Orofacial Myology Adelaide

15/08/2026

A wonderful day presenting at the Australian Society of Orthodontists – SA Branch Clinical Day at beautiful Carrick Hill.

A sincere thank you to the SA Branch and the organising committee for the invitation and for creating such a valuable opportunity to share ideas, discuss clinical experiences and learn from one another.

It was a privilege to be part of a room filled with passionate clinicians and colleagues who are committed to continually improving patient care and advancing our profession.

The future of orthodontics is strengthened by collaboration, open discussion and a willingness to share knowledge. I look forward to continuing these conversations and working together to support innovation, learning and excellence in orthodontic care.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to such a fantastic day — and to the A*O SA Branch for bringing our orthodontic community together. 🦷✨

*OSA

25/03/2026

Need a solution for chronic drooling?

Frustrating for children and exhausting for parents but it doesn't need to be a messy issue

Many children who experience chronic drooling simply haven’t developed the oral muscle coordination needed to comfortably keep saliva in the mouth. When lips rest open and the tongue sits low, saliva escapes… leading to wet shirts, constant wiping, and sometimes embarrassment in social settings.

The encouraging part? These patterns can be improved.

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy focuses on gently retraining the lips, tongue and facial muscles so they can work together the way they’re meant to. Through simple, play-based activities children learn how to:

• rest with lips comfortably closed
• improve tongue control and positioning
• manage saliva more effectively
• build better breathing and oral habits

Small changes in muscle function can make a big difference — helping children feel drier, more comfortable, and more confident throughout the day.

If drooling has been an ongoing challenge for your child, supportive therapy and guidance may be helpful. Exploring the underlying cause is often the first step toward meaningful change. 🌿

Blog topic: https://www.orofacialmyologyadelaide.com/blog/category/orofacial-myology-never-heard-of-it

Book online: https://www.orofacialmyologyadelaide.com/contact.html

18/03/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FxN1pidtZ/

Free Masterclass: How to soothe skin , calm reactions & reduce flare-ups .... naturally.

11/03/2026

THESE EXERCISES DONT WORK!

🔥 Your Jaw Isn’t Weak — It’s dysfunctional!
Strength based exercises aren't the solution. 🔥

If you’ve been told to press your fist under your chin or against the sides of your jaw against resistance to “fix” muscular TMD and its either done nothing, or made your pain worse, then stop.

Muscular TMD is not a strength problem.
It’s an overload or stability problem

That fist-under-chin exercise?
❌ Adds more tension to already tight muscles
❌ Reinforces dysfunctional movement patterns
❌ Increases joint compression
❌ Does nothing to restore proper function

Most painful jaws aren’t weak.
They’re clenched, guarded, fatigued, and compensating.

Strengthening an overactive system doesn’t create balance.
It often makes symptoms worse.

Real rehab for muscular TMD focuses on:
✔️ Neuromuscular re-education
✔️ Proper oral posture
✔️ Nasal breathing patterns
✔️ Functional jaw movement to move more and safely
✔️ Reducing clenching and compensation
✔️ Facial + cervical muscle harmony

This is where Oro-Myofunctional therapy changes the game.

Facial pain and muscular TMD needs a functional approach — not random resistance exercises.

✨ Stop strengthening. Start rehabilitating
✨ Treat function, not just force.

If you're ready for a smarter approach to muscular TMD start working smarter not harder

online bookings: https://www.orofacialmyologyadelaide.com/contact.html
more info: https://www.orofacialmyologyadelaide.com/orofacialfpainandtmd.html
Blog topic: https://www.orofacialmyologyadelaide.com/blog/category/pain-and-dental-splints

18/05/2025

Any health professionals interested to learn more about myomunchees?

