What Is Myofunctional Therapy? A Parent-Friendly Guide to Better Breathing, Eating, Sleep, and Oral Function

danelleaugustine
May 18
4 min read

If you’ve recently heard the term myofunctional therapy and thought, “Wait… what exactly is that?”- you’ve come to the right place!

Many parents first hear about myofunctional therapy after concerns about:

Mouth breathing
Tongue ties
Picky eating or chewing difficulties
Tongue thrust
Speech sound concerns
Snoring or restless sleep
Orthodontic relapse
Open-mouth posture

The good news? Myofunctional therapy is designed to help address the root causes behind many of these challenges.

As a speech-language pathologist trained in oral motor and myofunctional therapy, I help children (and sometimes adults!) improve the way the muscles of the mouth, tongue, and face work together for breathing, chewing, swallowing, speaking, and resting posture.

So… What Is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy (also called orofacial myofunctional therapy or OMT) is a specialized therapy program that focuses on improving the function and coordination of the muscles of the mouth and face.

Think of it like physical therapy — but for the tongue, lips, jaw, cheeks, and breathing patterns.

The goal is to help establish healthier patterns for:

Nasal breathing
Tongue resting posture
Lip closure
Swallowing
Chewing
Oral habits
Sleep and airway support

Research and organizations like the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM) and the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (AOMT) describe myofunctional therapy as treatment for orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs), which are patterns that can affect breathing, eating, speech, oral rest posture, and facial development. (iaom.com)

5 Signs Your Child May Benefit From Myofunctional Therapy

1. Your Child Breathes Through Their Mouth Often

One of the biggest things we look at in myofunctional therapy is how a child breathes.

Children who frequently breathe through their mouth may also:

Sleep with their mouth open
Snore
Have dry lips
Wake up tired
Have restless sleep
Struggle with attention or daytime fatigue
Have chronic congestion

Nasal breathing helps support healthy facial growth, sleep quality, and airway function.

2. They Have Tongue Thrust or Incorrect Tongue Posture

The tongue is supposed to rest gently on the roof of the mouth — not low in the mouth or pressing against the teeth.

When the tongue pushes forward at rest or during swallowing or speech (called tongue thrust), it can contribute to:

Dental spacing
Orthodontic relapse
Open bite patterns
Messy chewing or swallowing
Speech sound distortions

Myofunctional therapy helps retrain these movement patterns through targeted exercises and habit awareness.

3. They Struggle With Chewing or Swallowing

Some children have difficulty coordinating the muscles needed for efficient chewing and swallowing.

Parents may notice:

Food pocketing
Overstuffing
Messy chewing
Difficulty moving food around the mouth
Gagging
Preference for soft foods
Drinking with an open mouth
Loud chewing or swallowing

Therapy can help improve oral coordination, jaw stability, tongue movement, and overall feeding skills.

4. They Have Oral Habits That Won’t Go Away

Habits like:

Thumb sucking
Prolonged pacifier use
Nail biting
Chewing on clothing
Open-mouth posture

…can impact oral development and muscle patterns over time.

Myofunctional therapy works on replacing these patterns with healthier oral habits and improved muscle function.

5. They Have Speech or Articulation Concerns

Sometimes speech sound errors are connected to underlying oral motor patterns.

For example:

A tongue thrust may affect /s/ or /z/ sounds
Low tongue posture can impact oral coordination
Poor lip closure may affect sound production

While not every speech issue requires myofunctional therapy, evaluating oral function can provide important information about why speech challenges may be occurring.

What Happens During Myofunctional Therapy?

Every therapy plan is individualized, but treatment often includes:

Exercises for the tongue, lips, and jaw
Breathing retraining
Swallowing practice
Improving tongue resting posture
Coordination activities
Home practice activities
Collaboration with other professionals

Depending on the child’s needs, therapy may also involve collaboration with:

Dentists
Orthodontists
ENTs
Sleep specialists
Pediatricians

Myofunctional therapy is often most effective when it’s part of a collaborative team approach.

Common Questions Parents Ask

“Is myofunctional therapy only for kids with tongue ties?”

No. While tongue ties are sometimes part of the picture, myofunctional therapy also addresses breathing, oral rest posture, swallowing patterns, chewing skills, and oral habits.

“Does my child need braces first?”

Not necessarily. Sometimes myofunctional therapy happens before orthodontics, during orthodontic treatment, or after braces to help support long-term stability.

“How long does therapy take?”

That depends on the child’s goals, age, consistency with practice, and the complexity of the underlying patterns.

Therapy includes regular home exercises and weekly or biweekly sessions.

Final Thoughts

Myofunctional therapy is about more than just exercises.

It’s about helping children develop healthier patterns for breathing, eating, swallowing, speaking, sleeping, and oral function that can support their overall quality of life.

If you’ve noticed signs like mouth breathing, tongue thrust, chewing difficulties, snoring, or persistent oral habits, a myofunctional evaluation may be a helpful next step.

As a speech-language pathologist with training in oral motor and myofunctional therapy, I love helping families better understand how oral function impacts everyday life — and creating therapy plans that feel practical, supportive, and individualized.