Our Silver Spring Dentist Can Help Your Child Develop Healthy Habits
Ensuring children develop healthy oral habits at a young age is essential for their growth. At ASE Dental, our Silver Spring dentist provides an effective dental and myofunctional therapy tool known as Myo Munchee. As a chewable appliance, it can help your child develop proper speech patterns, dental hygiene, sleep habits, healthy jaw and face bones, and more.
If you’re wondering whether your child could benefit from Myo Munchee, call our Silver Spring dental office at (301) 593-5500 to schedule an appointment with our dentist.
What Is Myo Munchee?
Myo Munchee is a chewable silicone tool that looks similar to a sports mouthguard. It’s a non-toxic and safe oral appliance that provides effective results on the muscles and bones of the face. The device should be worn and actively chewed on for 10 minutes each day. However, most patients will need to work up to that amount of time, and they often start with 5 minutes a day.
The Myo Munchee comes in four different sizes:
- Mini — for very young children (age dependent on development)
- Small — for children between the ages of four and eight
- Medium — for patients ages eight and up and most adult women
- Large — for boys 14+ and most adult men
What Does Myo Munchee Help Correct?
Myo Munchee can help children and adults with various problems. At your initial appointment, if our Silver Spring dentist notices any muscle weakness in the lower third of the face or any other issues with the teeth, gums, face, or function of any of them, Dr. Bassford may recommend Myo Munchee. By actively chewing on your Myo Munchee, you can get the body’s optimal function back on track.
Issues that Myo Munchee is known to correct include:
- Craniofacial development
- Bone and joint health
- Dental hygiene
- Salivary production
- TMJ stability
- Nasal breathing
- Lip and tongue strengthening
To schedule an appointment to learn more about Myo Munchee, call our Silver Spring dental office at (301) 593-5500.
Myo Munchee Use
Myo Munchee appliances are easy to use. Before use, always rinse your Myo Munchee. We recommend submerging it in freshly boiled water for 60 seconds for sanitization. Place the appliance in your mouth with the “lips” indent at the top and start chewing. Make sure the lips are closed around the Myo Munchee while chewing so it properly strengthens the muscle and prevents excess wear. Keep your chewing even on both sides of the mouth to avoid weakening one side of the appliance.
Aim for at least 5 minutes of chewing twice a day. After use, rinse the device in cold water and dry it thoroughly.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Myo Munchee oral appliance should last between 6 and 18 months. However, those who are heavy chewers, teeth grinders, or wear the device more often than advised, may experience shorter longevity of the appliance. By taking good care of your Myo Munchee, you can increase its longevity. Simply rinse and dry the appliance after every use.
In some cases, Myo Munchee can assist with sleep apnea. The appliance can tone the muscles of the face, lips, and tongue, promoting nasal breathing and holding the jaw in the correct position.
Before using your Myo Munchee for sleep apnea, please consult with your dentist or general practitioner.
How often your child should use Myo Munchee will depend on various factors. Few children will have the developed jaw strength to use their appliance for the recommended time of 10 minutes right away. By working with Dr. Bassford, she can help create a schedule to help your child slowly increase their jaw strength and will likely advise them to chew on their Myo Munchee for five minutes, twice a day.
Visit ASE Dental for Excellent Care
At ASE Dental, our Silver Spring dentist provides personalized care for every patient. Our Myo Munchee services can help young children develop healthy habits. To learn more about Myo Munchee, call our Maryland dental office at (301) 593-5500. You can also request an appointment through our online contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!