A Simple Tool with Big Impact

Mary and the munchee team are coming to Adelaide Thursday the 12th of June for a free info night. Register to attend here:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/munchee-meets-adelaide-tickets-1368261871089?aff=oddtdtcreator

MyoMunchees are silicone chewing devices that support healthy oral development by encouraging natural chewing, lip closure, and nasal breathing. They're easy to use and can complement care in dentistry, speech therapy, and pediatric health.

02/03/2025

Advanced Education with Linda D'Onofrio. Wow! An exceptional learning opportunity and a deep dive into offering the very best care for patients with OMDs. Personalised diagnosis and treatment planning.

Adelaide is hosting this on the 28th & 29th of March and seats are still available

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aaom-presents-functional-orofacial-myofunctional-therapy-adelaide-2025-tickets-1086509141089?aff=erelexpmlt

Any health professionals who are interested and especially any health professional who is sceptical, I urge you to come. PM if you have any questions.

22/02/2025

NEW YEAR, NEW LOCATION!

We have moved to a new address, 47 Portrush Road, Payneham

Once again, thank you to Brad and the team for supporting us over the years and keeping us running with beautiful consulting rooms.

Monday kicks off at the new location for all appointments. See you there

08/08/2024

Quitting thumb sucking is important!

Here's why:

Dental Health: Prolonged thumb sucking can lead to dental problems such as misalignment of teeth and bite issues, like an overbite or open bite. It can also affect the development of the roof of the mouth.

Speech Clarity: Thumb sucking can interfere with proper speech development, potentially contributing to issues like lisping or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds.

Thumb and Skin Problems: Continuous thumb sucking can cause skin problems, such as calluses, nail infections, or even deformation of the thumb.

Psychological and Social Impact: Older children who continue to suck their thumbs may face teasing or social stigma, which can affect their self-esteem and social interactions.

Increased Risk of Infections: Hands are exposed to various germs throughout the day. Thumb sucking increases the risk of transferring these germs into the mouth, potentially leading to illnesses.

Quitting thumb sucking can help prevent these issues and promote healthier development in children.

https://www.orofacialmyologyadelaide.com/thumbsucking.html

31/07/2024

We use a targeted approach to address common areas of pain in the face, jaw and head. We use a combination of brief and specific manipulations followed by exercise prescription for lasting results. You will feel immediate relief and we will explore deeper reasons as to why you feel pain.

It's a rehabilitation program for your face and jaw

This program is designed in line with modern research on treatment of jaw and face pain. We complete a full health history, pain mapping and functional assessment of your jaw. We target the muscles that are causing your pain and use movement techniques as a healing agent. Learn about your pain and understand which symptoms need which self-care technique. This program can be extremely effective for many types of pain. Common issues we treat is unexplained tooth, sinus or ear pain, clicking joints, limited jaw opening and related headaches.

​
How it Works:
Reduce Muscle Tension: Targeted trigger point therapy followed by specific movements and exercise prescription to alleviate tension in the jaw muscles to reduce deep dragging pain and discomfort (on average exercises take 2 minutes per day)

Improving Muscle Coordination: Enhancing the coordination of facial and jaw muscles for more efficient and less painful jaw movements.

Correcting Posture: Proper oral posture of the tongue, jaw, and head can reduce strain on the temporomandibular joint and restore long term overall function

Promoting Healthy Habits: Addressing habits like teeth grinding or clenching, which can exacerbate TMD symptoms.

24/07/2024

Is your tongue contributing to orthodontic problems?

The muscles of the face, the lips, the tongue and the jaw should move in a way that supports healthy breathing, eating, speaking and swallowing. Poor muscle movements of the face and mouth are collectively known as myofunctional disorders. These disorders can contribute to changes in facial growth and orthodontic problems such as dental open bites.

Correcting an open bite may require orthodontic treatment. However, a dysfunctional oral rest posture and swallow can lead to unstable results and relapse. Teeth move as a result of pressure. Excessive tongue pressure can undo your orthodontist's work.

Oro-myofunctional therapy is worth the effort for a healthy smile!