Treating Sleep Apnea With Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

  • Treating Sleep Apnea With Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy | | TMJ, Tongue Tie & Sleep Institute – Tongue Tie Treatment in Mumbai, India | Myofunctional therapy | verified expert in Myofunctional therapy
Treating Sleep Apnea With Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy | | TMJ, Tongue Tie & Sleep Institute – Tongue Tie Treatment in Mumbai, India | Myofunctional therapy |
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Can sleep apnea be treated with oral Myofunctional therapy? The answer is yes, it can be. However, not many people are aware of this non-invasive and inexpensive treatment. Myofunctional therapy is proven to be an excellent alternative for treating sleep apnea compared to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or even surgery. Apart from helping treat sleep apnea, this therapy is also used to treat some other conditions in children and adults, like:
Below let’s check out the reasons why you should choose orofacial Myofunctional therapy to treat sleep apnea. Plus, how an experienced therapist can help you strengthen and retrain the orofacial muscles to work more efficiently, facilitating better eating, sleeping, and breathing.
Don’t let sleep apnea control your life. Learn how orofacial myofunctional therapy can help you breathe easier and sleep better! Find expert solutions to improve your quality of life.Take action today.
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A] What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep disorders are grouped based on their behaviour, breathing problems, problems with the natural sleep-wake cycle, difficulty in sleeping, or how sleepy a person feels during the day. Central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea are the two types of sleep apnea.
  • In central sleep apnea, the brain fails to send signals to the muscles to breathe. It is not caused by blockage, and this type of sleep apnea is not commonly found.
  • In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway is blocked when the soft tissues collapse (naturally) while sleeping.
Some of the obstructive sleep apnea symptoms in children and adults are:
  • Habitual snoring and noisy breathing
  • Open mouth posture
  • Deep and narrow upper jaw
  • Retruded lower jaw or crowded teeth
  • Bruxism i.e. clenching
  • Early morning headaches
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Lack of attention and concentration
  • Diagnosed as ADHD
  • Moody or bullying behaviour
  • Hyperactivity or irritability
  • Bedwetting or childhood obesity
  • Observe for restless sleep i.e. tossing in bed
  • Abnormal sleep positions
  • Frequent Tonsils and Adenoids
  • Frequent cold, cough and allergies

B] What is Myofunctional Therapy?

Oral Myofunctional Therapy is a highly effective mouth and tongue exercise program that involves training & strengthening the tongue and orofacial muscles. It teaches individuals how to use and tone the muscles to achieve basic functions like swallowing and nasal breathing. To put it simply, it corrects the improper functions of facial muscles and the tongue and improves oral habits. The benefits of orofacial Myofunctional therapy are:
  • Continuous nasal breathing
  • Strengthen Orofacial muscles
  • Proper tongue position and oral rest posture
  • Pre/post-operative myofunctional therapy
  • Stabilised the TMJ/ Jaw Joint
  • Correct swallowing
  • Sealed lips

C] Why Choose Myofunctional Therapy for Sleep Apnea?

