Myofunctional Therapy & Buteyko Breathing

Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry prides itself on being the only dental office on the central coast of California whose team includes a certified myofunctional therapist and Buteyko breathing educator.

What Is Myofunctional Therapy?

In short, myofunctional therapy is like physical therapy for the mouth that includes a series of simple, painless exercises to work the musculature of the mouth and face as well as the tongue. When overseen by a qualified myofunctional therapist in Scotts Valley, this method succeeds in correcting the function of the tongue and facial muscles both when at rest and when swallowing.

The proper resting position of the tongue and a correct swallowing pattern are both vital to overall oral health and development. If a person swallows improperly, this can cause a variety of health problems, especially when you consider that the average individual swallows as many as 600 to 1,000 times every day. The improper resting position of the mouth and tongue can also result in mouth breathing, which poses serious health consequences.

Myofunctional therapy and Buteyko breathing are both key treatment options for mouth breathing.

Why Is Mouth Breathing Bad for My Health?

In addition to being a less efficient way for the body to absorb oxygen, mouth breathing can cause a host of problems for children and adults throughout life and lead to more serious problemas as you age. Mouth breathing can cause crooked teeth, facial deformities, or poor growth. It can also cause bad breath, gum disease, chronic fatigue, and snoring.

Mouth breathing while asleep can be a precursor to snoring and can lead to the development of a sleep breathing disorder which disrupts rest and causes fatigue, irritability, and lack of focus. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a common sleep-breathing disorder affecting many Americans, even children and newborns.

Sleep apnea also increases a person’s risk of developing major health issues like heart disease, stroke, or high blood pressure. In children, sleep-breathing disorders can be a precursor to childhood obesity and present behavioral issues and symptoms of ADHD.

How Does Myofunctional Therapy Help Treat Mouth Breathing?

Myofunctional therapy encourages the widening of the airway and fosters the ability to breathe through the nose rather than the mouth. It does so by helping a patient achieve or regain the ideal oral resting posture. This means that, when you are not eating or speaking, your orofacial system is at rest as follows: with lips closed, teeth slightly touching, and tongue resting gently against the upper palate.

The Buteyko Breathing Method

Did you know that nose breathing is absolutely fundamental to good health and that 80% of the population breathes incorrectly? We should use our mouth to eat and talk and our nose to breathe and smell.

The Buteyko Breathing Method is a holistic, pharmaceutical-free way of eliminating the harmful effects of over-breathing. Asthma, rhinitis, hay fever, anxiety, stress and panic attacks, poor sleep, insomnia, snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, irritable bowels, and shortness of breath are just a few of the many symptoms of over-breathing.

Great for children and adults alike, Buteyko Breathing Method not only can alleviate these problems but can also improve athletic performance by increasing oxygen intake.

Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry is one of the few offices on the Central Coast of California fortunate enough to have a Buteyko Breathing educator on our team of providers. Buteyko Breathing teaches the patient to constantly breathe through the nose with the lips sealed, encouraging nasal breathing.

Nose breathing is important because it produces nitric oxide, an important gas that helps in dilating the arteries, reducing stress, and fighting bacterial and viral infections. Buteyko Breathing consists of taking slower, shallower breaths, to aid in producing more carbon dioxide, which helps the body absorb oxygen.

This air also has a higher quantity of nitric oxide, which kills bacteria while also fostering dilation of your airway, arteries, and capillaries.

Mouth taping with 3M paper tape, under the guidance of our trained Buteyko Breathing educator, can help with the proper lip seal and tongue placement to the roof of the mouth, which again encourages nasal breathing. This technique should be done during the day with proper guidance. Once you are comfortable with this, night taping is encouraged in order to promote nasal breathing while sleeping.

Remember that any mouth taping should be considered only as a temporary measure, and you should only do so under the guidance of a qualified practitioner, such as those at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry.

Mouth Breathing Treatment in Scotts Valley

Ready to find out more about myofunctional therapy or Buteyko breathing? Then contact the Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry office in Scotts Valley, CA, at (831) 438-4411 to schedule an appointment.

Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry serves patients located in the California communities of Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley.