Myofunctional therapy is a specialized therapy that improves how the muscles of the tongue, lips, and face work together. These muscles play an important role in breathing, swallowing, oral posture, jaw development, and sleep quality for both children and adults.

Because form follows function, the way these muscles work influences how the jaws grow, how we breathe, and how comfortably the jaw functions. When the tongue and surrounding muscles are not working optimally, the body may develop compensations that affect breathing patterns, jaw development, sleep quality, and overall comfort.

Children often come in because of concerns such as mouth breathing, restless sleep, a narrow palate, or speech challenges. Adults may seek therapy for issues like jaw tension or TMJ symptoms, clenching or grinding, sleep concerns, or orthodontic relapse.

Myofunctional therapy uses targeted exercises and habit training to retrain these muscle patterns so they support healthier breathing, proper tongue posture, and more balanced muscle function. A myofunctional evaluation helps determine whether therapy may be beneficial and how it can fit into your or your child’s overall care.

Many parents first become concerned when they notice their child breathing through their mouth or having restless sleep. These patterns can sometimes indicate that the tongue and oral muscles are not functioning optimally, which may affect breathing, sleep quality, and jaw development over time.Other signs that may suggest a child could benefit from a myofunctional evaluation include tongue tie, low tongue posture (when the tongue rests low in the mouth or against the teeth), open mouth posture, snoring, narrow palate or crowded teeth, speech concerns, or behavioral and attention challenges related to poor sleep.

Some children may also have dark circles under the eyes or enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which can sometimes contribute to breathing difficulties during sleep.Because every child is different, a comprehensive myofunctional evaluation helps identify the patterns that may be contributing to these concerns. During the evaluation, we assess breathing patterns, tongue posture, muscle function, and how the tongue and surrounding muscles work together to support healthy breathing, sleep, and oral development.

Children may breathe through their mouth for several different reasons. In some cases, it may be related to nasal obstruction, such as allergies, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or chronic congestion. In other cases, mouth breathing can develop as a habit when the tongue rests low in the mouth instead of supporting the palate. A tongue tie or restricted tongue mobility may also make it more difficult for the tongue to rest in the proper position, which can contribute to mouth breathing patterns.

Over time, mouth breathing can influence how the jaws develop, how well a child sleeps, and how the muscles of the face and mouth function. Some children who mouth breathe may also experience restless sleep, snoring, narrow palate development, or open mouth posture during the day.Because mouth breathing can have multiple contributing factors, it’s important to look at the whole picture. During a myofunctional evaluation, we assess breathing patterns, tongue posture, oral muscle function, and other factors that may be influencing how your child breathes.

Sleep quality is closely connected to how a child breathes. Children who breathe through their mouth, have low tongue posture, or experience airway resistance during sleep may have restless or disrupted sleep. Some parents notice signs such as snoring, teeth grinding, frequent movement during the night, difficulty waking in the morning, or daytime behavior and attention challenges.

Myofunctional therapy focuses on improving tongue posture, breathing patterns, and muscle function so that the airway can function more efficiently during sleep. By retraining these muscle patterns and encouraging proper nasal breathing, therapy can help support healthier sleep habits and more restful breathing at night.

Myofunctional therapy focuses on improving tongue posture, nasal breathing, oral muscle function, and swallowing patterns such as tongue thrust, all of which play an important role in how the jaws develop during growth. When the tongue rests properly in the palate and breathing occurs through the nose, it supports healthy jaw and airway development.

In some cases, improving these muscle patterns early can help support more favorable growth and may reduce the severity of orthodontic concerns. However, every child develops differently, and some children may still benefit from orthodontic treatment.Myofunctional therapy and orthodontics often work best together, helping support both the structure of the mouth and the muscle patterns that influence long-term stability.

The palate (roof of the mouth) develops through the natural pressure of the tongue resting against it during growth and healthy nasal breathing. The tongue is the natural expander of the palate. When the tongue rests properly in this position and breathing occurs through the nose, it supports healthy jaw and airway development. If the tongue rests low in the mouth or a child primarily breathes through their mouth, the palate may not develop as broadly as it could.

