Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders
(OMDs)
What are Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?
Common Signs of OMDs
OMDs refer to abnormal patterns of muscle function and movement in the face, mouth, and jaw that interfere with normal development of facial structure, breathing, swallowing, speech, and dental alignment.
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Mouth breathing (open mouth posture)
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Airway issues​
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Tongue thrusting (forward tongue movement during swallowing or at rest)
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Speech sound errors (especially S, Z, SH, CH, J, L, R)
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Difficulty chewing and swallowing
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Picky eating or food aversions
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Orthodontic relapse or resistance to braces
How does therapy help with Dental and Orthodontic success?
What changes do parents typically see with orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT)?
OMDs can undo the hard work of braces or appliances if left untreated.
We support dental professionals by:
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​Promoting proper tongue posture to maintain bite alignment
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Supporting lip seal and nasal breathing to reduce open bites and gum inflammation
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Encouraging muscle balance that aids jaw development
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Helping establish long-term stability after orthodontic treatment
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After completing OMT, families often report:
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Improved breathing (less snoring, more nasal breathing)
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Clearer speech and increased confidence
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Better posture and body awareness
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Easier chewing and more varied diet
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Better sleep and focus at school
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Greater orthodontic and dental treatment success
How can a Speech-Language Pathologist help?
SLPs can combine OMT with speech and swallowing therapy - something no other specialist is fully trained to do.
they also...
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Understand child development
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Know how to make therapy playful and motivating
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Collaborate with your orthodontists, ENTs, pediatricians, and more to give your child a full team of support
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Take health insurance when speech and swallowing skills are impacted!
Helping your child speak clearly
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​Some speech sounds require the tongue to be in just the right spot in the mouth. If your child has a tongue thrust, low tongue posture, or always breathes through their mouth, it can affect how they make these sounds.
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SLPs help fix speech sound errors that are caused by orofacial muscle patterns (e.g., lisps)
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Targeting OMDs makes speech therapy more effective by correcting the underlying cause of the problem.
Safe, Efficient, and healthy Eating
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Children with OMDs often swallow in an uncoordinated way, using too much facial effort or pushing the tongue forward. This can cause problems with feeding and digestion.​
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SLPs teach your child the correct swallowing pattern.
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SLPs help with picky eating or food aversions that stem from muscle or sensory issues.
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This kind of therapy helps your child feel more confident at mealtimes and can even improve sleep, dental health, and overall muscle balance.
Give us a call for a free phone consultation today!
Early help leads to lasting change.