NW Myofunctional Therapy Portland, OR | Portland, OR Myofunctional Therapy

At NW Myofunctional Therapy, we teach our patients how to BREATHE:

Goals of Myofunctional Therapy:

Breathe through your nose most of the day and night.
Keep your lips together when not talking or eating.
Rest your tongue on the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth.
Chew your food well and drink without spilling, gulping, or pushing your teeth

Our Programs Are Used For:

Mouth breathing and/or snoring
Tongue Thrust Therapy
Tongue Tie Release Therapy
Incorrect or Low Tongue Posture
Thumb Sucking, Finger Sucking, Nail Biting

Are you experiencing any of the following?

Do you breathe more through your mouth than your nose?
Did you have braces, but your teeth have moved back to where it once was?
Have you been told you have a tongue thrust?
Do you snore or have sleep apnea?
Have you been told you are tongue-tied?
Do you have digestive issues?
Have you struggled with speech and articulation?
Do you have jaw pain and dysfunction?
Do you get headaches or migraines?
Do you have allergies?
Do you or have you had habits such as thumb or finger sucking?

If you said yes to any of these questions, myofunctional therapy could be right for you.

Megan Van Noy RDH, Myofunctional Therapist

Understanding Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy is based on a series of exercises that help patients learn to change bad habits. According to the Acadamy of Oral Myofunctional Therapy,

“Orofacial Myofunctional therapy is neurological re-education to assist the normalization of the developing, or developed, craniofacial structures and function. It is related to the study, research, prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of functional and structural alterations in the region of the mouth (oro), face (facial) and regions of the neck (oropharyngeal area).”

To the rest of us that means, a series of exercises to re-teach you how to chew, swallow, breathe, and stop bad oral habits (like finger sucking, lip licking, nail biting or cheek biting). When these things are done incorrectly they create negative pressure that changes the shape of the bone. They can alter sleeping and breathing. Just like physical therapy re-educates your muscles, and weight training makes your muscles stronger, myofunctional therapy re-educates your lips, tongue and oral muscles, and makes them stronger.

Myofunctional therapy improves tongue placement, breathing, speaking, chewing and swallowing, which can have a huge impact on their overall health and wellbeing.

Our Services

Treatments for Tongue-Tie

Tongue-tie is the partial or total obstruction that is caused by a thick band of tissue under the tongue. This band of tissue could interfere with breastfeeding, as it can …

Treatment for Jaw/Facial Pain or TMJ/D

TMJ disorders are among the most prevalent oral-facial problems, affecting millions of people every year. The temporomandibular joint is an essential part of the jaw and the surrounding facial region. …

Treatment For Sleep Apnea/Snoring

Sleep apnea is a condition in which the patient has trouble breathing during sleep. This can be caused due to the blockages in the airway. The airway can collapse during …

Treatment for Mouth Breathing

Mouth breathing is when you breathe primarily through the mouth. This can be caused by an obstruction in the nasal passages. It can also be caused by an obstruction in …

Treatment for Orthodontic Relapse or Tongue Thrust

Myofunctional therapy is a type of physical therapy that focuses on correcting the improper oral habits that lead to an abnormal bite (malocclusion). Myofunctional therapy involves training the patient with …

Treatment for Kids Age 2-5

Have you seen our on demand course to todlers? Check out the spots for tots. Parents can often find the oral Myofunctional symptoms in their child at a very young …

One-on-One Mentoring through NW Myofunctional Therapy

Are you a professional looking for guidance as you grow in your practice? Are you a dental team trying to navigate how to implement Myofunctional Therapy and Airway Screenings in your office?

We know that some cases are more challenging than others, and we know that trying to get started with something new can be overwhelming and confusing!

We are happy to help by offering One-on-One Mentoring through NW Myofunctional Therapy.

Click the link to set up your mentoring session: One-On-One Mentoring

The Munch Bunch Myo Podcast

Are you new to the words "myofunctional therapy," "airway collapse," or "sleep-disordered breathing"? Are you unclear about how myofunctional therapy can assist in improving our airway health? Well, then, come and listen to our expert podcast sessions..

Megan Van Noy, RDH and Kimi Nishimoto, RDH, specializing in Myofunctional Therapy, presents a series of patient-facing educational podcasts on myofunctional therapy and airway health. These podcasts are designed to discuss everything about myofunctional therapy and are available on all our podcast hosting sites.