OMTherapy, LLC

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After 3 sessions of myofunctional therapy to help eliminate thumb sucking, this very fun and determined child is benefitting from positive changes!

This has allowed his teeth and bone to move toward a more ideal position.

His orthodontic treatment will be much more successful without the improper force of his thumb, AND with the proper oral function.

He is not mouth breathing during sleep any longer, and his gag reflex has not been overactive.

I truly love observing these healthy changes 😊

Screenings are free.
www.OMTherapyKansas.com

Never stop learning! Kansas Dental Hygienists' Association fall conference watching Joy Lantz today 😊

🆓Why I continue to offer free screening consultations:

-To learn if myofunctional therapy is even right for your concerns and needs
-To make information accessible for all
-To help guide you in making an informed decision for you or your family

Not that it's winter here yet (thank goodness😊), but illness has already ramped up. Nose breathing is healthy breathing.

🌧️ Winter is here (well, at least it is for us!), and as the rain pours down, so does the likelihood of colds, chest infections, and respiratory issues. ❄️

One simple change can make a big difference: breathe through your nose. When you breathe through your mouth, you're missing out on one of the best defences your body has. Your nose isn't just for show — it filters, warms, and moistens the air, while your mouth doesn’t offer the same protection.

I'm not saying nose breathers never catch a cold, but after over 20 years of working with people on respiratory health, I’ve seen first-hand how nasal breathing can reduce the likelihood of getting sick.

Here’s why: when you breathe through your nose, you harness nitric oxide — a gas produced in your sinuses with powerful antiviral and antimicrobial properties. It helps open up your airways and keeps viruses at bay. 🌬️

Stay healthy this season, and remember: nose breathing isn’t just a habit, it’s a defence mechanism.

- Patrick McKeown

UPDATE: Fixed and good to go 😊

Verizon outage-I cannot receive or send phone calls or texts today, so please email to contact me!

Teeth grinding, aka bruxism, can be detrimental to our teeth and the volume of space in our mouths. Did you know that teeth grinding can be an attempt to move your jaw and tongue out of your airway? Myofunctional therapy can help with your daytime and nighttime tongue position that supports healthy breathing and healthy sleep.

Screenings are free.
www.OMTherapyKansas.com

I love hearing this feedback. So many things are affected by oral dysfunction. When this improves, so can breathing and sleep!

Screenings are free.
www.OMTherapyKansas.com

I talk about the similar symptoms of ADHD and SDB (sleep disordered breathing) almost every day! SDB can mimic ADHD type symptoms. Myofunctional therapy can help with sleep disordered breathing.
Screenings are free.
www.OMTherapyKansas.com

TMJ disorders can be helped with myofunctional therapy!

Screenings are free.

www.OMTherapyKansas.com

📢Do you wear a CPAP and/or have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Myofunctional therapy IS helpful!

"The oropharyngeal exercise group demonstrated an improvement in the Epworth sleepiness scale compared to the sham-therapy group at the 3-month follow-up, as well as decreased significantly at 6-month follow-up."

"CPAP adherence can be improved with oropharyngeal exercises therapy among moderate to severe OSA patients. Notably, the average duration of CPAP usage and reduction in daytime sleepiness were maintained even after six months of oropharyngeal exercise therapy."

Very insightful information in this research article in the American Journal for Otolaryngology (otolaryngologists are ENT specialists).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38593552/

Screenings are free.
www.OMTherapyKansas.com

Effects of oropharyngeal exercises on CPAP compliance: A prospective intervention study - PubMed CPAP adherence can be improved with oropharyngeal exercises therapy among moderate to severe OSA patients. Notably, the average duration of CPAP usage and reduction in daytime sleepiness were maintained even after six months of oropharyngeal exercise therapy.

Myofunctional therapy is not a new treatment modality, but I often hear comments that it is. It's tried and true and is beneficial for all ages!
Screenings are free.

Nose breathing > mouth breathing

Nasal Nitric Oxide: The Winning Element

Nitric oxide (NO) is a powerful molecule produced in the nasal cavity, playing a crucial role in respiratory health. Once thought to be a toxic gas, NO was discovered in human exhalation in 1991 and named “Molecule of the Year” in 1992. It's produced in the nasal and paranasal sinuses and is 100 times more concentrated there than in the lower airways.

