Orofacial Myology

myofunctional therapy tongue oral facialWhat is Orofacial Myology Therapy?

Orofacial Myology Therapy is a personalized exercise program designed to improve the function, strength, and coordination of the muscles of the face, lips, tongue, and jaw. These muscles play an important role in breathing, swallowing, speaking, chewing, and maintaining healthy oral development.

When these muscles are not functioning properly, patients may develop habits or movement patterns that can affect oral health, facial growth, orthodontic treatment, and overall comfort. Myofunctional therapy works to retrain these muscles and establish healthier oral habits.

What Can Orofacial Myology Therapy Help With?

Orofacial Myology Therapy may be recommended for children, teens, and adults who experience:

  • Mouth breathing
  • Tongue thrust swallowing patterns
  • Improper tongue resting posture
  • Lip incompetence (difficulty keeping the lips comfortably closed)
  • Thumb or finger sucking habits
  • Prolonged pacifier use
  • Speech concerns related to oral muscle function
  • Orthodontic relapse or challenges maintaining treatment results
  • Mild jaw muscle tension or inefficient chewing patterns

Every patient receives a thorough assessment to determine whether myofunctional therapy is appropriate for their individual needs.

Why is Proper Tongue and Muscle Function Important?

Healthy oral muscles help support normal facial growth, stable tooth alignment, and efficient swallowing. Ideally, the tongue rests gently against the roof of the mouth, the lips remain comfortably closed, and breathing occurs primarily through the nose.

When these patterns are disrupted, the muscles may place unwanted pressure on the teeth and jaws over time. Correcting these habits can help support long-term oral health and complement other dental or orthodontic treatments.

A Team Approach to Better Oral Health

Orofacial Myology Therapy is often part of a collaborative treatment plan. Depending on your needs, our team may work alongside orthodontists, physicians, ENT specialists, speech-language pathologists, or other healthcare providers to provide comprehensive care.

By addressing muscle function as well as the teeth, we aim to support more stable and lasting treatment outcomes.

What to Expect

Your journey begins with a comprehensive assessment of your oral muscle function, breathing patterns, tongue posture, swallowing, and oral habits.

If therapy is recommended, you’ll receive:

  • A customized treatment plan
  • Guided exercises tailored to your needs
  • Education about healthy oral habits
  • Progress monitoring throughout treatment
  • Home exercises to reinforce new muscle patterns

Success depends on consistent practice, and most exercises only require a few minutes each day.

Is Orofacial Myology Therapy Right for You?

You or your child may benefit from an evaluation if you notice:

  • Frequent mouth breathing
  • Snoring or restless sleep
  • Tongue thrust while swallowing
  • Difficulty keeping lips closed at rest
  • Persistent thumb sucking or oral habits
  • Orthodontic concerns or relapse
  • Concerns about tongue posture or oral muscle function

Our team can determine whether Orofacial Myology Therapy may be a beneficial part of your treatment plan.

Portrait of a registered dental hygienist and orofacial myologist in a dental clinic in Leduc AlbertaSchedule an Initial Assessment

If you’re interested in learning whether Orofacial Myology Therapy is right for you or your child, we’d be happy to help. Contact Oasis Family Dental Centre to schedule a consultation with our Certified Orofacial Myologist, Kelly Hart, and learn more about improving healthy oral function for lifelong oral health