Myofunctional therapy helps strengthen and tone muscles of throat, soft palate and tongue which can reduce the symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing and improve mild to moderate OSA. It can also prevent a relapse of sleep apnea post-surgical treatment. When it comes to sleep apnea treatment options, Myofunctional therapy is highly recommended because:
1. It is Non-invasive: For those suffering from sleep apnea, the risks that develop from surgical complications are high. Hence, it is better to select a non-invasive sleep apnea treatment such as Myofunctional therapy, which is a physical exercise program used to improve nasal breathing and correct posture by re-patterning the head, face, tongue and neck muscles.
2. It Treats Multiple Problems: Besides sleep apnea, Myofunctional therapy can also be used to treat other conditions such as:
  • TMJ
  • Teeth Clenching and Grinding
  • Speech disorders
  • Recovery from tongue tie
  • Difficulty in chewing or eating food
  • Lips don’t stay close
  • Orthodontic problems
While other sleep apnea treatments focus only on treating sleep apnea, oral Myofunctional therapy can simultaneously resolve other conditions.
3. It Helps Establish Healthy Lifetime Habits: Sleep apnea treatment like CPAP only benefits a person for as long as they keep using it. If you start using a CPAP machine (sleep apnea device), you would have to use it for the rest of your life.
Whereas, Myofunctional therapy can help you establish healthy sleeping habits that can improve your health for a lifetime. It can help decrease the severity of sleep apnea and improve breathing problems caused during sleep. It can help decrease snoring and daytime sleepiness. It can also be used alongside CPAP therapy to improve the compliance of patients with CPAP machines.
The best part, when Myofunctional therapy is combined with Breath Retraining, it can help:
  • Establish nasal breathing
  • Improve your ability to move oral muscles properly
  • Straighten teeth
  • Balance moods, leading to clearer thinking
  • Improve facial symmetry
  • Increase the tone & mobility of oral structures
  • Correct the use of oral structures (tongue, lip and cheek muscles). This will help improve breathing, swallowing, suction and chewing.
4. It Works Alongside other Treatments: This is another benefit of using Myofunctional therapy. It will not interfere with your CPAP or other oral appliance therapy. Also, since the entire treatment is planned step-by-step under the guidance of an experienced therapist, you can be assured of optimal results.

D] Myofunctional Therapy Exercises for Sleep Apnea

For best results, it is recommended that Myofunctional therapy exercises for sleep apnea be performed under the supervision of a certified and experienced specialist.
Some of the commonly used exercises are:
  • Exercise 1: Place the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth, behind the top teeth. Push upwards and hold for 5 seconds. Repeat this exercise 10 times.
  • Exercise 2: Stick your tongue out and try to either reach the tip of your nose or chin. Hold each position for 10 seconds, then relax. Repeat this exercise 10 times.
  • Exercise 3: Stick your tongue out and move it to the right (as far as you can). Hold it for 10 seconds, then relax. Do the same for the left side. Repeat this exercise 10 times.
  • Exercise 4: Roll your tongue over to look like a taco shell by folding the edges towards the middle. Stick it out (as far as you can) and hold the position for 10 seconds, then relax. Do this exercise 10 times.
  • Exercise 5: Make a loud clicking sound by hitting the tongue against the roof of your mouth. Click for 15 seconds and repeat this exercise 10 times.

E] Lifestyle Changes That Can Help

Along with therapy, making changes to your lifestyle can reduce the severity of OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea can cause daytime drowsiness, and it’s vital for people suffering from OSA to know this, especially if they are around machinery or driving. Patient education also includes explaining other factors that contribute to OSA.
  • Weight Loss: Losing body fat can decrease fat-deposits in the tongue and at the back of the throat that restrict the airway. It can also reduce abdominal girth that affects the capacity of the lungs. This may reduce OSA related symptoms, improving cardiovascular health and the overall quality of life.
  • Exercise: An active lifestyle with a regular exercise routine can help improve your overall general health and keep obesity away. This can contribute to reducing the various symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea such as hyperactivity, irritability, daytime sleepiness, etc.
  • Not Sleeping on Your Back: The position you sleep in can contribute to OSA. Sleeping on your back can cause your tongue and other tissues to block your airway. This worsens the risk of sleep-disordered breathing. So, it is best to adjust your sleeping position to avoid airway constriction.
Don’t let sleep apnea control your life. Learn how orofacial myofunctional therapy can help you breathe easier and sleep better! Find expert solutions to improve your quality of life.Take action today
Make An Appointment

Myofunctional Therapy Specialist

When it comes to treating sleep apnea, early intervention is important. It is best to consult with a certified and experienced specialist who is trained for Myofunctional therapy and sleep dentistry. A Myofunctional therapy specialist will recommend individually-tailored exercises based on a comprehensive anatomic profile and the severity of the orofacial dysfunction. This will help lower the severity of sleep apnea and enhance your overall health and well-being.
To learn more about Myofunctional therapy, get in touch with us.

