Passive training:
- Letsip® S-series can be used as a manual stimulation tool for exercising the closing of the mouth amongst other things. The opening in the S-series prevents the creation of a mouth vacuum, as long as the lips do not create a seal around the shaft. This mouth opening is necessary for those who breathe through their mouths.
- Exercises the closing of the mouth, stimulating the cheeks and all the muscles attached to the lips (m. orbicularis oris)
- To be used between the teeth and lips for up to 20 minutes. (Exercising nose breathing, mouth closing and tongue vacuum).
- Drooling is the combination with an open mouth and the reduced sensory sensitivity and/or awareness. Gravity along with passive training, in combination with reminding the person to swallow once a minute, has helped a multitude of people with drooling issues. It is recommended that you use the Letsip® S-series from 10 to 20 minutes several times a day, and remember the importance of reminding the person to swallow.
- The Letsip® S-series can easily be used during activities like reading a newspaper, watching TV, using a computer, tablet console or other activities where the person sits reasonably still and in comfort.
- It is common that some people may need to practice before they can keep the S-series in their mouths. In those cases it's recommended to start with the smallest product size, and gradually progress to the larger ones. After this, one moves from Letsip® S5 (the biggest mouth screen) and back down to S4, S3, S2 and at the end, S1 which is the smallest of the series, and thus the hardest to keep hold of with ones lips.
- Whilst training the lips, one must be aware not to tighten the chin area (m. mentalis H), as this can compensate for the reduced upper lip function. If the chin and lower lip comes up, we recommend having a person help support the jaw and chin with one hand. Massaging the chin area at the same time as training can have a soothing effect on the musculature that is not active during the exercise.
- Fixation, if jaw stability is not good, this can result in an overactive middle face. This is a common observation amongst Cerebral Palsy sufferers. The person will often sit with a stiff smile in an attempt to close and stabilise their jaw. The upper lip is fixated and not actively partaking in the closing of the mouth. A lot of people will then swallow by moving the lower lip up towards the upper front teeth. A fixated smile in children will often lead to uneven development with a high palate, and very often the second set of teeth will have little space and will point forward and out. This will make it harder to shut the mouth.
- The S-series can be used to train the closing of the mouth and relaxation of the musculature attached to the upper lip. The stretching and relaxation training of the mouth's muscular activity via slow movements with the S-series, can be highly effective in combination with jaw stability training.
A lot of mouth breathers find it easier to train with Letsip® products, due to the specially designed opening, allowing free breathing for its users.
The Letsip® S-series is meant for individual training in a program adapted to each individual user.
Active training:
The Letsip® S-series can be used by anyone to increase strength and suppleness. It can also be used actively as a stimulation pen for the musculature both inside and outside the mouth.
Stimulating the lips, cheeks and tongue with the Letsip S-series triggers activity in the musculature around the lips and mouth.
See figure below: Musculature A to H is attached to the jaw and/or cranium at one end, and the lips (m.orbicularis oris) at the other end, simply explained.
Movements and stimulation of the tongue, lips and chin will lead to the activation of the inactive musculature receiving impulses, even without the presence neurological contact to the brain motor centre.
Castillo Morales *, figure above shows arrows for how each muscle moves towards the point of attachment, all except H (m.mentalis) that pushes the lower lip upwards.
A: Raises the middle part of the upper lip and enlarges the nose wings (m. Levator Labii Superioris Nasi).
B: Raises the upper lip (m. Levator labii superioris).
C: Lifting the corner of the mouth (m. Levator anguli oris).
D: Lifting the corner of the mouth up and out (m. Zygomaticus minor / major).
E: Pulls the corner of the mouth out horizontally (m. Risorius).
F: Pulls the corner of the mouth downwards (m. depressor anguli oris).
G: Pulls the lower lip downwards (m. depressor labii inferioris).
H: Raises the chin and lower lip upwards (m. mentalis).
* The Castillo Morales concept is a comprehensive neurological rehabilitation concept for children and adults with sensorimotor, orofacial and communicative difficulties.
