Myofunctional therapy retrains the muscles of the tongue, mouth, and face to support proper breathing, swallowing, and oral posture.
A healthier smile begins with balanced oral function.
Myofunctional Therapy: Improve Breathing, Oral Habits & Facial Development
Myofunctional therapy is one of the most overlooked — but most powerful — treatments for children and adults struggling with mouth breathing, tongue posture issues, sleep problems, and improper facial development.
It’s not just exercises.
It’s retraining the muscles of the tongue, lips, cheeks, and face so they work the way nature intended.
When these muscles function properly, everything improves: breathing, swallowing, speech clarity, sleep, and long-term dental health.
What Is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is a series of guided exercises that strengthen and train the oral and facial muscles. It’s designed to correct harmful habits such as:
The goal is simple: Restore healthy function so the teeth, jaw, airway, and facial structure develop correctly.
Why Myofunctional Therapy Matters?
Better Breathing = Better Health
Children (and adults) who mouth breathe don’t get proper oxygen flow — especially during sleep. This can lead to:
Myofunctional therapy promotes proper nasal breathing and tongue posture, which supports healthier sleep and facial growth.
Improves Orthodontic Outcomes
If muscles pull incorrectly on the teeth or jaw, orthodontics alone won’t fix the problem. Myofunctional therapy helps stabilize results and reduce the chance of relapse.
Supports Speech Development
Weak or improperly functioning tongue and lip muscles contribute to speech challenges. Strengthening them improves clarity and coordination.
Boosts Facial Balance & Growth
Correct muscle activity guides the natural development of the jaw, palate, nasal passages, and facial profile — often improving both health and appearance.
Who Benefits from Myofunctional Therapy?
Children
Kids often develop habits (thumb sucking, mouth breathing, tongue thrusting) that disrupt facial growth and dental alignment. Early therapy helps correct these patterns before they become long-term problems.
Teens & Orthodontic Patients
Therapy supports braces and aligners by training muscles to support proper alignment.
Adults
Many adults experience sleep issues, TMJ discomfort, or breathing problems caused by poor oral posture. Muscles can be retrained at any age.
Common Signs That Myofunctional Therapy May Help
You or your child may benefit if you notice:
What to Expect During Myofunctional Therapy
1. Comprehensive Assessment
We evaluate breathing, tongue posture, swallowing, habits, and airway function.
2. Personalized Therapy Plan
A custom program of exercises designed to improve strength, control, and coordination.
3. Weekly or Bi-Weekly Sessions
Gentle, structured appointments that build lasting improvement over time.
4. At-Home Exercises
Most routines take just 5–10 minutes a day. Consistency is the key to success.
5. Monitoring Progress
We track improvements in breathing, oral posture, facial development, and muscle function.
Healthy muscle function reduces the risk of:
Orthodontic relapse
Narrow jaws and crowded teeth
Open bites or overjets
Chronic snoring
TMJ discomfort
Poor facial development
Sleep-disordered breathing
*The earlier these patterns are corrected, the better the long-term results.
Most children can begin around age 4–5, depending on their ability to follow simple exercises.
Most programs last 6–12 months, though every patient is unique.
No — but it can reduce the need for extensive orthodontics or help results last longer.
Not at all. Exercises are gentle and comfortable.
Absolutely. Many adults see improvements in breathing, snoring, and overall sleep quality.
Brush and clean around the implants daily. Regular checkups are essential.