Our goal is to educate, empower and enlighten parents and health professionals in the world of oral myology. We’re passionate about ensuring that therapies are introduced early in your child’s life to improve their overall health, comfort and quality – giving you, their caretakers, peace of mind and confidence in their future development.
The most effective oral myology treatments start at birth through breastfeeding but most children greatly benefit from age 3 to 10. This is due to the developmental stages your child will have reached by this age, and ensures that the therapies’ intervention is early enough that their orofacial system hasn’t yet fully developed to the point where non-invasive treatment is no longer an option. We do work with infants in collaboration with lactation specialists as well, particularly focussing on difficulties with breastfeeding and latching primarily due to tongue or lip ties.
Absolutely! Early intervention with orofacial myofunctional therapy can assist in improving jaw alignment and avoiding or minimising the need for future orthodontic treatment by addressing underlying muscle imbalances early.
No! Oral myology can actually help your child break thumb or finger-sucking habits by addressing the root causes like tongue posture or nasal breathing difficulties.
Mewing is a self-taught technique focusing on tongue posture against the roof of the mouth to improve jaw alignment and facial structure, mainly for aesthetic purposes. In contrast, orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is a professional treatment targeting orofacial muscles to address issues like mouth breathing, thumb sucking, and speech difficulties. While mewing is done independently, OMT involves a structured plan overseen by trained therapists, focusing on overall health and function. Mewing is more aesthetic, while OMT aims at improving breathing, swallowing, and oral habits. Think of OMT as professional mewing training!
It’s best not to wait. Early intervention with orofacial myofunctional therapy can prevent long-term issues like speech difficulties, improper jaw growth, and poor breathing habits. The sooner we address these concerns, the easier it is to guide your child’s development and avoid more complex treatments later on. By starting therapy early, we can help your child develop healthy oral habits, improve muscle function, and support overall growth – giving them the best chance for a healthy future.
If your child breathes through their mouth, snores, struggles with speech, or has habits like thumb sucking, OMT may be beneficial. Other signs include crooked teeth, narrow jaws, or difficulty swallowing.
While online resources may vary, orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is supported by clinical studies and trusted by healthcare professionals and researchers (including Johns Hopkins and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association), including dentists, speech therapists, and ENT specialists. OMT has proven effective in improving breathing, swallowing, speech, and muscle function in both children and adults. The results are based on tailored exercises and expert guidance, which are highly effective when applied consistently. If you’re unsure, we recommend scheduling a consultation to discuss your child’s specific needs and explore the potential benefits firsthand.
While both therapies focus on improving oral function, OMT targets muscle function, breathing habits and most importantly on facial and jaws development, while speech therapy focuses on language skills and articulation. Oral Myology Perth is passionate about making the oral muscles stronger, potentially making the job of a speech therapist or pathologist easier and more effective.
Yes, we offer palatal expansion services for children after an appropriate assessment. We understand the importance of proper dental development during childhood and are committed to helping our young patients achieve optimal oral health. At this time, we do not provide palatal expansion for adult patients; however, we plan to expand our services in the future to accommodate the needs of adult patients seeking this treatment. Stay tuned for updates!