Myofunctional therapy focuses on improving tongue posture, nasal breathing, and muscle function, which supports healthier oral development. Improving these muscle patterns early helps guide development as a child grows.

For children who already have a significantly narrow palate, orthodontic expansion may also be recommended to create the space needed for proper tongue posture and airway development. Myofunctional therapy and orthodontic treatment often work best together, supporting both the structure and function of the mouth.

Whether orthodontic expansion or myofunctional therapy comes first depends on your child’s individual needs. Orthodontic expansion focuses on creating structure and space in the mouth, while myofunctional therapy focuses on improving how the tongue and oral muscles function, including proper tongue posture, nasal breathing, and swallowing patterns.

Because form follows function, orthodontic treatment often works more effectively when the muscles are not working against it and are instead supporting proper oral posture. In some cases, improving muscle function first helps prepare the mouth for orthodontic treatment. In other cases, creating space with expansion may be necessary so the tongue has room to rest in the proper position.

The best outcomes often occur when orthodontists and myofunctional therapists work collaboratively, addressing both structure and function. A thorough myofunctional evaluation helps determine the best sequence for your child’s specific situation.

A tongue tie occurs when the tissue under the tongue restricts how the tongue is able to move. Because the tongue plays an important role in breathing, swallowing, speech, and oral posture, a restriction can sometimes affect several areas of function.

In children, signs of a tongue tie may include feeding difficulties in infancy, speech concerns, mouth breathing, restless sleep, narrow palate development, or difficulty keeping the tongue resting in the roof of the mouth.In adults, a tongue tie may contribute to symptoms such as jaw tension, TMJ discomfort, clenching or grinding, headaches, neck or shoulder tension, difficulty maintaining proper tongue posture, or orthodontic relapse.

Not every tongue tie causes noticeable symptoms, and not every tongue tie needs to be released. A comprehensive evaluation helps determine whether a restriction is present, how it may be affecting tongue movement and function, and whether therapy alone may be sufficient or if a release may also be recommended.

A tongue tie can limit how the tongue moves, which may affect breathing, swallowing, oral posture, speech, and jaw and airway development. During a myofunctional evaluation, we look not only at whether a tongue tie is present, but also at how well the tongue is able to move and do its job. We also look at whether other muscles are compensating and how these patterns may be affecting breathing, sleep, and oral development.

Not every tongue tie requires a release. The decision depends on how restricted the tongue is and how it is affecting everyday activities like breathing, swallowing, and oral posture. Some patients are able to achieve normal tongue movement through myofunctional therapy alone, while others may benefit from a release. When a release is recommended, it is important that myofunctional therapy is done both before and after the procedure. Preparing the tongue and surrounding muscles beforehand helps improve movement patterns, increases comfort during the procedure, and may reduce the risk of scarring or reattachment. After the procedure, therapy supports proper healing and retrains the tongue to rest and function properly long term.

‍Because every patient is different, a comprehensive myofunctional evaluation helps determine whether a tongue tie is affecting how the tongue works and how it fits into the overall treatment plan.

Yes. A common myth is that myofunctional therapy is only for children, but adults also benefit from improving how the muscles of the tongue, lips, and face function. These muscle patterns influence breathing, oral posture, swallowing, and jaw comfort throughout life.

Many adults seek myofunctional therapy for concerns such as jaw tension or TMJ discomfort, clenching or grinding, headaches, sleep-related issues, tongue thrust, or orthodontic relapse. When the tongue rests low in the mouth or the oral muscles are not working in balance, additional strain can be placed on the jaw joints and surrounding muscles.

Myofunctional therapy focuses on retraining these muscle patterns so the tongue can rest in the proper position, breathing can occur through the nose, and the muscles of the mouth and face can work together more efficiently. Improving these patterns can help support better breathing, improved oral posture, and greater stability of the jaws for comfort in the jaw and surrounding muscles.It is never too late to feel your best!

The jaw joints (TMJ) work closely with the muscles of the tongue, face, and neck. When these muscles are not functioning in balance—such as when the tongue rests low in the mouth, the teeth are frequently clenched, or breathing patterns are not optimal—additional strain can be placed on the jaw joints and surrounding muscles.

