Airway in Everett, WA | Silver Lake Dental Care

AIRWAY

Myofunctional therapy can play a significant role in improving airway health by retraining the muscles involved in breathing. Here's how:

Your airway is the passage that allows air to travel from your nose or mouth to your lungs.
A healthy upper airway remains open during sleep, allowing for optimal airflow.

Narrowed airway: Enlarged tonsils, tongue positioning, or weak muscles can all contribute to a narrowed airway.
Myofunctional therapy can help strengthen and retrain these muscles, potentially improving airway space and reducing resistance to airflow.
Sleep apnea: When the airway becomes too narrow during sleep, it can collapse briefly, causing sleep apnea. Myofunctional therapy may help by improving muscle tone and function, potentially reducing the frequency and severity of sleep apnea episodes.
Mouth breathing: Chronic mouth breathing can disrupt sleep quality and contribute to airway issues. Myofunctional therapy can help promote nasal breathing, which is generally considered healthier.

Tongue Retraining: Myofunctional therapy exercises can target the tongue muscles, encouraging proper posture and retraining them to rest in a more optimal position that doesn't contribute to airway obstruction.
Strengthening Orofacial Muscles: Exercises can strengthen the muscles that support the airway, improving its stability and reducing the risk of collapse during sleep.
Improved Nasal Breathing: Myofunctional therapy can help address habits like mouth breathing and promote nasal breathing, which allows for better oxygen intake and potentially improved sleep quality.