Myofunctional therapy is a specialized treatment that helps train the muscles of the mouth, tongue, lips, and face to function properly. These muscles play an important role in breathing, swallowing, oral posture, facial development, and long-term smile stability.
At Serenity Healthy Smiles in Appleton, WI, myofunctional therapy is part of a larger airway-focused approach to oral health. Rather than only looking at crooked teeth or bite alignment, we also evaluate the muscle patterns and oral habits that may be contributing to mouth breathing, poor tongue posture, swallowing issues, and improper jaw development.
Schedule a ConsultationMyofunctional therapy, also called orofacial myofunctional therapy or oral myofunctional therapy, is a series of exercises and techniques designed to improve how the muscles of the face and mouth work together. It focuses on correcting issues such as low tongue posture, open mouth posture, poor lip seal, tongue thrust, and improper swallowing patterns — habits that affect how the jaws grow, how the teeth align, and how a person breathes during the day and while sleeping.
By retraining these patterns, myofunctional therapy helps the mouth and facial muscles support healthier growth and long-term function.
The way the tongue, lips, and jaw function has a direct impact on airway health. When the tongue rests low in the mouth or the lips stay open, it can encourage mouth breathing and poor oral posture. Over time, these patterns may contribute to narrow dental arches, crowding, poor facial development, and reduced airway support.
Myofunctional therapy helps patients build healthier habits that support better breathing, better sleep, and more stable outcomes:
When combined with airway orthodontics or Myobrace, myofunctional therapy addresses the root causes of breathing and development — not just the symptoms.
These improvements can support better sleep, healthier breathing, and more stable outcomes when combined with airway or orthodontic treatment.
Myofunctional therapy may be recommended for children, teens, and adults who show signs of poor oral muscle function or airway-related concerns. Common signs include:
A proper evaluation can help determine whether these symptoms may be connected to how the muscles of the mouth and face are functioning.
Many people think myofunctional therapy is only for children — but both children and adults can benefit, depending on their symptoms and goals.
Early care can support healthy breathing habits, facial growth, and jaw development while helping address the root causes of crowding and poor oral posture — before they become harder to correct.
Myofunctional therapy can improve oral muscle coordination, breathing patterns, swallowing habits, and long-term stability after orthodontic or airway treatment — at any age.
Poor oral muscle function doesn't just affect the teeth. The patterns myofunctional therapy addresses are often connected to broader health concerns:
Muscle tone in the tongue and throat plays a role in airway support during sleep. Myofunctional exercises can help reduce snoring and support better breathing at night.
Tongue posture and swallowing habits can place uneven force on the jaw. Addressing these patterns may relieve tension and complement TMJ treatment.
If muscle habits remain unchanged after braces or other treatment, relapse is common. Myofunctional therapy supports lasting results by retraining the forces that shape the bite.
In children, proper tongue posture and nasal breathing encourage healthy jaw growth and wider arches — reducing the need for more intensive treatment later.
When you visit Serenity Healthy Smiles for myofunctional therapy in Appleton, WI, we begin by looking at the full picture. We evaluate oral posture, breathing patterns, swallowing habits, facial development, and overall function to determine whether therapy may help.
If recommended, treatment may include guided exercises and techniques designed to retrain the muscles of the mouth and face over time. The goal is to support healthier breathing, improved function, and long-term oral development.
Patients searching for myofunctional therapy near me often want more than a quick fix — they want a provider who understands the connection between breathing, oral posture, jaw development, and airway health. That's exactly our approach at Serenity Healthy Smiles.
Myofunctional therapy is a treatment that helps retrain the muscles of the mouth, tongue, lips, and face to improve breathing, swallowing, oral posture, and overall function. It is sometimes called orofacial myofunctional therapy or oral myofunctional therapy. Treatment typically involves a series of exercises performed over weeks or months to establish healthier muscle habits.
Yes. Myofunctional therapy may help support healthier breathing patterns by improving tongue posture, lip seal, and the coordination of the muscles of the mouth. When the tongue rests properly on the palate and the lips close comfortably, nasal breathing becomes more natural and sustainable.
No. Both children and adults can benefit from myofunctional therapy, depending on their symptoms and treatment goals. While early treatment in children can support healthy development before habits become established, adults can still see meaningful improvements in breathing, swallowing, sleep quality, and TMJ comfort.
Research has shown that myofunctional therapy exercises can improve muscle tone in the tongue and upper airway, which may reduce the frequency and severity of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea in some patients. At Serenity Healthy Smiles, we often incorporate myofunctional therapy as part of a broader airway-focused treatment plan.
Coverage varies by plan. Some dental and medical insurance policies provide partial coverage for myofunctional therapy, particularly when it is related to an airway or functional diagnosis. We recommend contacting your insurance provider before your visit to verify your benefits. Our team can also help you understand your options.
Call Serenity Healthy Smiles at (920) 364-0575 or visit our contact page to request a consultation. Dr. Diehnelt will evaluate your oral posture, breathing patterns, and overall function to determine whether myofunctional therapy is the right fit for you or your child.
Serenity Healthy Smiles welcomes children and adults seeking myofunctional therapy in Appleton, WI. Let's find the root cause — together.
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