Myofunctional Therapy:

Transforming Oral
and Facial Function
for a Healthier Life

OMDs

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

What is an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD)?

An orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) is when the muscles of the face, mouth, or tongue don’t work the way they should. This can affect how someone breathes, eats, swallows, speaks, or how their teeth and jaws grow.

In a healthy system, the tongue rests gently against the roof of the mouth, lips stay closed, and breathing happens through the nose. With an OMD, this balance is disrupted, often leading to habits like mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, or incorrect swallowing patterns.

These patterns can develop over time and often go unnoticed, but they can have a big impact on overall health and function.

Common examples of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs):

Tongue Thrust

The tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth during swallowing or speaking, which can affect bite alignment and speech sounds.

Mouth Breathing

Breathing through the mouth instead of the nose, often linked to low tongue posture and can impact facial development, sleep, and oral health.

Low Resting Tongue Posture

The tongue rests at the bottom of the mouth instead of up against the palate, which can interfere with proper jaw and facial growth.

Lips That Don’t Close at Rest

Often due to muscle imbalances or open mouth posture, which can lead to dry mouth, dental issues, or altered facial development.

What to Look For – Understanding OMDs

Signs & Symptoms

Oral Posture & Breathing

  • Mouth breathing (instead of nasal breathing)

  • Lips often apart at rest

  • Tongue resting low or forward in the mouth

  • Tongue thrusting during swallowing (tongue pushes forward)

  • Messy or noisy eating

  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing certain textures

  • Prolonged bottle or pacifier use

  • Long face or narrow palate (from improper tongue posture)

  • Weak lips or cheeks

  • Drooling, especially in younger children

  • Tension in the jaw or facial muscles

  • Open bite or overjet (front teeth that don’t touch or stick out)

  • Malocclusion (bad bite)

  • Relapse after orthodontic treatment (e.g., braces)

  • Snoring or restless sleep

  • Teeth grinding (bruxism)

  • Sleep-disordered breathing (e.g., sleep apnea in severe cases)

  • Daytime fatigue or attention issues (in children, sometimes misdiagnosed as ADHD)

These signs and symptoms may seem minor on their own, but together they can indicate an underlying Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder. If you notice any of these signs, an evaluation can help determine if myofunctional therapy is recommended.

If any of these signs sound familiar, get in touch with us to see how we can help.

Myofunctional Therapy

Myofunctional therapy is a specialized program of exercises that helps retrain the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue to function properly. It focuses on building strength, improving coordination, and creating healthy habits for breathing, chewing, and swallowing.

Goals of the program

  • Achieve correct tongue resting posture
    The tongue is trained to rest comfortably against the roof of the mouth, supporting proper jaw development and airway stability.
  • Eliminate tongue thrust and retrain proper swallowing patterns
    Therapy corrects the habit of pushing the tongue forward during swallowing to protect dental alignment and promote clearer speech.
  • Establish consistent nasal breathing
    Therapy encourages breathing through the nose rather than the mouth to improve overall health and airway function.
  • Promote full lip closure at rest
    Strengthening lip muscles helps ensure the lips stay closed naturally, reducing mouth breathing and improving facial muscle balance.
  • Strengthen and coordinate facial and oral muscles
    Targeted exercises build the strength and control needed for efficient chewing, swallowing, and speaking.
  • Improve jaw stability and support healthy facial growth and development
    Proper muscle patterns guide the growth and positioning of the jaws, influencing facial structure and long-term oral health.
  • Reduce jaw tension, clenching, and grinding
    Therapy promotes muscle relaxation and balance, helping to relieve TMJ discomfort and damaging oral habits.
  • Improve sleep quality
    Better tongue posture and nasal breathing can lead to deeper, more restful sleep and reduced symptoms like snoring.
  • Reduce jaw tension, clenching, and grinding
    Therapy promotes muscle relaxation and balance, helping to relieve TMJ discomfort and damaging oral habits.

Contact us

Ready to experience the difference myofunctional therapy can make? Contact us today!

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