How do I know whether my child needs an oral function assessment?

If your child experiences any of the following symptoms, they should be assessed and treated as soon as possible to prevent the emergence of orofacial myofunctional disorders as they grow:

• Mouth Breathing, snorting, snoring
• Tongue Thrusting (positioning tongue between the gums or lips)
• Thumb or finger sucking, or "obsession" with the pacifier
• Biting the nipples (whether breast or bottle feeding) during feeds
• Tooth crowding (lack of space between baby teeth once fully grown in)
• Grinding or Clenching of teeth (or difficulty opening jaw wide if no teeth have come in)
• Picky or messier than expected eating
• Poor posture (after independent sitting has been achieved) or leaning on the chin, if older.
• Cheek or lip biting (after teeth have erupted)
• Open mouth position at rest or during sleep
• Odd positions during sleep (i.e. butt up in the air, head leaning backward, moving all over the bed during sleep, restless sleep)

If these behaviors continue through your child's early years, they will result in inappropriate muscle functions and can cause lasting challenges with poor oral health, sleep disorders, crowded/crooked teeth, behavioral struggles, poor posture, speech problems, or digestive disorders. Early treatment and intervention is the most effective and least expensive way to prevent a lifetime of dysfunction!

What makes WNY Orofacial & Breastfeeding Support Center different from other providers?

The short answer is that we specialize in complex situations. As you wouldn't have your general physician treating chronic heart disease, you wouldn't expect your pediatrician to manage complex issues such as tethered oral tissues. The simple fact is that educational opportunities are few and far between for healthcare providers, leaving many to rely on their personal experience as "evidence" to support their practices. 

​​At WNY Orofacial & Breastfeeding Support Center, we have a solid, interdisciplinary base of academic evidence and education to support our practices and we offer a multidisciplinary touch to our services. Whether you are a breast/chest-feeding or bottle-feeding parent, we can help alleviate colic, reflux, frequent feedings, slow weight gain, and more!

We are a proud member of  the International Consortium of oral Ankylofrenula Professionals  (ICAP) and the United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) and the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), and recipient of Tethered Oral Tissues Specialty certification.