Orofacial myofunctional disorders 

What is an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD)? 

• OMDs are characterized by incorrect use of the muscles of the face and mouth, such as lip, tongue, and jaw postures at rest, chewing, swallowing, and during speech.

• Examples of OMDs include one or more of the following:

  • Thumb/finger sucking, nail biting or other harmful oral habits

  • A routine habit of resting with the lips apart

  • A forward resting posture of the tongue between or against the teeth

  • Tongue Thrust

• OMDs may affect, directly and/or indirectly,  

  • Breastfeeding

  • Facial skeletal growth and development

  • Nasal breathing

  • Chewing

  • Swallowing

  • Digestion

  • Speech

  • Occlusion (how the teeth fit together)

  • Temporomandibular joint movement

  • Oral hygiene

  • Stability of orthodontic treatment (braces could “fail” if OMDs go untreated)

• Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders may impact treatments by orthodontists, dentists, dental hygienists, speech-language pathologists, and other professionals working in the orofacial area.