EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

 Improving airway health through myofunctional therapy can lead to deeper sleep, better daytime energy, healthier development, and a significant reduction in long-term health risks.

In Short:

Current research shows that myofunctional therapy can reduce the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) by approximately 50% in adults and 62% in children.

Myofunctional therapy directly targets one of the root causes of sleep apnea: poor muscle tone and dysfunctional oral posture.

By strengthening the muscles of the tongue, mouth, and airway, myofunctional therapy can improve airway stability and support better breathing during sleep. It can also serve as a powerful adjunct to other treatments such as CPAP therapy, oral sleep appliances, or surgical interventions.

A 2015 Stanford study demonstrated the significant benefits of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) in reducing sleep apnea severity, emphasizing its role in long-term airway health.

For children, early intervention is especially critical. OMT during formative years can help guide proper craniofacial and airway development — potentially preventing the progression to severe sleep-disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnea in adulthood.

How Myofunctional Therapy Can Help

Untreated sleep apnea is not just about poor sleep — it is a life-altering condition. It significantly increases the risk of:

Heart disease and high blood pressure

Stroke and cardiac arrhythmias

Diabetes and metabolic dysfunction

Sexual dysfunction

Early-onset dementia, memory loss, and cognitive decline

Mood disorders and personality changes

In children, sleep-disordered breathing is often misdiagnosed as ADHD due to its impact on behavior, focus, and emotional regulation.

Why Sleep Apnea Matters

In the United States, approximately 6 million people have been diagnosed with OSA, yet an estimated 23 million more are living with symptoms without a formal diagnosis.

Millions of people suffer from poor-quality sleep without realizing that the root cause may be an undiagnosed airway disorder. One of the most serious conditions contributing to disrupted sleep is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) — a condition where the tongue and surrounding muscles collapse into the airway during sleep, blocking the flow of air.

When the muscles of the throat, soft palate, and tongue lose tone, the tongue can fall backward during sleep.

If the blockage is partial, the vibration of tissues creates the sound of snoring.

If the blockage is complete, breathing stops temporarily, triggering the brain to partially awaken the body to reopen the airway. This often causes teeth grinding, gasping, tossing and turning, and frequent awakenings throughout the night.

While sleep apnea has traditionally been associated with overweight men, research now shows that women, teens, children, and even physically fit individuals can also suffer from OSA.

Many symptoms of ADHD, like inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, can actually be signs of sleep-disordered breathing. Disrupted sleep from mouth breathing, snoring, or sleep apnea can significantly impact focus, behavior, and emotional regulation, especially in children. Addressing airway health may reduce or even resolve these symptoms in some cases.

Every child exhibiting signs of ADHD, or already diagnosed with it, should be carefully screened for sleep-disordered breathing.

For those whose root cause is an underlying sleep issue, Identifying and addressing it early can improve attention, behavior, emotional regulation, academic performance, and long-term health.
Better sleep means better growth, better focus, and better quality of life.

Why Screening Matters

Their nervous system stays activated, preventing entry into deep, restorative sleep — even if they sleep for the "right" number of hours.

Their body absorbs significantly less oxygen compared to nasal breathing, impacting cellular health, growth, and brain function.

These combined effects can profoundly influence a child’s physical growth, hormone regulation, musculoskeletal development, emotional health, and cognitive development.

When a child mouth-breathes during sleep:

Many children diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may actually be struggling with undiagnosed sleep-disordered breathing. In fact, sleep disruptions can often be the hidden cause behind symptoms like inattentiveness, hyperactivity, mood swings, and poor emotional regulation.
One major factor is mouth breathing. Mouth breathing keeps the body stuck in a “fight or flight” sympathetic state — the part of the nervous system designed for quick, stress-based responses like fleeing from danger.
 In contrast, nasal breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the calming "rest and digest" mode necessary for true relaxation and deep sleep.

If your clenching and grinding is driven by airway issues, a nightguard might actually make things worse. By taking up space in the mouth, nightguards can reduce tongue space, potentially worsening airway obstruction and increasing tension. Addressing the root cause, like airway dysfunction, is key to lasting relief.

Myofunctional therapy addresses many of the underlying causes of TMJ pain by:

Restoring proper tongue posture

Retraining a correct swallowing pattern

Improving muscle balance and coordination within the orofacial system


By working to correct dysfunctional patterns, therapy helps reduce strain on the jaw joint, improve breathing mechanics, and restore stability to the craniofacial structures.

For best results, myofunctional therapy is often combined with other supportive treatments, such as:

Dental appliance therapy

Orthodontic treatment/expansion

Body work with TMJ specialists

Intraoral and extraoral massage therapy

A comprehensive, collaborative approach gives patients the greatest opportunity for long-term relief and improved function.

How Myofunctional Therapy Can Help

TMD symptoms can vary widely but may include:

Limited ability to open the mouth fully

Jaw clicking, popping, or grinding sounds

Chronic headaches or migraines

Facial tension or soreness, especially around the jaw joint

Neck and shoulder pain or tightness

History of wearing night guards, splints, or bite guards

Recognizing TMD Symptoms

Common Causes of TMJ Pain

Many patients seek myofunctional therapy as part of a comprehensive approach to relieving temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. Dysfunctional oral habits — including low tongue posture, mouth breathing, open-mouth resting posture, tongue thrust swallowing, and abnormal swallowing patterns — can, over time, place significant strain on the TMJ.

 This discomfort can originate from the joint itself or the surrounding muscles responsible for jaw movement. It is often referred to as TMJ, TMD, TMJD, or simply jaw pain.

