Orthodontists look at more than just the position of your teeth when deciding on treatment. There are many other factors that influence the ability to straighten your teeth.

At MyoBalance, we work closely with Orthodontists to help eliminate habits that have attributed to malocclusion, so that treatment can be more efficient and eliminate the chance of orthodontic relapse.

The Tongue:

Our tongue plays an important role in developing the mouth and jaw and shaping the position of out teeth. The tongue should rest high in the roof of your mouth providing internal support for the upper jaw and teeth - acting as our natural expander. When tongue-thrust, tongue-tie, or a mouth breathing problem is present, the tongue is usually resting in the floor of the mouth, therefore, the support system for the upper jaw is not in place. While the tongue is resting in the floor of the mouth, it constantly pushes agains the front teeth, every time you swallow - the tongue pushes forward.

The lack of internal support, combined with the force of the tongue on the teeth can cause teeth to move and also alter the proper growth and development of the jaw. This can make it more difficult for your orthodontist to close space, and increase your risk of orthodontic relapse after the braces are removed - even while retainers are worn.

Orthodontics, Appliances, and Myofunctional Therapy:

Orthodontists acknowlege that a tongue-thrust can be challenging when trying to fix malocclusion. There is a variety of oral appliances that are designed to control the tongue during treatment, but most of these appliances are designed to block the habit rather than modify and correct the low resting tongue position and swallowing pattern. Once appliance is removed, the oral habit resumes and becomes a risk for orthodontic relapse.

Orofacial Myofunctioal Therapy is the best form of treatment to treat a tongue-thrust permanently, without using appliances. Progressive exercises work to retrain the oral and facial muscles, gaining control of your tongue and eliminating tongue-thrust habits. This form of treatment is successful for children and adults.

Contact us and we can discuss how it’s important to eliminate any dysfunctional habits before or during orthodontic treatment to improve results of braces and decrease your chances of orthodontic relapse.