Medically reviewed by Dr. Yasmin Kottait, MSc Pediatric Dentistry, IBCCES Certified Autism Specialist, 20+ years caring for children’s teeth.
Quick Answer
Myobrace in Dubai and myofunctional therapy are gentle partners in your child’s oral care. Myobrace uses soft, removable appliances to guide the teeth and jaws into a healthier position. On the other hand, myofunctional therapy uses simple daily exercises to correct the habits behind the problem, such as mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, and thumb sucking.
When the two are used together, your child’s treatment by the trusted Pediatric Dentist addresses the real cause along with the crooked teeth, which helps the results last. For many little ones, this airway-focused Pediatric Dentistry approach can reduce the need for braces later, though every child’s journey is a little different.
What are “childhood oral habits,” and why do they matter?
As children grow, many pick up small everyday habits without anyone noticing. The most common ones a Pediatric Dentist in Dubai watches for are:
- Breathing through the mouth instead of the nose
- Resting the tongue low in the mouth rather than against the roof
- Pushing the tongue forward while swallowing
- Sucking a thumb or dummy beyond the toddler years
- Keeping the lips apart when the face is relaxed
These habits may seem harmless, yet each one places gentle pressure on a jaw that is still growing. Over months and years, that pressure can quietly change the shape of your child’s upper jaw and nudge the teeth out of line.
Catching these habits early with the assistance of a Kids Dentist Dubai, while the jaw is still easy to guide, makes all the difference. Caring for a child’s breathing and jaw development in this way sits at the heart of airway-focused Pediatric Dentistry.
What is Myobrace in Dubai?
Myobrace is a series of soft, comfortable appliances that your child simply wears and removes, with no wires or brackets fixed to the teeth. Your little one wears the appliance for a set time during the day and while they sleep, along with a few easy activities. It is used before braces, or in place of them, to gently guide the teeth and jaws while your child is still growing.
Myobrace is designed for children in their growing years, and is often described as suitable from around age 3 to 15, with a stage chosen to suit your child. Wear time is usually a period during the day plus overnight, though your airway-focused Pediatric Dentist will always tailor the routine to your child.
The idea behind Myobrace is simple. Crooked teeth are so often the result of underlying oral habits. That is why the appliance is only half of the picture. The other half is helping the muscles of the mouth learn to work the way they should.
What is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is a friendly programme of short, simple exercises for the muscles of the mouth and face. Practised a little each day under the guidance of a Pediatric Dentist near me, they gently teach your child to:
- Breathe comfortably through the nose
- Rest the tongue against the roof of the mouth
- Swallow in a healthy, natural way
- Keep the lips softly together at rest
With gentle daily practice, these movements slowly become second nature, so the healthier pattern takes the place of the old habit and stays there with your child.
How do Myofunctional Therapy and Myobrace work together?
The beauty of this approach is that each treatment cares for a different part of the same problem:
- Myobrace guides the teeth and jaws. The soft appliance helps position the teeth and encourages healthy jaw growth.
- Myofunctional therapy corrects the habit. The exercises retrain the breathing, tongue, and swallowing patterns that caused the trouble in the first place.
On its own, an appliance can move the teeth, yet the old habit gently keeps pushing them back out of place. On its own, the exercises help, though they work slowly without the appliance to guide the teeth.
When used together under the guidance of a trusted Pediatric Dentist in Dubai, they support one another beautifully. The appliance shapes the smile while the exercises remove the pressure that caused the crowding. This is exactly why an airway-focused Pediatric Dentist so often recommends both to parents.
What to Expect on Your Child’s Journey
Every child is unique, so every plan is a little different, but most follow the same gentle steps:
- A friendly first meeting: Dr. Yasmin Kottait gets to know your child, listens to your concerns, and carefully checks the bite, breathing, tongue posture, and habits.
- A comfortable daily routine at home: Your child wears the Myobrace appliance for the recommended time and does a few short exercises each day.
- Regular, reassuring check-ups: Dr. Yasmin follows your child’s progress and adjusts the plan gently as they grow.
- Keeping that lovely smile: Once the habits have changed, the final step is holding the new, healthy position so the results last.
Because most of the work happens at home, this is very much a partnership between Dr. Yasmin Kottait and family. Children who keep up their little daily routine tend to enjoy the happiest results.
Which Children Benefit Most?
This gentle approach is often a wonderful fit for children who:
- Breathe through the mouth
- Snore or sleep restlessly
- Push the tongue forward when swallowing
- Still suck a thumb or dummy beyond the toddler years
- Have crowded teeth linked to a narrow jaw
If a few of these sound familiar, an airway-focused Pediatric Dentistry assessment is a caring first step. Sometimes an oral habit is linked to a restricted tongue-tie or lip-tie, which Dr. Yasmin Kottait can also check during the visit.
Of course, this path is not right for every child, as some bites still need traditional braces, and some children are not quite ready for daily wear and exercises. Dr. Yasmin Kottait will always share an honest and caring recommendation about what suits your child best, including pre-orthodontic options when they are a better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age can my child start Myobrace?
It is designed for children who are still growing, often from around age 3 to 15. The right moment depends on your child, and Dr. Yasmin Kottait, an experienced Pediatric Dentist in Dubai, will guide you after a gentle assessment.
Is Myobrace a replacement for braces?
Not always, as it is used to reduce the need for braces, or to make any later treatment simpler and shorter. Some children still go on to have braces afterwards, and Dr. Yasmin will give you a clear, honest picture for your child.
Does Myobrace appliance cause any discomfort?
No, the appliances are soft and made to be comfortable. Your child may feel a little pressure or find it unfamiliar at first, and this usually settles very quickly.
How long does treatment take?
It depends on your child, the habits involved, and how consistently the daily routine is followed. Because so much depends on gentle daily practice, your involvement makes a real difference to the timeline.
Do the exercises really matter, or is the appliance enough?
The exercises recommended by the Pediatric Dentist near me are essential. The appliance guides the teeth, but if the breathing and tongue habits stay the same, that same pressure keeps working against the smile. This is exactly why the two go hand in hand.
How much does Myobrace cost in Dubai?
The cost depends on your child’s treatment plan and how long it takes. Dr. Yasmin Kottait and team will happily give you a clear estimate after your child’s assessment.
Will the Myobrace or Myofunctional therapy results last?
Yes, especially when your child’s habits are corrected and they finish the full programme, including the final stage that helps hold the new smile in place. Keeping up the gentle daily routine is what protects the results over time.
Book an Appointment with Dr. Yasmin Kottait in Dubai!
If your little one breathes through the mouth, snores, still sucks a thumb, or has crowding you have been wondering about, a warm, airway-focused Pediatric Dentistry assessment is the best place to start.
With an MSc in Pediatric Dentistry, IBCCES autism-specialist certification, and over 20 years caring for children at her clinic in Dubai Healthcare City, Dr. Yasmin Kottait will gently guide you on whether Myobrace and myofunctional therapy are right for your child, and what to expect along the way.
