What Is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy focuses on improving the function of the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue. These muscles play an important role in breathing, feeding, speaking, sleeping and overall development. Many patients benefit from therapy due to orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs)—patterns of improper muscle function that can interfere with everyday activities and long-term health.
Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs)
Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) refer to improper movement or positioning of the muscles of the face and mouth. These patterns can affect how a person breathes, eats, speaks, and rests.
OMDs can be present in both children and adults and are often associated with habits or structural differences that impact normal function. Left unaddressed, these patterns may contribute to challenges with feeding, sleep, speech, and overall oral health.
How Myofunctional Therapy Works
Myofunctional therapy is a personalized, exercise-based approach that helps retrain the muscles of the mouth and face to function properly.
Treatment focuses on developing healthy patterns for breathing, chewing, swallowing, and resting oral posture. Therapy is tailored to each individual and includes guided exercises, habit awareness, and ongoing support to encourage lasting change.
Therapy may help:
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Improve breathing patterns
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Support more efficient feeding
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Enhance sleep quality
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Promote proper oral posture
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Improve overall comfort and function
Common Signs & Symptoms
OMDs can present differently depending on age. Some common signs include:
Infants
Difficulty feeding or poor latch,
Prolonged feeding times,
Signs of frustration during feeding
Children
Mouth breathing
Speech concerns, Tongue thrust
Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Sleep disturbances
Adults
Snoring or disrupted sleep
Jaw tension or discomfort
Mouth breathing
Difficulty swallowing
