What causes OMD?
The following may cause OMD:
- allergies
- enlarged tonsils and adenoids
- excessive thumb or finger sucking, lip and fingernail biting, lip picking, and teeth clenching and grinding
- family heredity
Allergies can cause problems with the functioning of the mouth or face muscles. For children with allergies, it is often hard to breath normally through the nose because of nasal airway blockage. They often breath with their mouths open, tongues lying flat on the bottom of their mouths. Lip muscles may lose their strength and tone if an open-mouth posture continues for a long time.
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids can block airways, causing an open-mouth breathing pattern. This pattern can become habit forming and continue even after medical treatment for the blocked airway is received.
Excessive thumb or finger sucking, lip and fingernail biting, lip picking, and teeth clenching and grinding can result in OMD. Constant thumb sucking in particular may change the shape of the child's upper and lower jaw and teeth, requiring speech, dental, and orthodontic intervention. The effect of the problem depends on how often and how long the oral habit is practiced.
Family heredity can be involved in determining the size of a child's mouth, the arrangement and number of teeth, and the strength of the lip, tongue, mouth, and facial muscles.
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See Also:
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders: Benefits of Speech-Language Pathology Services
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