Myofunctional Therapy 

Myofunctional Therapy for Long-Term Oral Health & Communication

The muscles of the face, tongue, and mouth do more than help us speak, they impact how we breathe, eat, sleep, and grow. At Wordplay, our myofunctional therapy supports children and adults in developing optimal oral muscle patterns that promote healthy function, clear speech, and overall well-being.

Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs), such as mouth breathing, tongue thrust, or improper chewing and swallowing, can affect everything from articulation and dental development to sleep quality and facial growth. Addressing these patterns early is key to preventing long-term complications. Our myofunctional therapists are trained through the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM), the leading certifying body for professionals in this field. IAOM training ensures that our therapists follow a rigorous, evidence-based framework to assess and treat OMDs with precision and care.

Whether your child struggles with speech clarity, oral habits, or feeding challenges, or you're an adult seeking relief from chronic issues, our therapy targets the root cause to support lasting change, inside and out.

Myofunctional therapy isn’t just about correcting habits…it’s about unlocking healthier breathing, better sleep, clearer speech, and stronger foundations for growth. The science is clear: when oral muscles function properly, everything else works better.

Myofunctional Therapy Explained

  • Myofunctional therapy is a specialized treatment approach that focuses on correcting the function and coordination of the muscles of the face, tongue, and mouth. These muscles play a crucial role in breathing, eating, speaking, and even sleeping.

    When these muscles don’t work the way they should, it can lead to a range of issues, from unclear speech to orthodontic problems and disrupted sleep. Through a series of gentle, targeted exercises, myofunctional therapy retrains oral muscle patterns to support healthy function and long-term growth.

    Our sessions are play-based, evidence-informed, and tailored to each individual's needs, whether we’re helping a child improve tongue posture or supporting an adult with chronic mouth breathing.

  • Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are patterns of movement or resting postures of the tongue, lips, and jaw that interfere with normal development and function. These disorders may show up in ways that affect:

    Breathing (mouth breathing, low tongue posture)

    Swallowing (tongue thrust, messy eating)

    Speech (unclear sounds, lisping)

    Dental alignment (orthodontic relapse, narrow palates)

    Facial growth and appearance (elongated face, open-mouth posture)

    Many OMDs begin in early childhood and go unnoticed until they affect speech, feeding, or sleep. Myofunctional therapy helps address these patterns by teaching new, functional muscle habits.

  • Not sure if myofunctional therapy might help? These signs could indicate an orofacial myofunctional disorder:

    Chronic mouth breathing

    Snoring or restless sleep

    Drooling beyond toddlerhood

    Tongue resting low or forward

    Speech sound distortions (especially S, Z, SH, CH)

    Difficulty chewing or swallowing

    Thumb sucking or prolonged pacifier use

    Orthodontic relapse after braces

    • Forward head posture or open-mouth posture

    If you notice one or more of these, a screening can help determine whether myofunctional therapy may be beneficial.For example, when learning a new phoneme, a student might:

    • Say the sound aloud

    • Trace the letter with their finger while saying it

    • Build the word with tiles

    • Use visual cues to remember the spelling pattern

    These layered experiences help strengthen the connections between sounds, symbols, and meaning.

  • We begin with a comprehensive intake to understand your child’s (or your own) history, habits, and concerns. We may observe breathing, tongue posture, swallowing, and articulation, often in coordination with other specialists like orthodontists, ENTs, or dentists when needed.

    Therapy is individualized and might include:

    • Breathing and posture training

    • Tongue and lip exercises

    • Habit elimination (e.g., thumb sucking)

    • Swallow retraining

    • Oral awareness and coordination tasks

    We provide a structured and supportive approach, with activities that are practical, fun, and developmentally appropriate.

  • Myofunctional therapy can be helpful across a wide range of ages and needs:

    Children

    • Persistent oral habits (thumb sucking, pacifier use)

    • Speech sound challenges

    • Feeding difficulties or sensory-based aversions

    • Snoring or disrupted sleep

    Teens

    • Orthodontic concerns (especially before, during, or after braces)

    • Mouth breathing

    • Low tongue posture or forward tongue thrust

    • Confidence in speech clarity or facial appearance

    Adults

    • Sleep-disordered breathing or snoring

    • Chronic TMJ pain

    • Orthodontic relapse

    • Low energy or poor sleep quality

  • Healthy oral muscle function supports the systems we rely on every day: speaking, breathing, chewing, and sleeping. When muscles work against proper function, it can lead to challenges that affect a child's development or an adult's quality of life.

    Research shows that myofunctional therapy can reduce symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea by up to 62% in children and 50% in adults.
    (Source: Camacho et al., 2015)

    Even beyond sleep and breathing, correcting orofacial patterns can lead to:

    • Improved speech clarity

    • Reduced need for repeat orthodontic care

    • Better focus and energy during the day

    • Greater comfort and confidence with eating and speaking

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