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The primary cause of an orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD)

January 2022

The primary cause of an orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) is an open mouth posture or mouth breathing due to nasal structural obstructions and allergies.

It is often difficult to identify a single cause for an orofacial myofunctional disorder. Most disorders involve a combination of factors that may include:

  • Nasal airway interference from enlarge tonsils or adenoids, allergies or anatomical deviations involving the nasal cavity or pharynx.
  • Improper oral habits such as thumb or finger sucking, cheek or nail biting, teeth clenching or grinding.
  • Structural or physiological abnormalities such as short lingual frenum (tongue-tie)
  • Hereditary predisposition to any of the above factors.

Nasal airway interference – mainly Allergies – are the primary cause of OMDs.

Dr. Honor Franklin is an IAOM Certified Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist at Honor Franklin Myofunctional & Speech Clinic and has an Allergist and ENT on her team who are the best at diagnosing and treating the causes of mouth breathing. Call today for their name and numbers.
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Read what other negative effects can occur from mouth breathing.

The primary cause of an orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) is an open mouth posture or mouth breathing.

Mouth Breathing – Causes And Side Effects

How Long Does it Take to Eliminate a Sucking Habit?

July 2016

Parents ask me all the time, “How long will it take before my child eliminates his or her sucking habit?”

Thumb/Finger sucking habits are quite normal in infancy and early childhood. Many children experience pleasure from these habits for the first few years of life and then terminate them of their own volition. However, it is important to understand that these habits may become excessive as time goes by and can adversely influence the formation of the bony oral structure and/or position of the teeth and can lead to a dental malocclusion. It can also cause the tongue to rest in a low, forward position causing an orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) of an incorrect resting posture of the tongue and lips and an incorrect swallowing pattern (known as “tongue thrust”) as well as developmental of a speech disorder such as a lisp. In addition, there are risks of infection from communicable diseases due to the simple fact that they can be  be sucking non-sterile thumbs or fingers as well as social implications of ridicule by peers.

The length of time to eliminate a prolonged non-nutritive sucking habit has nothing to do with age but depends on 3 factors:

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Breaking a habit is a good rule of thumb.

June 2016

Common Problems Associated with Thumbsucking.

Common Problems Associated with Thumbsucking.

Did you know that thumb sucking is often seen in ultrasounds even before birth? According to a recent report, between 75 and 95% of infants suck their thumbs or fingers.

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How Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can help Orthodontists

May 2016

Before and After OMT Photos

These Before and After dental photos are a continuation of posts about one of my patients, Shay Lowe Shull of Mix and Match Mama, who shared her experience with orofacial myofunctional therapy at Honor Franklin Myofunctional & Speech Clinic and orthodontics at Adams & McBride Orthodontics in my blog dated 4-19-2016 and showed her excellent results on 5-3-2016.  Results like this are another example why IAOM Certified Orofacial Myofunctional Therapists are a necessary part of the orthodontic team in helping orthodontists achieve successful results.

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