Myofunctional Therapy

What is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy is a treatment focusing on exercising the muscles of the face, mouth, throat and especially the tongue. Myo is designed to improve the way we preform every day habits such as breathing, chewing, swallowing and even speak. Many people use it for sleep issues as well. Our muscle system is an intricate network that all works together, and Myofunctional therapy helps them work as they should with healthy habits.

Who benefits from Myofunctional therapy?

Myofunctional therapy is a common practice used to treat a variety of mouth related issues in both adults and children.

The issues might manifest in different ways, but there are signs present at any age that are signs that you or your child may benefit from Myofunctional Therapy.

Common Issues to look out for are:

Mouth Breathing
Sleep Issues & Snoring
Tongue Trust or Open Bite
Thumb sucking & Prolonged Pacifier Use
Jaw Pain or Tension
Poor Posture
Relapse in Previous Orthodontic Treatments
Speech Issues

Myofunctional Therapy for Children & Teens

Children’s faces and jaws are still growing—which means early intervention can have a big impact on long-term development.

Resolving these issues early in a child’s life are especially important for the growth and health of any child.

How Myo can help adults

Quite often, issues can sneak up on us as we get older in a way that we may not realize they’re present. Using the techniques from Myofunctional Therapy, retraining the tongue and facial muscles can often improve airway function, reduce the severity of snoring or breathing issues, and aid in the effectiveness of CPAP or other oral sleep appliances.

What Does Myofunctional Therapy Look Like?

Each instance of Myofunctional therapy is different to each patient. Your dentist will create a personalized assessment based on your needs, then create a treatment plan that works for you.

Treatment consists of daily exercises that need to be consistent in order to show effectiveness.

We then track the progress, taking note of improvements or issues over several weeks or months to adjust the plan as needed.

Myo is often used alongside:

Orthodontic treatment
Speech-language therapy
Airway or ENT care

If you think you or your child may benefit from Myfunctional Therapy, we’d love to sit down and consult with you to see if the treatment is right for you.