Myofunctional Therapy

How does myofunctional therapy work?

Myofunctional therapy is an exercise program that helps treat orofacial

myofunctional disorders (OMDs). OMDs are abnormal movement patterns of

your face or mouth. They can be caused by:

• Blocked nasal passages
• Anything that causes a misplaced tongue position
• Sucking and chewing habits past the age of 3

Myofunctional therapy uses neuromuscular re-education exercises to help normalize face and mouth structures. These exercises teach your muscles, nerves, and brain how to restore optimal movement. Specifically, they aim to improve:

• Tongue position
• Lip seal
• Nasal breathing

What does it consist of?

Myofunctional therapy is like physical therapy for your face. This type of therapy is

provided by a healthcare professional with a certification in myofunctional training

from the International Association of Orofacial Myology.

Your myofunctional therapist will evaluate you and create a custom treatment plan to

retrain your muscles and improve your function. Your plan will consist of various

exercises to help ease the symptoms of your condition.

Studies:

A 2021 review of studiesTrusted Source found strong evidence that myofunctional

therapy has a positive effect on reducing sleep apnea. The researchers classified the

level of evidence as “1a,” according to the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based

Medicine 2011 guidelines. 1a means that it has the highest level of evidence.

The researchers also found level 1a evidence that myofunctional therapy improves

snoring as well as self-reported daytime sleepiness and quality of life in people with

sleep-disordered breathing.