Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

What Is Myofunctional Therapy?

Orofacial myofunctional therapy targets improper function and posture of the orofacial muscles through targeted exercises that strengthen the tongue, lips, and facial muscles. Patients learn proper swallowing patterns, nasal breathing techniques, and correct tongue resting posture — all of which can significantly improve oral health, speech clarity, facial aesthetics, and sleep quality.

As a Qualified Orofacial Myologist (QOM) and certified speech-language pathologist, Laura brings a unique perspective that connects the dots between oral function and speech development. This dual expertise means patients receive truly comprehensive care.

Therapy looks different depending on who it is for. See myofunctional therapy for kids for how readiness, parent-led home practice, and growth change the plan for a child, or myofunctional therapy for adults for treatment once growth is finished.

Curious what the exercises themselves involve? Our guide to myofunctional therapy exercises walks through the nasal breathing, tongue posture, lip seal, swallowing, and jaw work a program covers — and how it is sequenced.

Told you need one but not sure which? Our comparison of myofunctional therapy vs. speech therapy explains what each one treats, where tongue thrust and speech sounds overlap, and which evaluation to book first.

Sent here by an orthodontist? Our answer to whether myofunctional therapy can fix an overbite sorts out overbite, overjet, and open bite, and explains what muscle work can and cannot change about a bite.

Heard “myofascial” and wondered if it is the same thing? Our comparison of myofunctional therapy vs. myofascial therapy separates exercise-based retraining from hands-on soft-tissue work, and explains where the two meet for jaw pain.

Seen “mewing” videos and wondered if this is the same idea? Our comparison of myofunctional therapy vs. mewing explains where the two overlap on tongue posture, what the evidence says about jawline claims, and the risks of pressing too hard.

Facing a tonsillectomy, or dealing with snoring that came back after one? Our guide to myofunctional therapy vs. tonsillectomy explains what surgery does, what the research says it often leaves behind, and where retraining fits in the sequence.

Already been assigned mouth exercises elsewhere? Our comparison of myofunctional therapy vs. oral motor therapy explains the difference between building a movement and changing a resting habit, and what the research supports for speech, feeding, and the airway.

Just had a tongue tie released, or had one released years ago? Our guide to what happens after a tongue tie release explains why new range of motion is not the same as a new habit, what the 2024 AAP report and the 2025 reattachment studies actually say about stretching, and what the retraining sequence looks like for infants, children, and adults.

Conditions We Treat