Airway-Focused Care in Appleton, WI
Myofunctional therapy trains the muscles of the mouth, tongue, lips, and face to work the way they should — supporting better breathing, swallowing, oral posture, and long-term smile stability. At Serenity Healthy Smiles, it's part of our airway-focused approach for children and adults in Appleton, WI.
Looking Deeper
Myofunctional therapy — also called orofacial 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 habits such as low tongue posture, open-mouth posture, poor lip seal, tongue thrust, and improper swallowing patterns.
These habits 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.
Common Signs
Mouth breathing
Lips that stay open at rest
Tongue thrust
Snoring or restless sleep
Difficulty swallowing correctly
Speech concerns related to tongue posture
Crowded teeth or narrow jaw development
Orthodontic relapse
Poor oral posture
Chronic headaches or TMJ discomfort
Chronic fatigue or low energy
Sleep apnea or disordered breathing
How It Works
The way the tongue, lips, and jaw function has a direct impact on the airway. When the tongue rests low or the lips stay open, it can encourage mouth breathing and poor oral posture — which over time may contribute to narrow arches, crowding, and reduced airway support.
Myofunctional therapy helps build healthier habits, including:
When combined with airway orthodontics or Myobrace, myofunctional therapy addresses the root causes of breathing and development — not just the symptoms.
For Every Age
Early care can support healthy breathing habits, facial growth, and jaw development while addressing the root causes of crowding and poor oral posture — before they become harder to correct.
Therapy can improve oral muscle coordination, breathing patterns, and swallowing habits, and support long-term stability after orthodontic or airway treatment.
What to Expect
We begin by looking at the full picture — oral posture, breathing patterns, swallowing habits, facial development, and overall function — to determine whether therapy may help, then move forward together.
We assess oral posture, breathing, and swallowing to understand what's really happening.
If recommended, you'll receive guided exercises tailored to your specific patterns.
We coordinate with airway orthodontics when needed — for both children and adults.
Whole-Body Health
Muscle tone in the tongue and throat supports the airway during sleep. Myofunctional exercises can help reduce snoring and support better nighttime breathing.
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, relapse is common. 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.
Meet Dr. D
Patients searching for myofunctional therapy near me usually 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 Dr. Dawn Diehnelt's approach: a functional, whole-body look at how the muscles of the mouth and face shape long-term health — for children and adults alike.
Questions Patients Ask
It's a series of exercises and techniques that retrain the muscles of the mouth, tongue, lips, and face so they function properly — supporting healthier breathing, swallowing, and oral posture.
Yes. By building proper tongue posture, comfortable lip seal, and nasal-breathing habits, it can help reduce mouth breathing over time.
No. Both children and adults can benefit. Early care supports healthy development in children, while adults can improve muscle coordination, breathing, and stability at any age.
Muscle tone in the tongue and throat helps support the airway during sleep. Myofunctional exercises can help reduce snoring and support better nighttime breathing, often alongside other care.
Coverage varies by plan. Our team is happy to review your benefits and explain your options before you begin.
Call (920) 364-0575 or visit our contact page to schedule a consultation.
Ready to Feel the Difference?
Serenity Healthy Smiles welcomes children and adults seeking myofunctional therapy in Appleton, WI. Let's find the root cause — together.