Problems with Eating or Swallowing: Detailed Explanation
Eating and swallowing are essential functions that are often taken for granted, but individuals with Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD) may experience significant challenges in these areas. One of the hallmark features of OMD is tongue thrust, where the tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth during swallowing and at rest. This seemingly small issue can have far-reaching effects on daily life, including:
1. Messy or Inefficient Eating
- Difficulty Managing Food: Individuals with an OMD may struggle to control food in their mouths due to improper tongue coordination,misaligned jaws and poor lip closure resulting in food falling out or requiring more effort to chew and swallow.
- Spilling Liquids: Drinking can become challenging, as poor lip seal or tongue positioning may cause liquid to dribble out of the mouth.
- Longer Mealtimes: Swallowing inefficiencies often mean meals take more time, which can lead to frustration or embarrassment in social settings like family dinners or restaurant outings.
2. Digestive Issues
- Incomplete Chewing: Ineffective tongue and jaw coordination can prevent thorough chewing, leading to larger food particles entering the digestive system. This can cause discomfort, bloating, or difficulty digesting food properly.
- Swallowing Air: Individuals with an OMD may inadvertently swallow air due to improper swallowing mechanics, which can result in frequent burping or feelings of fullness.
3. Social and Emotional Impact
- Embarrassment During Meals: Difficulty eating or drinking neatly can make individuals feel self-conscious, especially in group settings or professional environments. Children might face teasing from peers, leading to lowered confidence.
- Avoidance of Eating in Public: Adults may choose to skip social gatherings or work lunches to avoid the discomfort and attention that messy eating can draw.
4. Impact on Nutrition
- Selective Eating: To avoid discomfort, individuals with an OMD may prefer soft or easy-to-swallow foods, which could limit their diet and potentially result in nutritional deficiencies. Some people classified as picky eaters are actually inadvertent to foods because they are difficult to chew and swallow due to an OMD and not due to the taste.
- Reduced Appetite: Frustration or fatigue from the effort required to eat properly may cause a person to eat less, further impacting their health.
5. How OMD Causes These Problems
- Tongue Thrust: The tongue’s forward movement during swallowing as well as rest posture disrupts the natural, efficient swallowing pattern. This habit may develop due to muscle weakness, improper tongue posture, or compensatory behaviors caused by other OMD-related dysfunctions.
- Muscle Imbalances: Weak or overactive orofacial muscles (e.g., lips, cheeks, or tongue) prevent the smooth coordination needed for eating and swallowing.
- Jaw Misalignment: OMD often coexists with dental malocclusions, such as open bite or overbite, which can make chewing and biting into food more difficult.
- Poor Lip Seal: Inability to keep the lips closed due to weak facial muscles may exacerbate the challenges of keeping food and liquid contained while eating.
6. Quality of Life Impacts
- The difficulties associated with eating and swallowing can create a ripple effect in an individual’s daily life. Beyond physical discomfort, these issues can strain social relationships, increase anxiety during meals, and reduce overall enjoyment of food. For children, mealtime struggles may lead to tension within the family or even developmental delays related to inadequate nutrition.
Treatment for these issues often involves orofacial myofunctional therapy to retrain the muscles and improve swallowing mechanics. Collaboration with a speech-language pathologist, dentist, or orthodontist can address underlying structural or functional problems, ensuring a more positive and fulfilling eating experience.