What is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy (sometimes called Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy) is a specialized, exercise-based approach that focuses on retraining the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue so they function in healthy, coordinated ways. These muscles play a critical role in everyday activities like breathing through your nose, chewing, swallowing, speaking and maintaining proper posture of the jaw and tongue.

In therapy, a trained provider guides you through a personalized set of exercises designed to strengthen weak muscles, improve coordination, and correct harmful habits like mouth breathing or improper tongue positioning. Over time, this retraining can support more efficient breathing patterns, better sleep quality, and improved oral function.

It’s often used as part of a broader treatment plan for conditions such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, speech issues, orthodontic concerns, and even chronic mouth breathing.

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) are conditions where the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue do not function properly, disrupting normal oral activities like chewing, swallowing, breathing and speaking.

These disorders often involve improper tongue posture, difficulty controlling the lips or cheeks and abnormal patterns of swallowing or breathing.

Left untreated, OMDs can contribute to dental problems, speech difficulties, sleep issues and facial growth abnormalities.

Myofunctional therapy helps OMDs by retraining the muscles of the tongue, lips, and face to function correctly. It addresses the root causes of abnormal patterns rather than just the symptoms.

Schedule a free guidance call today to find out if myofunctional therapy is right for you!