Important to understand this…

White coating on the tongue is a sign of oral dysfunction.

If a baby is prescribed reflux medications and has this white coating, make sure you get the latched checked with an IBCLC who has a strong interest in optimising oral function.

This coating indicates the tongue is not fully elevating for optimal suction and milk transfer at the breast.

This poor elevation can also be linked to increased swallowing of air on both the breast and bottle, and this may be associated with reflux like symptoms.

This photo was from an infant I saw today who has been medicated for reflux for two weeks. I could hear bub gulping air when feeding. I could also see the tongue barely elevating during crying.

They had perceived no feeding concerns so have not yet seen a lactation consultant.

It’s so easy for us as parents to miss these clues.

I know I missed this white coating looking back on a photo of one of my own children. I never connected some of her symptoms to oral dysfunction until many years later when I became involved in managing it for others.

This is why a good lactation consultant can be worth their weight in gold. I’ve referred these guys to the The Gentle Village.

I’ve seen too many babies with this coating treated for thrush. One was even hospitalised from an allergic reaction with the anti-fungal.

Reflux medications won’t be effective either, if the root issue is oral dysfunction. Antacids increase the risk of bone fractures later in childhood, and this risk can be avoidable if we avoid mis-diagnosing acid reflux.

I’d like to see more parents and professionals recognise this coating as a marker of oral dysfunction in the future.

Such a great community of providers meeting together today! Collaboration is key to treating patients and I am so excited to see this airway aware community keep growing!! Myofunctional therapists, orthodontist, physical therapist, chiropractors, and functional medicine all meeting together to learn from each other and how we can help each other! Arizona is blessed to have all these amazing providers!!

My own journey of expansion to make more room for my tongue to prepare for my functional release is going great! I have gained 2mm of width in a few months and my smile is less gummy than it used to be! Also, daily myofunctional exercises are part of my routine to strengthen and tone my tongue. I like to explain to everyone that this process is a journey and I am happy to guide others on their journey!

Some of the signs of a myofunctional disorder are snoring, sleep apnea, digestion issues, TMJ issues, lots of cavities, drooling, gagging, neck pain, headaches, and the list goes on!

Do you know anyone who has these issues? We are happy to do a phone or video consultation to see if myofunctional therapy can help you!

I am on my own airway journey!!

We all know that straight, perfect teeth are great…do you know what is even more great?!?! A palate wide enough to support your tongue and a nonrestrictive airway!

I am on a journey to widen my palate and improve my overall health with an optimal airway!

Want to learn how to improve your health by widening the airway?

Comment AIRWAY for more info!

I guess working on the couch for computer work is an invitation to come and have a cozy spot to lay for this big guy!

Friday night work session and my dog doesn’t understand all the excitement I have about things to come with myofunctional therapy!

They say when you love what you do it isn’t work and after an inspiring meeting with tonight I am even more excited for everything to come in the airway field!!

Collaboration and ideas coming together from some the best in airway health all with the goal of helping people breathe better, sleep better, and live better!

It is so cool what we can determine just from the way someone bites their teeth together. Early intervention is key!!!

Did you know that the way the teeth bite together can give us important clues on how the tongue is working?

This is an example of a traumatic deep bite, where the lower front teeth are impinging on the top gums, and there is complete vertical overlap of the top and bottom teeth.

Normally, we would expect no more than a few millimeters of vertical overlap of the top and bottom front teeth.

When there is a deep bite, the lower jaw becomes trapped, and this is linked to the later risk of developing jaw joint and muscle pain and dysfunction, including headaches.

In a child, it also means that the lower jaw may not be able to translate forward normally during growth.

A trapped or receded lower jaw is a well-known risk factor for disturbed breathing during sleep from infancy to adulthood.

The deep bite usually signals to me that instead of the entire tongue being lightly suctioned to the palate at rest and during sleep, the back of the tongue rests low, and in between the top and bottom back teeth.

If you look at the second image, you’ll see the lower back teeth sunken down compared to the front teeth. This is because the back of the tongue rests low, and over the top of these back teeth, using them like armrests. This allows differential or supra-eruption of the lower front teeth, deepening the bite.

In general, the lowered tongue posture will also be linked to some degree of constriction of the palate. Low tongue posture and constricted palates are also known risk factors for disturbed sleep breathing.

If I see this type of bite in a growing child, my plan would be to:

1. Restore more normal palate structure for the tongue to have more space
2. Promote better tongue tone, posture and swallowing through myofunctional therapy and myofunctional appliances like Myo Munchee and the Healthy Start Habit Corrector.
3. In many cases, a posterior tongue-tie that restricts normal elevation of the back of the tongue may be a root issue and can be addressed once the tongue has better tone and habits.

This is not something we are taught in dental school, but it is something that can’t be unseen once noted! We really need to start looking beyond the teeth and better understand the broader implications on health.

Mouth tape to improve oral health, improve immunity, lessen chance of tooth decay, reduce snoring, improve athletic performance?!?!

Have you heard of this?!

If you are able to breathe through your nose, mouth taping can help with all of the issues mentioned above!

Not sure if mouth taping is right for you? Reach out to us for an assessment to see if mouth taping and nasal breathing are in your future…your healthier future self will thank you!!



created a great mouth tape that is versatile for all ages AND it is comfortable!

Notice how the midline is not aligned on this bite? Also, a bottom tooth is in crossbite (in front of the top teeth) on this bite.

This happens because the upper jaw is too small and the child may habitually shift the jaw to one side to get the bite to feel better.

The good news is with expansion at an early age this can be corrected and possibly avoid braces and jaw pain in the future.

Exercising the face and tongue muscles helps the tongue to rest in the proper position and in return helps shape the palate and maintain that shape for years to come!

Contact us today to see if myofunctional therapy can help your and/or your child!