Support Your Child’s Healthy Smile with Myo Munchee at NOLA Pediatric Dentistry
At NOLA Pediatric Dentistry, we’re always looking for the most effective, gentle tools to support your child’s oral development—and the Myo Munchee is one of our favorite go-tos! This small but mighty silicone device helps promote proper facial and jaw development, encourages healthy oral habits, and can even support better sleep and speech. Whether you’ve got a little one with developing teeth or you’re looking to improve your oral function, we’re proud to offer Myo Munchees right here at our Lakeview office.
What Exactly Is a Myo Munchee?
Think of it like a chewable mouthguard, designed to gently strengthen and train the muscles of the mouth, jaw, and face. Available in sizes for toddlers to adults, the Myo Munchee is made from medical-grade silicone and is completely safe to use. Most patients begin with just 5 minutes of gentle chewing twice a day and build up from there. With consistent use, this tool can make a world of difference in how the mouth and jaw grow and function.
What Can a Myo Munchee Help With?
- Encourages Proper Jaw and Dental Arch Development: The chewing action required to use the Myo Munchee stimulates the growth and alignment of the jawbones and dental arches. This activity helps expand the arches naturally, reducing the risk of crowding, misaligned teeth, and narrow palates as the child grows.
- Supports Nasal Breathing: The Myo Munchee promotes correct tongue posture and encourages the lips to close, which helps transition toddlers from mouth breathing to nasal breathing. Nasal breathing is crucial for proper oxygen intake, airway development, and overall health, while mouth breathing can lead to issues like disrupted sleep and poor facial growth.
- Strengthens Oral Muscles: The Myo Munchee exercises the muscles involved in chewing, swallowing, and speaking, which improves oral muscle tone and function. Stronger oral muscles support clearer speech, better food chewing and swallowing, and a more balanced facial structure.
- Helps Establish Healthy Oral Habits: Using the Myo Munchee replaces habits like pacifier use or thumb-sucking, which can contribute to dental misalignment and improper jaw development. It encourages toddlers to engage in active, beneficial oral exercises instead of passive habits that can hinder proper growth.
- Promotes Proper Facial Growth: Regular use of the Myo Munchee supports balanced development of the midface, jaw, and surrounding structures, fostering a more symmetrical and proportionate facial appearance.
- Supports Better Sleep and Behavior: By promoting nasal breathing and proper airway development, the Myo Munchee can reduce issues like Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB). Improved sleep quality has a positive impact on behavior, mood, learning, and overall development in toddlers.
- Encourages Tongue Posture and Function: The Myo Munchee promotes proper tongue resting position (on the roof of the mouth), which is essential for oral health, speech development, and efficient swallowing. It helps prevent issues like tongue thrust, which can affect dental alignment and speech clarity.
Available Right Here in Lakeview
No need to hunt one down online—we carry Myo Munchees in-office and will walk you through exactly how to use one at home. From choosing the right size to building a simple routine, we’ll make sure your family feels confident and informed every step of the way.
How to Get Started
The process is easy:
- Visit us for a quick consultation
- Pick your Munchee size (we’ll help!)
- Learn your routine – your Munchee certified practitioners will help create your individualized routine
- Watch the transformation unfold in just a few weeks
Some children may also benefit from “passive” use—keeping the Munchee in place without chewing—which we can guide you through depending on your child’s needs.