Restricted lingual frenums “tongue ties” can adversely impact proper rest posture, TMJ function, speech, breathing and even sleep.

During your evaluation, your myofunctional therapist will:


Measure your tongue’s range of motion

Assess your swallow pattern and muscle coordination

Identify any compensations or restrictions that may be present


If a tongue tie release is recommended, we will refer you to a highly qualified provider trained in tongue tie assessment and functional releases.

In most cases, preparation through myofunctional therapy is essential before a release. This ensures you build proper muscle tone and coordination, giving you the best outcomes post-release.

After the release, therapy continues, focusing on retraining muscle function, achieving correct tongue posture, and optimizing oral and airway health.

What to Expect During Your Evaluation

In the past, tongue ties (ankylglossia) were only defined by how much the tongue could protrude. Today, a much deeper understanding recognizes that tongue ties involve more complex factors including fascia, muscle attachment, and mobility.

The International Affiliation of Tongue-Tie Professionals (IAATP) defines tongue-tie as an embryological remnant of tissue restricting normal tongue movement.

We now assess tongue ties across five key dimensions:

PROTRUSION: How far the tongue can stick out.

ELEVATION: How well the tongue can lift to the incisive papilla (just behind the upper front teeth).

TONGUE TO PALATE SUCTION: Ability to keep the tongue suctioned to the roof of the mouth while opening wide.

COMPENSATION: Use of floor of mouth, neck, or other muscles to assist tongue movement.

MUSCLE TENSION: Strain caused by restriction and compensatory patterns.
 (The first three are well-documented in scientific literature; research is ongoing for the last two.)

Modern Understanding of Tongue Ties

CRANIOFACIAL DEVELOPMENT: The tongue acts as nature’s palatal expander. When resting lightly suctioned to the roof of the mouth, the tongue helps guide healthy facial and jaw growth.


When tethered by a tongue tie, the tongue cannot maintain this ideal position, leading to:

A narrow, high palate (instead of wide and supportive arches)

Crooked or crowded teeth

A long, narrow facial structure (often referred to as "adenoid face")

A gummy smile due to excessive vertical maxillary growth


EATING AND SWALLOWING: A restricted tongue often struggles to elevate properly during swallowing. Food may feel "stuck" in the back of the mouth, and children may avoid certain textures, appearing to be “picky eaters” when in reality they are protecting their airway.

ORAL HYGIENE CHALLENGES: The tongue is the body’s best tool for clearing food debris while eating. Restricted mobility means debris can linger around the teeth and gums, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease.

SPEECH DIFFICULTIES: A tongue tie can limit the ability to produce certain sounds clearly. While myofunctional therapy is distinct from speech therapy, therapy can complement speech improvements, especially after a tongue tie release.

How Tongue Ties Affect Function and Growth

Everyone has a small band of connective tissue under the tongue called the lingual frenulum. However, when this tissue is too tight or restrictive, it can interfere with normal function — a condition commonly known as a tongue tie. The way the tongue attaches to the floor of the mouth plays a critical role in breathing, speaking, swallowing, and even the way the face and jaws develop.

Tongue thrust is not the root issue, it’s merely a symptom of underlying muscle dysfunction. Common contributing factors include a restricted lingual frenum (tongue-tie), low tongue muscle tone, limited space for the tongue on the roof of the mouth, and airway limitations. In many cases, it’s multifactorial, requiring a comprehensive approach that addresses several of these contributing issues.

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is an exercise-based treatment approach designed to retrain the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue.

 Through targeted exercises and neuromuscular re-education, an OMT helps patients — both children and adults — correct long-standing patterns and restore natural function.


Myofunctional therapy for tongue thrust can help to:

 Improve tongue elevation and strength

 Establish correct tongue resting posture

 Correct tongue placement during swallowing

 Increase tongue motility and flexibility

 Address maxillary constriction and encourage proper arch development

 Prevent orthodontic relapse following treatment

 Support better breathing and reduce sleep-disordered breathing symptoms

Correcting a tongue thrust pattern is not always easy, especially if the habit has been present for years.
However, with the right provider collaborations, guidance and commitment, patients can achieve lasting improvements in function, appearance, and overall health.

How Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Can Help

Simply put, form follows function — and when muscles don't function properly, it can lead to structural deformities.


If tongue thrust and low tongue posture persist, they can contribute to:

Underdevelopment of the craniofacial structures

A high, narrow (vaulted) palate

Crowded teeth and orthodontic issues

Periodontal disease and tooth decay

Sleep-disordered breathing and compromised airway development

Form Follows Function

Even light, consistent forces can move teeth — as little as 1.5 grams of pressure can shift them over time.

In comparison, the tongue exerts a median force of around 499 grams, and can reach 700–800 grams in some individuals.

Given that we swallow approximately 2,000 times per day, a tongue thrust exerts significant pressure on the teeth, often leading to dental and skeletal changes.


Common effects include:

Anterior open bite (where the front teeth do not touch when the back teeth are closed)

Difficulty maintaining proper tongue posture

Challenges with nasal breathing and airway health

Disruption of normal oral rest posture

Poor swallowing mechanics

Why Tongue Thrust Matters

A tongue thrust is a dysfunctional swallowing pattern where the tongue pushes against or between the teeth during swallowing, or sits against the teeth at rest.
 While tongue thrust is often noticeable, it is usually a symptom of larger underlying issues with tongue tie, tongue tone, tongue space or airway concerns. Identifying the root cause is crucial for successful treatment and outcomes.