About 30-50% of children show signs of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs), which affect the muscles used for chewing, swallowing, and speaking. Myofunctional therapy is gaining significant attention in dentistry, orthodontics, and sleep medicine as a non-invasive solution to correct these dysfunctions. Research suggests that myofunctional therapy plays a significant role in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). This blog will discuss myofunctional therapy, including its benefits and how it integrates with other treatments to improve breathing, swallowing, and speech.

What is myofunctional therapy?

Myofunctional therapy is a specialised treatment designed to improve the function and coordination of the muscles of the face, tongue, and mouth. It is a non-invasive therapeutic approach that addresses orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs), which can lead to difficulties in breathing, swallowing, speaking, and even sleeping. This therapy is often used in conjunction with orthodontic treatments, speech therapy, and sleep medicine to achieve optimal results.

Understanding orofacial myofunctional disorders

Orofacial myofunctional disorders are abnormal movement patterns of the muscles of the face and mouth. These disorders can develop due to a variety of reasons, including:

• Prolonged thumb-sucking: Repeated thumb-sucking or pacifier use can lead to improper oral muscle development and incorrect swallowing patterns.
• Mouth breathing: Chronic mouth breathing can alter facial growth and lead to sleep-disordered breathing conditions like obstructive sleep apnoea.
• Tongue thrusting: Tongue thrusting is a swallowing pattern in which the tongue pushes against the teeth or out of the mouth. It can affect speech clarity and dental alignment.
• Tongue tie: Restricted tongue movement can impair proper oral function and lead to speech difficulties.
• Poor oral posture habits: Improper tongue and jaw posture can contribute to issues like temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and sleep problems.

When left untreated, OMDs can contribute to issues such as improper dental alignment, speech difficulties, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, and sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

Goals of myofunctional therapy

Myofunctional therapy aims to correct muscle imbalances in the oral and facial regions to enhance overall oral function. A key focus is achieving proper tongue posture, essential for healthy breathing, swallowing, and speech. When the tongue rests or functions improperly, it can contribute to harmful habits like thumb-sucking and mouth breathing, leading to dental misalignment and airway issues. 

By addressing these habits, the therapy strengthens oral and facial muscles, improves swallowing mechanics, and reduces tongue thrusting. This improves nasal breathing, reduces airway complications, and improves sleep quality. Furthermore, myofunctional therapy maintains orthodontic treatments, prevents relapse, and promotes long-term oral and facial development stability.

How myofunctional therapy works

Initial assessment

A thorough evaluation is conducted by a trained myofunctional therapist, who may be a dentist, orthodontist, speech-language pathologist, or other healthcare professional specialising in orofacial functions. This assessment includes:

• Examining facial and oral muscle function
• Assessing breathing patterns (nasal vs. mouth breathing)
• Evaluating tongue posture and mobility
• Identifying speech or swallowing difficulties
• Reviewing medical and dental history

Customised therapy plan

Based on the assessment, a personalised therapy plan is developed. Myofunctional therapy consists of a series of exercises to retrain oral and facial muscles. These exercises focus on:

• Tongue placement and mobility
• Lip and cheek muscle strengthening
• Correct swallowing techniques
• Nasal breathing promotion
• Jaw relaxation techniques

Therapy sessions are typically conducted over several weeks or months, with patients practising exercises daily to reinforce new muscle patterns. The duration of treatment varies based on individual needs but generally lasts between six to 12 months, during which most patients achieve significant improvements.

Benefits of myofunctional therapy

Myofunctional therapy is a specialised treatment approach that targets oral and facial muscle dysfunction, helping to restore proper function and balance. This therapeutic technique offers several key benefits that can significantly improve both oral and overall health.

Improved breathing: By promoting nasal breathing, myofunctional therapy helps to reduce mouth breathing, which is linked to sleep apnoea, dry mouth, and an increased risk of infections. Proper nasal breathing supports optimal oxygen intake and overall respiratory health.

Enhanced orthodontic outcomes: Myofunctional therapy is often recommended alongside orthodontic treatments to ensure proper tongue posture and muscle function, contributing to the stability of dental corrections and preventing relapse.

Better speech and swallowing: OMDs can significantly impact speech clarity and swallowing mechanics, affecting daily communication and eating habits. Through targeted exercises and muscle retraining, myofunctional therapy strengthens oral muscles, improves tongue placement, and develops proper swallowing patterns, leading to clearer speech, more efficient eating, and enhanced oral motor control.

Improved sleep: Many patients with sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnoea, benefit from myofunctional therapy. Strengthening oral muscles helps to maintain an open airway during sleep, reducing snoring and apnoea episodes.

Prevention of TMJ disorders: Improper oral posture and muscle imbalances can contribute to TMJ pain and dysfunction. Myofunctional therapy helps to correct jaw alignment and addresses temporomandibular disorders, offering a cost-effective treatment option with long-term benefits.

Who can benefit from myofunctional therapy?

Myofunctional therapy significantly benefits diverse individuals across different age groups and conditions. This therapeutic approach is particularly valuable for children exhibiting habits like thumb-sucking or mouth breathing, where early intervention can prevent future complications. 

Individuals struggling with sleep-disordered breathing, including those with snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea, can find substantial relief through myofunctional exercises that enhance airway function and promote better sleep quality. Additionally, this therapy proves especially beneficial for orthodontic patients, supporting the long-term stability of their dental corrections by establishing proper oral muscle patterns. 

Common myofunctional therapy exercises

Myofunctional therapy incorporates a series of targeted exercises designed to strengthen and retrain oral and facial muscles for optimal function. When practised consistently, these foundational exercises develop proper muscle patterns and improve overall oral health.

• Tongue elevation exercise: To strengthen tongue posture, place the tongue against the roof of the mouth and hold for a few seconds.
• Lip seal exercise: Keep lips together while breathing through the nose to promote nasal breathing and correct oral posture.
• Swallowing exercise: Practice swallowing without engaging facial muscles to retrain proper swallowing patterns.
• Cheek resistance exercise: Press cheeks inward while resisting with the tongue to enhance facial muscle coordination.
• Breathing exercise: Inhale deeply through the nose and exhale slowly through pursed lips to reinforce nasal breathing habits.

Integrating myofunctional therapy with other treatments

Myofunctional therapy is a valuable complementary treatment that seamlessly integrates with various medical and dental specialities to enhance patient outcomes. Combined with orthodontic treatment, it maintains dental corrections by addressing underlying muscle patterns, significantly reducing relapse rates. Integrating myofunctional exercises with traditional speech interventions shows improved articulation disorders and phonetic production outcomes. Furthermore, incorporating myofunctional therapy into treatment protocols for sleep-disordered breathing improves overall sleep quality. These multidisciplinary approaches highlight the versatility and effectiveness of myofunctional therapy as an adjunct treatment modality.

Myofunctional therapy provides a natural, non-invasive solution to improve the function of oral and facial muscles, enhancing everything from breathing to speech clarity. By focusing on targeted exercises and muscle retraining, this therapy helps both children and adults achieve better overall health. 

Don’t let oral muscle dysfunction impact your well-being take the first step toward improved health by consulting a qualified therapist. If you have any concerns or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us for professional guidance and support.