Some people with TMJ-related symptoms experience jaw tension, facial pain, headaches, neck or shoulder tension, or clenching and grinding. Myofunctional therapy focuses on improving tongue posture, breathing patterns, and muscle coordination so that the muscles of the mouth and face can work together more efficiently.

For some patients, improving these muscle patterns can help reduce strain on the jaw and surrounding muscles. Myofunctional therapy may also be used alongside care from other providers, such as physical therapists, orthodontists, dentists, or osteopathic physicians, depending on the underlying cause of the symptoms.

The myofunctional evaluation at Heart Myofunctional Therapy is both educational and highly individualized. Because the way the muscles of the mouth function can influence many areas of health, we begin by reviewing your full health history. This includes looking at patterns throughout life that may be connected to current symptoms, such as feeding history, breathing patterns, sleep habits, allergies, or speech concerns. In adults, these patterns may sometimes appear as symptoms like jaw tension, TMJ discomfort, headaches, or neck and shoulder tension.

During the evaluation, we also assess how the muscles of the tongue, lips, and face work together. This helps us understand how tongue posture, breathing patterns, swallowing, and muscle coordination may be contributing to the symptoms you or your child are experiencing.

The evaluation appointment is 90 minutes long. The first portion of the visit focuses on gathering health history and assessing muscle function. After all the information is collected, we review the findings together and discuss a personalized treatment plan based on your specific needs and goals.

If you are wondering whether myofunctional therapy may be helpful for you or your child, the evaluation is the best place to start.

The myofunctional evaluation is $250 and is a comprehensive 90-minute appointment. During this visit, we review health history, assess how the muscles of the tongue, lips, and face are functioning, and identify patterns that may be contributing to breathing, sleep, or oral function concerns.

By the end of the evaluation, we have gathered the information needed to understand the severity of symptoms and underlying patterns. We then review the findings together and discuss a personalized treatment plan based on your specific needs and goals.

Myofunctional therapy in our office is offered through comprehensive programs rather than individual sessions. This allows us to create a clear treatment plan with a defined pathway toward your goals. Unlike some therapies that involve an indefinite number of visits, our programs are designed with a clear structure and endpoint, so you know exactly what to expect as you move through treatment. Because the program structure is clearly outlined from the beginning, patients know what to expect and there are no surprise or hidden fees along the way.

The length of myofunctional therapy varies depending on each person’s symptoms, goals, and how the muscles of the mouth are functioning. During the evaluation, we assess these patterns and create a personalized treatment plan based on your specific needs.

For many patients with moderate symptoms, therapy often takes approximately 6–8 months to complete. In a typical program, clients meet with their therapist once every two weeks for about 30 to 45 minute sessions where exercises are taught and learned. In between sessions, practice is required for about 5 minutes, 2x per day. Because therapy focuses on retraining muscle patterns and building new habits, progress depends on consistent practice and participation outside of sessions. Once active therapy is complete, exercises are no longer required.

Myofunctional therapy in our office is offered through structured programs with a clear pathway and endpoint, rather than an indefinite number of visits. This allows patients to understand what to expect and work steadily toward their goals.

Myofunctional therapy in our office is offered through comprehensive treatment programs rather than individual sessions. This approach allows us to create a clear treatment plan with a defined pathway toward your goals.

The exact cost of therapy depends on the severity of symptoms and the length of the program, which is determined during the myofunctional evaluation. Once we understand your specific needs, we are able to recommend the program that best supports your goals.

Because treatment is structured through comprehensive programs, patients know what to expect from the beginning and there are no surprise or hidden fees along the way.

Myofunctional therapy is typically not covered by medical or dental insurance. Heart Myofunctional Therapy does not directly bill insurance and is considered an out-of-network provider.

Working outside of insurance allows us to focus on providing individualized care rather than being limited by insurance requirements. This gives us the flexibility to spend the appropriate amount of time with each patient and create treatment plans based on clinical needs rather than insurance restrictions.

Many families appreciate this approach because it allows care to be tailored to their specific needs without the limitations that insurance plans often place on treatment.

Our office accepts HSA and FSA funds, as well as all major credit cards. Payment plans and financing options are also available, including some options with 0% interest.