WHAT IS OROFACIAL MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a specialized, exercise-based therapy focused on retraining the neuromuscular patterns that control oral and facial function. It is built around four core pillars: nasal breathing, lip seal, proper tongue posture, and functional swallowing.
OMT addresses issues such as mouth breathing, tongue thrust, snoring, sleep disruptions, speech challenges, facial muscle imbalance, and TMJ discomfort. By strengthening and coordinating orofacial muscles through neuroplasticity, OMT helps restore balance, support airway health, and improve long-term oral function.
WHAT IS OMT? FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OMT
Who can benefit from OMT?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) can benefit both children and adults who are experiencing challenges related to oral function and posture. This includes individuals with mouth breathing, poor tongue posture, tongue thrust, lip incompetence, or atypical swallowing patterns.
OMT may also support those working in collaboration with other healthcare providers for concerns such as speech sound distortions, TMJ discomfort, or sleep-disordered breathing. Therapy is frequently integrated into pre- and post-frenectomy care (tongue-tie release) to help ensure optimal functional outcomes.
Additionally, OMT is often recommended alongside orthodontic care to address the muscle patterns that contribute to orthodontic relapse, helping to stabilize results by supporting proper oral posture and functional habits.
OMT does not diagnose or treat medical conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, speech-language disorders, or jaw joint disease. Therapy is provided in coordination with licensed medical and dental professionals as appropriate.
How long does OMT take?
The length of therapy varies based on the severity of the dysfunction, patient consistency, and individual progress. Most successful programs last approximately
6 to 12 months.
OMT follows a structured, three-phase process:
- 1. Learning Phase
Patients are introduced to targeted exercises and begin building awareness of oral habits and muscle function.
- 2. Generalization Phase
New movement patterns are practiced in everyday situations to reinforce correct function beyond structured exercises.
- 3. Habitual & Maintenance Phase
The focus shifts to long-term integration, ensuring the new patterns are automatic and stable.
As a neuromuscular retraining program, OMT requires time, repetition, and commitment. Each phase builds on the last to support lasting improvements in function and posture.
Can OMT help with sleep and breathing issues?
Yes—myofunctional therapy can play a supportive role in improving sleep and breathing patterns. When the muscles of the tongue, lips, and face do not function properly, it can contribute to airway collapse, snoring, and sleep-disordered breathing.
OMT helps by:
- Promoting nasal breathing over mouth breathing
- Improving tongue posture to prevent obstruction of the airway
- Strengthening the muscles that support healthy airway function during rest
While OMT does not treat or diagnose medical sleep conditions, it is commonly used as part of a collaborative care plan for individuals experiencing snoring, upper airway resistance, or mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OMT may also support improved CPAP outcomes by encouraging adherence, enhancing orofacial function, and reinforcing complementary airway health strategies
Sleep-disordered breathing should always be evaluated by a licensed medical provider. OMT is offered in coordination with your healthcare team to support optimal outcomes.
Does OMT replace orthodontic or dental treatment?
No—Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy does not replace orthodontic or dental care, but it works alongside it. OMT addresses the underlying muscle patterns and habits that can interfere with treatment or lead to relapse.
By promoting proper tongue posture, lip seal, nasal breathing, and functional swallowing, OMT helps:
- Stabilize orthodontic results
- Support natural facial growth and development
- Prevent relapse by correcting the root cause of dysfunction
Many orthodontists and dentists recommend incorporating OMT into the treatment plan to optimize results and improve long-term stability.
Is OMT backed by science?
Yes—myofunctional therapy is supported by growing clinical research. Studies show that OMT can improve orofacial function, promote healthier breathing patterns, and support better sleep quality.
When used as part of a collaborative care plan, OMT has been shown to:
- Reduce symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing
- Enhance nasal breathing and tongue posture
- Improve muscle coordination and oral function
A meta-analysis found that OMT can reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea by up to 50% in adults and 62% in children, especially when combined with other medical or dental treatments.¹
OMT is not a standalone treatment for medical conditions like obstructive sleep apnea and should be used in coordination with licensed healthcare providers.
Can children benefit from OMT?
Absolutely. Myofunctional Therapy can be especially effective when introduced during a child’s growth and development. Early intervention supports proper oral function and helps guide healthy facial and airway development.
OMT can help address:
- Mouth breathing
- Tongue thrust and low tongue posture
- Atypical swallowing patterns
- Poor oral rest posture
By focusing on these foundational habits, therapy can contribute to:
- Improved nasal breathing and sleep quality
- Clearer speech articulation (in collaboration with SLPs)
- More balanced facial and jaw development
- Reduced risk of future orthodontic complications
Many parents report that their children experience better focus, easier breathing, and greater comfort with everyday functions like eating, sleeping, and speaking.
What is Tongue-Tie, and How Can OMT Help?
Tongue-tie (also called ankyloglossia) is a condition where the lingual frenulum—the band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth—is too short, tight, or restrictive. This can limit the tongue’s range of motion and affect essential functions like breathing, swallowing, speaking, and resting posture.
