The term sleep disordered breathing (SDB) includes several sleep related breathing abnormalities, most of which Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can help with. These include snoring, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), and Clenching and grinding (bruxism).
Snoring is the partial obstruction of the upper airways causing noise and vibration produced by the oropharyngeal muscles during sleep. Basically it is a large volume of air trying to pass through a narrowed space. Simple snoring is vibration through the soft palate (mouth snoring). Snoring cessation begins with breathing through your nose. Snoring can contribute to sleep apneas as the constant vibration of the muscles of the mouth, and throat become larger, and may cause changes in width, size and thickness.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep apnea affects more than 18 million Americans. Most people are completely unaware
that they have sleep apnea and are undiagnosed or untreated. Left untreated, apnea can lead to high blood pressure,
memory problems, impotence, or even cardiovascular disease.
When the muscles of the oropharynx are weak, they disrupt the flow of air, and that is when snoring happens.
If the tube collapses, the airway becomes blocked, such as what happens during sleep apnea. Moreover, a weak
and floppy tongue may fall back into the throat and create an obstruction. An orofacial myofunctional
therapist can help manage those muscles.
Obstructive sleep apnea is usually caused by a blockage in the throat (which is usually the soft tissue,
namely the soft palate) while sleeping. Orofacial myofunctional therapy can help this kind of sleep apnea by
working with the muscles of the oropharyngeal complex. In 2015, a meta analysis of CPAP compared to
myofunctional therapy concluded: "Current literature demonstrates that myofunctional therapy decreases
apnea-hypopnea index by approximately 50% in adults and 62% in children. Lowest oxygen saturations, snoring,
and sleepiness outcomes improve in adults. muscle weakness contributes to sleep apnea. Strengthening those
muscles through myofunctional therapy helps improve breathing, sleeping, snoring, etc..."
The habit of clenching damages the teeth, and causes chewing muscle disfunctions and pain. Grinding of the teeth usually occurs at night and is a sign of sleep disordered breathing. OMT provides strategies to reduce or eliminate clenching and identifies some symptoms of disordered nasal breathing; which is often the main cause of bruxing. Signs and symptoms of bruxism may include: