What is Oromyofunctional Disorder (OMD)?
An oromyofunctional disorder (tongue thrust) is an improper tongue positioning and function pattern. The tongue may thrust forward during swallowing or speech, affecting articulation, swallowing, and potentially orthodontic development.
Effects of Tongue Thrust
- Interdental lisp or other speech sound distortions (especially /s/ and /z/ sounds)
- Open mouth posture or mouth breathing
- Difficulty with proper swallowing mechanics
- Possible impact on dental development (open bite)
- May affect feeding or drinking patterns
Treatment Goals
Treatment focuses on: establishing proper tongue resting position, correcting swallowing patterns, improving oral motor strength and coordination, and retraining the oral muscles through systematic exercises and activities.
Myofunctional Therapy
Therapy includes exercises to strengthen oral muscles, establish proper tongue position, correct eating/drinking patterns, and address associated habits. Often coordinated with orthodontic treatment for optimal results.