We specialize in Orofacial Myofunctional Treatment
{Physical Therapy for the mouth, face, & airway}
Because Your Mouth Matters
Though our mouths aren’t something most of us spend a whole lot of time thinking about each day, certainly we can appreciate that they are important for many reasons – we use them to eat, drink, speak, and show emotion. But did you know that our mouths, specifically our tongues, are even more important than that? Actually, our tongues play an integral role in the development and function of not only our mouths, but also our airways.
Who would argue with this statement – ‘When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters’ (American Lung Association)? The role our tongues play in regard to breathing is therefore vitally important! Not only that, our tongues also impact our posture, digestion, sleep, and so much more systemically.
Consider, for example, that we swallow nearly 2000 times per day, in addition to all of the other movements we make with our tongues. Each of those movements is a chance to significantly impact our bodies in a positive way. That is only possible, however, if our tongues are in the proper position and moving as they should. This is where orofacial myofunctional treatment can help.
We specialize in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy {Physical Therapy for the mouth, face, & airway}
Because Your
Mouth Matters
Though our mouths aren’t something most of us spend a whole lot of time thinking about each day, certainly we can appreciate that they are important for many reasons – we use them to eat, drink, speak, and show emotion. But did you know that our mouths, specifically our tongues, are even more important than that? Actually, our tongues play an integral role in the development and function of not only our mouths, but also our airways.
Who would argue with this statement – ‘When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters’ (American Lung Association)? The role our tongues play in regard to breathing is therefore vitally important! Not only that, our tongues also impact our posture, digestion, sleep, and so much more systemically.
Consider, for example, that we swallow nearly 2000 times per day, in addition to all of the other movements we make with our tongues. Each of those movements is a chance to significantly impact our bodies in a positive way. That is only possible, however, if our tongues are in the proper position and moving as they should. This is where orofacial myofunctional treatment can help.
This is our passion
{Helping children & adults breathe, sleep, eat, speak, & live better}
Welcome to
Mouth
Matters Therapy
Mouth Matters Therapy, LLC is proud to serve children, teens, and adults in Northeast Ohio, and I look forward to helping you.
I have been where perhaps you are – my family and I have experienced the frustrations of dealing with chronic respiratory issues, restless sleep, snoring, tongue/lip ties releases, dental crowding, cavities, palatal expansion, braces, etc. We can particularly relate to the difficulties encountered and the expenses in time, money, and energy incurred with attempting to find accurate answers to our questions, providers who are not only competent but who also truly care about our best interests, and ultimately effective treatment options to target the root causes of symptoms instead of being a ‘bandaid’ or, even worse, the causes of other compounding issues (yes, we unfortunately have been there, too).
My research and training in the field of orofacial myofunctional treatment (OMT) began as a mission to help my own family. But all of that acquired knowledge, in addition to our own personal journey of much trial and error, led me to wholeheartedly believe that OMT is truly a missing pillar of health for so many more people. I’m so glad you’ve stopped by this site to learn more about how it might make a difference for you or someone you know.
Once I started learning about this ever-growing and highly impactful field, I haven’t been able to get enough. The most important thing I’ve learned on my journey is that there’s always so much more to learn. I strive to stay on top of the latest research and treatments, not only because I find it fascinating, but because I want to provide the most thorough and effective care for my patients.
Mouth Matters Therapy, LLC was founded with a primary purpose of helping others in the ways my family and I needed but which were not available to us when we started on this chapter of our health journey. My goal is to be a source of honest information, relevant education, personal health advocacy, and a reliable guide in helping to determine the best course of care with each individual patient’s best interests at heart. To learn more about Mouth Matters Therapy, LLC, please contact us.
Services We Provide
Who Needs Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?
Some of the conditions we can impact:
Cognitive Behavioral Health Issues
Cognitive Behavioral Health Issues
- Attention issues
- Difficulty concentrating
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsivity
- Aggression
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Brain fog/confusion
Cosmetic Concerns
Cosmetic Concerns
- Dark under-eye circles
- Creases along lower eyelids
- Dry, chapped lips
- "Gummy" smile
- Lines/creases around mouth
- Thin lips
- Sagging cheeks
- Ill-defined jawline
- Facial asymmetries
Dental/Oral Health Issues
Dental/Oral Health Issues
- Bad breath
- Dry mouth
- Cavities
- Crowding of teeth
- Malocclusion
- Tongue and/or lip tie
- Gum disease
- Gum recession
- Tongue thrust
- Orthodontic relapse/instability
Digestion/Eating Issues
Digestion/Eating Issues
- Food texture aversions
- Difficulty chewing
- Open mouth chewing
- Inadequate chewing
- Noisy or messy eating
- Gastric distress
- Constipation
- Reflux
- Facial/neck muscle compensations
Ear/Nose/Throat Conditions
Ear/Nose/Throat Conditions
- Ear infections
- Enlarged tonsils &/or adenoids
- Chronic congestion
- Chronic rhinitis
- Frequent coughs, colds, sore throat
Exercise/Activity Restrictions
Exercise/Activity Restrictions
- Easily fatigued or low endurance
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty recovering post-workout
- Muscle cramping
- Mouth breathing during activities
Musculoskeletal Issues
Musculoskeletal Issues
- Forward head & rounded shoulder posture
- Facial tension
- Clenching & grinding of teeth
- Jaw pain/TMJ symptoms
- Neck tension
- Shoulder tension
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
Oral Habits
Oral Habits
- Nail biting
- Lip or cheek biting
- Tongue sucking
- Pacifier use
- Thumb or finger sucking
- Sucking on clothing
- Chewing on objects (e.g., pen caps, etc.)
- Pica
Respiratory Health Issues
Respiratory Health Issues
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Wheezing
- Chronic bronchitis
- Fast breathing
- Shallow/chest breathing
- Breath-holding
- Mouth breathing
- Over-breathing/frequent yawning or sighing
Sleep-Related Issues
Sleep-related Issues
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Restless sleep
- Fragmented sleep/frequent awakenings
- Bed-wetting
- Drooling on pillow
- Thirst/dry mouth
- Snoring or loud breathing
- Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome
- Mild to moderate apnea
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux
- Daytime fatigue
Neurological Issues
Neurological Issues
- Headaches
- History of concussions
- Bell's Palsy
- History of stroke
- Post-orofacial injury/trauma
- Strong gag reflex
- Developmental concerns
Pre & Post-Procedure Rehabilitation
Pre & Post-Procedure Rehabilitation
- Post-orthodontic treatment
- Pre and post-tongue/lip tie release
- Tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy
- Dental surgery
- Jaw surgery
- Nasal surgery
- Facial surgery