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Comprehensive Care for Tongue Tie and TMJ Disorders

At our institute, we take pride in providing complete care for issues related to tongue tie and TMJ. To enhance your quality of life, we treat a range of ailments with state-of-the-art technology and expert care. If you’re searching for an effective tongue-tie operation option or a TMJ specialist in India, you have arrived at the right place.

Why Choose a Tongue Tie Operation?

A tongue tie operation or tongue tie surgery is a life-changing procedure that not only restores tongue mobility but also has a full body effect. While most people associate tongue tie with breastfeeding difficulties in infants, it can also affect speech, breathing, posture, dental health, and sleep patterns in older children and adults. By undergoing this minimally invasive fascia release procedure, patients often experience immediate improvements in functionality and overall well-being.

Benefits of a Tongue Tie Surgery

For individuals considering tongue tie surgery, the benefits are far-reaching:

  • Improved Speech Clarity : Eliminating the restriction improves the tongue's range of motion, which improves the articulation of words and sounds.
  • Better Oral Hygiene : Increased tongue movement makes it easier to maintain good oral hygiene, which lowers the chance of dental issues.
  • Enhanced Eating and Swallowing : Adults and children with eating difficulties often find relief post-surgery.
  • Improved Sleep : In some cases, releasing a tongue tie can alleviate sleep apnea or other breathing-related issues.
  • Improvement in Breathing efficiency : Surgery can improve nasal breathing efficiency, helping individuals transition away from compensatory mouth breathing that often leads to health concerns like dry mouth or increased susceptibility to infections.
  • Better Posture : The tongue plays a role in stabilizing the head and neck. Releasing a tongue tie can alleviate strain on these areas, promoting better posture and reducing tension in the shoulders, neck, and jaw.

TMJ Specialist Mumbai: Advanced Care Tailored to Your Needs

The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) that is your Jaw Joint has a significant impact on one’s quality of life, as they leave the person feeling exhausted and irritable. It not only affects essential functions like chewing, speaking, yawning but also affects one’s posture, breathing and sleep. As a leading TMJ specialist in Mumbai, we offer comprehensive diagnostics and personalized treatment plans to address your unique needs.

Innovative Treatments by TMJ Specialists in India

Our approach to TMJ disorders combines state-of-the-art technology with evidence-based practices. We specialize in:
  • GNeuromuscular (GNM) Orthotic Therapy: Using advanced techniques like TENS & Jaw Tracking machines to achieve a balanced jaw and body alignment.
  • Non-Invasive Pain Management: Treatments such as laser therapy, myofunctional therapy, and physiotherapy.
  • Holistic Interventions: Integrating multidisciplinary care related to diet and mental health to treat the root cause of TMJ pain.

The Role of Tongue Tie in TMJ Disorders

Many patients are unaware that tongue tie and TMJ disorders can also be interconnected. A restricted tongue can lead to compensatory behaviors that strain the jaw, progressing towards TMJ issues.

Personalized Treatment for All Ages

Infants

For newborns, a tongue tie operation is critical in supporting breastfeeding. Infants struggling to latch or feed effectively benefit greatly from a quick and safe procedure.

Children

Tongue tie in children might affect their oral health and speech development. They can significantly enhance their quality of life with a tailored tongue tie surgery.

Adults

Adults often seek tongue tie operations for relief from symptoms such as speech impediments, TMJ pain, or even snoring. Combining tongue tie surgery with myofunctional therapy ensures optimal results.

Integrated Myofunctional Therapy

An integral part of our treatment protocols is myofunctional therapy. Exercises used in this therapy help to strengthen and coordinate the muscles of the tongue and face. Whether you’re undergoing a tongue tie operation or being treated for TMJ issues, myofunctional therapy plays a pivotal role in ensuring lasting outcomes.

Expertise and complete treatment are essential for treating TMJ issues or tongue tie. Whether you’re searching for the best tongue tie surgery options or a trusted TMJ specialist in Mumbai, we ensure personalized care and transformative results. Don’t let these conditions stop you—reach out to us today to book your consultation and start your journey toward better health and wellness.