Just Enjoy Health with Dr. Meghan Birt Ep. 149: Start With Myofunctional Therapy on Your Sleep and Tongue Tie Journey
Mar 14, 2023
Cara Cooper, a registered dental hygienist and myofunctional therapist, shares her expertise on orofacial myofunctional disorders and their impact on sleep and overall health. She discusses how modern diets can lead to issues like jaw dysfunction and the importance of proper tongue posture. Cara emphasizes the role of myofunctional therapy in preventing lifelong problems, the risks of DIY exercises, and the need for coordinated care, especially before tongue tie surgeries. She also highlights the link between sleep disorders and behavioral issues in children.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
OMDs Connect Sleep, Airway, And Digestion
- Oral-facial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) are a broad, underrecognized root cause connecting mouth function, airway, sleep, and digestion.
- Cara Cooper explains myofunctional therapy treats head and neck muscles to restore proper function and breathing.
Personal Discovery Led To Specialization
- Cara discovered her own posterior tongue tie at age 40 despite dental training, showing providers can miss ties.
- Her experience motivated deeper education and practice in myofunctional therapy.
Use Childhood Clues And Mouth Posture As Red Flags
- Look back to childhood signs like breastfeeding trouble, colic, and lifelong swallowing patterns as clues to adult OMDs.
- Screen for mouth posture and snoring because open-mouth rest posture and snoring indicate breathing dysfunction.
