Are you living with temporomandibular joint disorder, sleep apnea or tooth grinding/tooth clenching? Have you tried all the over-the-counter treatments on the market without seeing benefits? You’re not alone. Many people with these conditions try a wide range of treatments for their condition but don’t find relief, or get only temporary relief. Luckily, some individuals find long-term comfort with myofunctional therapy.
Myofunctional therapy consists of basic exercises designed to correct bad habits, reduce tension, and counter your muscles’ impact on your head, neck and jaw. It is one of the most beneficial treatments for these conditions because it helps to correct bad habits and other situations without surgery or other invasive treatments.
Big Benefits
As we said, one of the most significant benefits of myfunctional therapy is that it is noninvasive. This means a reduced risk of complications such as infection, adverse reaction to anesthesia or bleeding. This is ideal for many individuals and means no delay in improvements in your condition. But, you need to be consistent in doing your exercises each day to see improvement.
Another significant benefit to myofunctional treatment is that it helps you overcome bad habits you’ve spent years cultivating.
For example, children who sucked their thumb for years or used a pacifier for long periods often see a shift in their teeth and changes in the muscles that control their jaw. These effects can negatively impact the bite and the jaw joints if not corrected with myofunctional therapy, and may require the use of removable or fixed oral appliances or surgery.
Other benefits include improved appearance, better function and better breathing, and it works for people of all ages.
Why Treat Now?
Treating the issue early on is critical. Untreated conditions can negatively affect oral health and overall health, breathing and growth.
How to Receive Treatment
Not sure if you need myofunctional therapy? If you’re living with these conditions, you may be a candidate:
- Headaches
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain
- Neck pain
- Thumb sucking
- Nail biting
We can help determine if you’d benefit from this treatment by calling us for a consultation. We help patients of all ages overcome years of bad habits caused by thumb sucking, bite malocclusion and more. Call Dr. Konig at 713-668-2289 to schedule your or your child’s appointment today.