It’s Time Thrive!
Is your child a…
- picky eater
- thumb, finger or tongue sucker
- mouth breather
- teeth grinder
Would you like your
child to Thrive?
- feed better
- breathe freer
- speak clearer
- sleep deeper
- smile brighter
Welcome to thrive by children's choice
Facial and oral muscle disorders can cause children to experience issues with chewing, swallowing, speech, sleep, breathing, breastfeeding, teeth alignment, facial development, and more.
Our experienced clinician uses Myofunctional Therapy to effectively retrain a child’s orofacial muscles to correct and relieve functional issues while also enhancing their facial appearance.
Common Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs)
- Thumb, finger, and tongue sucking
- Improper tongue resting placement or thrusting
- Drooling beyond suitable age
- Swallowing and Speech difficulties
- Orafacial hypersensitivity
- Picky eating
- Lip/Tongue tie
Common OMD Causes
- Airway disruption
- Prolonged sucking habit
- Tethered oral tissues (tongue-tie, lip-tie)
tongue-tie & lip-tie
Untreated OMD Concerns
- Mouth breathing
- Growth and development issues
- Dental malocclusion
- Speech, Swallowing, TMJ disorders
- Sleep apnea
Childhood Beginnings
When infants are unable to breastfeed appropriately, it leads to swallowing issues. These concerns result in children being labeled as picky eaters when the issue is actually a myofunctional problem.
Untreated Progression
Without treatment, speech difficulties typically arise around the age of 2. By age 5, these children with untreated myofunctional issues experience malocclusion (misalignment of the teeth) and future orthodontic challenges. When they reach their teen years, most of the facial growth is complete, meaning the shape of the face will remain even with orthodontic intervention at that time.
Early Intervention Makes the Difference
Oral habits in growing children determine teeth, face, jaw, and airway development. Correcting poor habits early can transform a child’s present and future oral health. Through physical therapy of the oral musculature, myofunctional intervention remedies poor muscle function that would inevitably lead to diminished airway, misaligned teeth, and facial growth issues.
Myofunctional
Therapy Solutions
Nasal breathing
Nasal breathing cleans, warms, and humidifies the air to help us relax. Open mouth breathing results in a facial growth pattern often seen in long-faced children with allergic shiners.
Tongue placement
Tongue placement is critical to myofunctional therapy. When the tongue rests away from its proper position, it often results in facial development issues and bite concerns.
Proper swallowing
Training a child to engage in proper swallowing may take up to a year of therapy, but it is essential to help them grow and thrive.
we're here to help
If you have any concerns with your child’s development, please contact our Thrive team at 202-410-0088 or email us at edna.ccpdo@gmail.com.
Connect With Us
We can't wait to meet you! Call one of our convenient locations today or fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch soon.
8500 Annapolis Rd. • Ste. 213 • New Carrollton, MD 20784 • (301) 731-8510
2013 Bunker Hill Road NE • Washington, DC 20018 • (202) 410-0088
2821 12th Street NE, Washington DC 20017 • (202) 410-0088
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