Benefits of Nasal NO:

Enhances Oxygen Uptake: NO opens airways and increases oxygen uptake by the blood.
Balances Ventilation-Perfusion: NO helps balance the air and blood flow in the lungs, ensuring efficient oxygen use.
Vasodilation: It relaxes blood vessels, improving blood flow and oxygen delivery.
Additional Functions:

Surfactant Production: NO aids in the production of surfactant, a substance that reduces surface tension in the lungs, preventing collapse and edema, and facilitating easier breathing.
Respiratory Health: NO regulates bronchial smooth muscle tone, pulmonary blood flow, mucus output, and has antioxidant properties.
Defensive Role: NO is vital for the body’s defense against airborne pathogens, viruses, and bacteria.
Nasal vs. Mouth Breathing:

Nasal Breathing: Utilizes NO, promotes deeper, slower breaths, filters, and humidifies the air, keeping airways clear and preventing dehydration.
Mouth Breathing: Bypasses NO, causing shallow, fast breathing, increased dehydration, poor oxygenation, and a higher risk of respiratory issues.
Embrace nasal breathing to harness the benefits of nitric oxide, maintain clear airways, and improve overall respiratory health. 🌬️💨

Breathing and sleep should be restful! Myofunctional therapy and individualized breath work help your body support quality breathing, to support quality sleep.

www.OMTherapyKansas.com

Screenings are free.

Sleep- disordered breathing encompasses various breathing challenges while asleep, from noisy breathing ➡️ snoring ➡️ Upper airway resistance syndrome to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where the airway is partially or fully blocked repeatedly.

This disruption triggers the body’s defense mechanism, causing increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, brain arousal, and interrupted sleep patterns.

optimal nighttime sleep 😴
✨ Quiet breathing
✨ Nasal breathing only: Say goodbye to mouth breathing.
✨ Seal the deal: Lips closed, tongue suctioned to the palate.

Quality sleep 💤 Quality life 💤

Myofunctional therapy with OMTherapy always includes breathing awareness and techniques for your particular needs.

Screenings are free.

www.OMTherapyKansas.com

Adults can learn things too!
I have guided many adults in relearning the correct swallow pattern, which helps with the feeling of safe chewing and swallowing of food, liquid, and pills.
Relearning oral rest and swallow patterns support adult orthodontics, in which many of my clients have relapsed because no one addressed the functional root cause.
Relearning these patterns can support increase jaw stability, and decreased jaw pain.

Screenings are free.

www.OMTherapyKansas.com

Thank you Implant & Perio Center of Kansas - Dr. Marq Sams, DMD for having me present to both offices today!

"Are we moving toward greater kindness, patience, or tolerance toward others?"
Love this excerpt from Yoga Mind, Body, & Spirit by Donna Farhi 💙
Happy International Yoga Day, my fellow yogis, family, friends, and clients!

Yes, this was actually something a client of mine was told by a health professional they were seeing...😒
Tongue thrust is a red flag that oral dysfunction is present.
Screenings are free.
www.OMTherapyKansas.com

YES! Literally what I do all day, every day! -->"Addressing and treating root causes of mouth breathing, bruxism, TMD, migraines, and postural changes elevates the standard of oral care and may have a lifelong impact on a patient’s overall health."

A great read for parents, clients, and professionals. So glad to see this in this dental newsletter that pertains to adults and children.

Everything is connected, and orofacial myofunctional therapists are such an important piece to the puzzle.

Screenings are free.

www.OMTherapyKansas.com

https://www.dentistryiq.com/personal-wellness/mouth-body-connection/article/55040587/fascia-an-update-on-the-tongue-to-toe-connection?o_eid=8543F5915523C0S&oly_enc_id=8543F5915523C0S&rdx.ident[pull]=omeda|8543F5915523C0S&utm_campaign=CPS240516021&utm_medium=email&utm_source=DEC_DIQ+Morning+Briefing

Fascia: An update on the tongue-to-toe connection The symptoms of fascia disorders can be surprising. Here's what to consider when evaluating patients.