While some cases are noticed in infancy, many go undetected until later in life and may present as:
- Mouth breathing or low tongue posture
- Tongue thrust or difficulty swallowing
- Speech articulation issues
- TMJ discomfort, jaw fatigue, or neck tension
- Orthodontic relapse or narrow palate
How Myofunctional Therapy Helps:
Myofunctional therapy does not treat the restriction itself, but it plays a key role in:
- Pre-release preparation: Improving tongue awareness, range of motion, and muscle coordination
- Post-release support: Helping the tongue relearn its functional role in breathing, posture, and oral function
- Collaborative care: Therapy is typically provided alongside dentists, ENTs, or trained release providers for optimal results
This approach is supported by leaders in the field like Dr. Soroush Zaghi of The Breathe Institute, who emphasizes the importance of combining surgical precision with muscle retraining to ensure successful, long-term functional outcomes.
What is Tongue Thrust, and How Can OMT Help?
Tongue thrust refers to a swallowing pattern where the tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth during swallowing, speaking, or even at rest. This habit is often unintentional and can occur in both children and adults.
Signs of tongue thrust may include:
- Open bite or spacing between teeth
- Mouth breathing or low tongue posture
- Lisping or speech distortions
- Frequent lip strain or chin dimpling when swallowing
- Orthodontic relapse after braces
Why it matters:
When left unaddressed, tongue thrust can interfere with dental development, speech clarity, facial balance, and long-term stability of orthodontic results.
How Myofunctional Therapy Helps:
Myofunctional therapy targets the root cause by retraining the muscles of the tongue, lips, and face to:
- Develop proper oral rest posture (tongue up, lips sealed)
- Establish a healthy swallow pattern
- Improve muscle tone and coordination
- Support stable orthodontic outcomes and reduce relapse risk
Through structured exercises and habit correction, myofunctional therapy empowers individuals to restore proper function and eliminate the compensations caused by tongue thrust—often in collaboration with orthodontists, speech-language pathologists, or dental providers.
What is TMJD, and How Does OMT Help?
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD) refers to dysfunction or pain in the jaw joint (TMJ) and the surrounding muscles that control jaw movement. TMJD can affect how you chew, speak, and even breathe, and may stem from muscular imbalances, clenching or grinding, structural issues, or compensatory habits.
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Jaw pain or clicking when opening or closing the mouth
- Facial muscle tension or fatigue
- Headaches, earaches, or neck/shoulder pain
- Limited jaw movement or locking
- Worn or damaged teeth from grinding (bruxism)
How Myofunctional Therapy Helps:
Myofunctional therapy supports TMJ health by addressing oral posture and muscle balance. Therapy is not a direct treatment for joint pathology but helps reduce strain on the system by promoting:
- Proper tongue posture (resting on the palate, not pushing against teeth or the floor of the mouth)
- Lip seal and nasal breathing, reducing overuse of jaw and facial muscles
- Balanced chewing and swallowing mechanics
- Habit elimination (such as clenching, bracing, or tongue thrusting)
When muscles are functioning correctly and resting in the right positions, tension is reduced, and healing is better supported—often in collaboration with dentists, physical therapists, or TMJ specialists.
DOES VAPING EFFECT OUTCOME OF THERAPY?
How Vaping Affects Your Breathing, Recovery, and Therapy Progress
Vaping may seem harmless, but it has real effects on the way your body breathes, heals, and functions—especially if you're going through orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT).
OMT is designed to help you breathe better, improve tongue posture, support proper swallowing, and restore healthy oral habits. These goals rely heavily on your body’s ability to produce nitric oxide (NO)—a natural gas your nose creates when you breathe through it. Nitric oxide helps open your airways, deliver oxygen, and support your immune system.
When you vape, several things happen that work against your therapy:
- Reduced Nitric Oxide Production
Vaping irritates your nasal passages and lowers nitric oxide levels. This limits oxygen flow, affects your energy, and makes it harder for your body to recover.
- Encourages Mouth Breathing
Inflammation caused by vaping can make nasal breathing uncomfortable or difficult. This forces you to breathe through your mouth, which disrupts the exact patterns OMT is trying to correct.
- Weakens Oral Muscles and Reinforces Bad Habits
Vaping involves repeated suction and changes in oral pressure. Over time, this can reinforce low tongue posture, tongue thrust, and other habits that OMT aims to eliminate.
- Slows Healing and Recovery
If you're preparing for or recovering from procedures like a tongue-tie release (frenuloplasty), vaping can slow healing and increase the risk of complications. It interferes with blood flow and tissue repair—two things that are essential for successful outcomes.
- Lowers Therapy Effectiveness
Because vaping affects your breathing, muscle function, and healing, it can make therapy take longer or reduce how much benefit you get from it.
If you're investing time and effort into OMT, avoiding vaping—even temporarily—can help you get the best possible results. Your breathing, sleep, focus, and recovery all depend on the systems OMT is trying to restore. Keeping those systems healthy gives you the strongest chance at long-term success.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this document is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Recommendations are based on current evidence in airway health, orofacial function, and clinical experience. Always consult with your healthcare provider or a qualified specialist before making changes to your health routines, especially in the presence of underlying medical conditions.
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