Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy focuses on how the muscles of the mouth, face, and tongue work together for everyday activities such as breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speaking. When these muscles do not function efficiently, it can lead to an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD).

An OMD occurs when there are atypical muscle patterns of the lips, tongue, jaw, or face. These patterns may impact speech clarity, swallowing, breathing, and dental development.

Signs may include lisps or unclear speech sounds, tongue thrusting, mouth breathing, open-mouth resting posture, oral habits (such as thumb sucking or nail biting), difficulty chewing or swallowing, drooling, or dental concerns.

Provided by a speech-language pathologist, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy uses evidence-based exercises and strategies to improve muscle coordination, strength, and awareness. Therapy focuses on establishing appropriate tongue posture, supporting nasal breathing, and promoting efficient swallowing patterns.

Addressing these muscle patterns helps support long-term improvements in speech, feeding, and oral function by treating the underlying cause rather than only the symptoms. Therapy is often provided in collaboration with dental, orthodontic, and medical professionals to support overall oral and airway health.