{"id":204693,"date":"2021-07-14T10:58:26","date_gmt":"2021-07-14T10:58:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adasmileplace.com\/?p=204693"},"modified":"2022-02-16T21:14:17","modified_gmt":"2022-02-16T21:14:17","slug":"signs-and-symptoms-of-an-orofacial-myofunctional-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adasmileplace.com\/signs-and-symptoms-of-an-orofacial-myofunctional-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs and Symptoms of an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"

Restore the harmony between the muscles and joints of your jaw.<\/h1>\n

Did you know your jaw is joined together by two of the most complex joints in your entire body? After all, the temporomandibular joints work together to move your jaw up, down, side to side, forward, and back\u2014an incredible range of motion for joints! This range of motion is accomplished through the complex relationship between your temporomandibular joints and the surrounding muscles of your lips and face, which work together to help you eat, speak, swallow, express emotions, and more. You can see how important for these muscles and joints to work to together properly. If they don’t, you may be experiencing an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder.<\/p>\n

When part of this complex network of joints and muscles isn\u2019t functioning correctly, however, it can create a ripple effect, leading to jaw pain as well as a surprising number of symptoms throughout the body. Some of these symptoms seem so random that many patients don\u2019t connect the dots between them until after they\u2019ve been diagnosed, which just goes to show how complex and amazingly interconnected the human body is. Thankfully, this relationship can benefit you too. Restoring the harmony between your joints and muscles can resolve your symptoms, helping you feel healthier overall. We know the relationship between your TMJ and orofacial muscles can seem complex, so we\u2019ve broken it down to help you better understand your symptoms and whether or not you may need to be evaluated for an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder.<\/p>\n

What is OMD?<\/h2>\n

Orofacial myofunctional disorder is a disorder in the muscles of the face and lips<\/a> that causes these muscles to adopt abnormal movement patterns. Since the relationship between your jaw and the muscles in your face and lips is so complex, this disorder can impact actions as simple as chewing, swallowing, and speaking. It can also impact the appearance of your face and cause or contribute to a surprising range of oral and overall health issues.<\/p>\n

Causes<\/h2>\n

There are several potential causes for an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder, many of which originate in childhood. A common thread in the causes of an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder is that they impact the way you use the muscles of your face and lips. Your muscles become trained to function in this new way, causing muscles to carry out jobs, hold positions they wouldn\u2019t normally, or get used much less often than they otherwise would. This can make some muscles weaker than they should be and impact the way they function together. Common causes include:<\/p>\n