Think of it as physical therapy for your face...
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) — often called simply “myofunctional therapy” — is a structured program of exercises for the muscles of the mouth, face, tongue, lips, cheeks, and throat.
It is like physical therapy for your oral-facial structures — retraining muscle function, posture, and patterns of breathing, chewing, and swallowing.
OMT is non-invasive and can be used for people of all ages (children and adults). Programs are typically tailored to each individual's needs: a therapist will assess oral posture, muscle tone, breathing patterns, and habits, then build a personalized exercise plan.
Myofunctional therapy can help with or address:
• Improper tongue posture (e.g. tongue resting low or forward instead of against the palate)
• Mouth breathing or chronic open-mouth posture
• Abnormal swallowing patterns (such as tongue thrusting)
• Oral habits that impact development or function (thumb-sucking, lip pressing, nail-biting, clenching, etc.)
• Speech difficulties, dental/orthodontic issues, and improper orofacial development — especially in growing children.
• Sleep & airway problems, including snoring and sleep-disordered breathing (such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
Here’s how OMT supports better airway health and breathing:
• Improved Nasal Breathing vs. Mouth Breathing — OMT aims to retrain breathing patterns so the individual breathes through the nose instead of the mouth. Nasal breathing helps filter, warm, and humidify air, supports better oxygen exchange, and decreases reliance on mouth breathing which is often linked to airway problems.
• Strengthening Airway and Oropharyngeal Muscles — Through targeted muscle exercises, OMT increases tone and coordination of the tongue, soft palate, throat, and facial muscles. This improved muscle tone helps the airway stay more stable (less collapsible), especially during sleep — which reduces risk of airway obstruction.
• Better Tongue Posture and Jaw/Facial Alignment — Proper resting tongue posture (e.g. tongue gently against the palate) helps maintain good jaw and dental arch development. This structural support can in turn affect airway space and help prevent constriction.
• Reducing Snoring and Sleep-Disordered Breathing (e.g. OSA) — Clinical studies show OMT can significantly improve sleep-related breathing outcomes: reductions in snoring, decrease in the number of apnea/hypopnea events during sleep (lower AHI), improvements in oxygen saturation, and better sleep quality overall.
• Complement or Alternative to Other Treatments — While treatments like CPAP machines or oral appliances address structural or airflow issues, OMT addresses the functional muscle-based component. For many patients, combining OMT with other therapies leads to better and more sustainable results.
• Support for Development (especially in children) — Early intervention with OMT when muscle posture or breathing habits are not ideal can support healthy facial development, proper dental arch growth, and airway formation — potentially preventing future breathing or sleep issues.
Why Myofunctional Therapy Matters — the Broader Benefits
• It’s non-invasive and natural — meaning no surgery, no machines; it relies on retraining the body’s own musculature and habits.
• It targets root causes, not just symptoms — by improving muscle function and posture, it addresses foundational issues rather than just mitigating consequences (like snoring or poor sleep).
• It supports overall oral and airway health long-term — including breathing, sleep quality, dental health, facial development, speech, and swallowing — making it a holistic approach.
• It can improve quality of life — better sleep, improved breathing, reduced snoring, less sleepiness, and even improved facial function and comfort.
Who Can Benefit from Myofunctional Therapy
• Children with poor oral posture, mouth-breathing, tongue thrust, or early signs of airway/breathing issues.
• Adults with mouth-breathing patterns, snoring, mild to moderate sleep-disordered breathing, or those seeking non-invasive support alongside CPAP or oral appliances.
• Individuals undergoing orthodontic treatment, jaw surgeries, or other dental/airway interventions who want to optimize outcomes by improving muscle function and posture.
• Anyone who wants to improve breathing patterns (especially nasal breathing), oral posture, or overall airway health in a natural, functional way.
-Bethany