If you’ve never heard of myofunctional therapy, you’re not alone. Most people haven’t — until they (or their child) start having issues like mouth breathing, snoring, tongue-tie, or even trouble with braces or speech.
Let’s break it down in plain English.
So, What Is Myofunctional Therapy?
Think of it like physical therapy — but for the muscles of your mouth, face, and tongue. These muscles are responsible for important everyday things like:
- Breathing through your nose (instead of your mouth)
- Chewing and swallowing properly
- Speaking clearly
- Keeping your tongue in the right place (yes, that matters!)
- Supporting healthy jaw and facial development
When these muscles aren’t working quite right — often because of habits formed in early childhood or even due to structural issues like tongue-tie — it can lead to a whole cascade of problems.
Wait, How Can That Affect My Health?
Great question. Poor oral function can lead to:
- Snoring and poor sleep
- Mouth breathing (which can affect facial growth, posture, and even behavior)
- Speech difficulties
- TMJ issues (jaw pain and popping)
- Relapse after orthodontic work (hello, braces round two)
- Digestive problems (from improper chewing and swallowing)
This is where myofunctional therapy comes in — to retrain those muscles and get everything functioning the way it should.
What Does a Therapist Do?
We guide you (or your child) through simple, personalized exercises to:
✅ Improve nasal breathing
✅ Train the tongue to rest where it belongs (up against the palate)
✅ Coordinate proper chewing, swallowing, and oral rest posture
✅ Break bad habits like thumb sucking or open-mouth resting
It’s all done virtually (at least here at MagnoliaMYO), and it’s tailored to your needs.
Is It Just for Kids?
Nope! Myofunctional therapy is for everyone — kids, teens, and adults. Whether you’re dealing with sleep issues, a tongue-tie, or just feel like something is “off,” therapy might help more than you think.
Why Haven’t I Heard of This Before?
Honestly? It’s just not well known yet. But more and more dentists, ENTs, orthodontists, and sleep specialists are starting to refer their patients for myofunctional therapy — because the results speak for themselves.
Let’s Chat
If something in this post sounds familiar — like mouth breathing, snoring, or a history of speech or feeding issues — you’re not alone. Schedule a free evaluation, and let’s see if this therapy might be a good fit.
📍 MagnoliaMYO | Virtual sessions