Originally published by A Voice For Choice Advocacy on April 09, 2026.

EDITOR’S SUMMARY: The muscles of the mouth do more than support eating and speech—they help shape sleep, facial development and airway function over time. When these functions are disrupted, the effects can show up as jaw tension, poor sleep, mouth breathing and other seemingly unrelated symptoms. Myofunctional therapy focuses on retraining these muscles through targeted exercises, addressing underlying dysfunction rather than isolated complaints. By improving how the tongue, lips and jaw work together, this approach may help stabilize the airway, reduce strain and restore more efficient function across the body.

Eating, drinking and talking are just a few of the movements the muscles of the mouth accomplish each day. They also guide airflow, manage tension and coordinate movement between the jaw, neck and face. When those structures aren’t working efficiently, your body can overcompensate, which can result in a range of symptoms. Clinicians frequently see the same issues appear together: jaw clenching, facial tension, headaches, neck pain, along with breathing and sleeping difficulties. You might not think to connect these to your mouth. But if you or your child wake up tired despite a full night’s sleep, breathe through the mouth during the day, snore lightly, clench the jaw, or carry tension in the face and neck, these may share a common root.

This cluster of symptoms is often addressed one at a time, without examining the underlying muscle dysfunction they share. You may see a dentist for grinding, a chiropractor for neck pain, or a sleep specialist for breathing concerns, moving through providers while the nagging issues remain unaddressed. Over time, this can lead to discomfort in the jaw and surrounding muscles and little clarity about why your symptoms continue—or even worsen—despite ongoing treatment.

Myofunctional therapy takes a unique approach by examining how oral muscles function as an integrated system, rather than focusing on individual symptoms. At its core is the concept of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt through repetition—which is used to retrain the muscles of the lower face, tongue and jaw. By addressing these issues at their source, it aims to offer insight and correct the behaviors that may be driving concerns not just in the mouth, but throughout the body.

What Myofunctional Therapy Commonly Addresses

Breathing, airway and sleep-related concerns

Myofunctional therapy is often recommended for chronic mouth breathers. While mouth breathing is sometimes dismissed as just a bad habit, it’s actually a survival response that changes how the tongue, jaw and airway are used. The issue is that once this adaptation becomes your default, it can shape muscle function and influence how your face develops over time—affecting everything from sleep quality to jaw alignment. When the nose is bypassed and breathing shifts to the mouth, the tongue tends to rest lower, and the muscles that support the airway may become less stable. In an interview with A Voice for Choice Advocacy, certified myofunctional therapist Brigiett Ritchie explains:

“The body will always find a way to breathe, even if it has to compensate. One common compensation is mouth breathing, which can lead to upper airway obstruction and issues with the adenoids and tonsils.”

In children, tonsils are already relatively large, and chronic mouth breathing can cause them to swell even more, increasing the risk of obstruction during sleep. Even when tonsils are removed, they can regrow if the underlying airway habit remains unchanged, a phenomenon known as tonsillar regrowth, as documented in pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT) literature.

Myofunctional therapy is used to support snoring and sleep-disordered breathing, including sleep apnea. Research suggests that how well the oral muscles work together can affect how easily the airway stays open, especially during sleep. When these muscles function more efficiently, airflow at night can become more stable.

Jaw, facial and muscle-related concerns

Myofunctional therapy can be a helpful part of treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, which involve the joint that connects your jawbone to your skull. It may help relieve symptoms such as jaw pain, clenching, neck tension, earaches, toothaches and clicking or locking when chewing. TMJ disorders often develop from strain on the joint and adjoining muscles, such as chronic grinding, arthritis or a past injury. The most commonly affected group is women between 20 and 40 years old, who make up more than 90 percent of those seeking treatment. Researchers suggest this may be influenced by a combination of hormonal factors, joint structure and differences in pain sensitivity.

When your mouth and airway are not working properly, other muscles step in to compensate. As a result, the jaw and face may be carrying more tension than they were designed to handle. Appliances like mouthguards or retainers are commonly used to protect teeth from damage caused by clenching or grinding. While these devices can be helpful, they don’t address the root cause. Without retraining the underlying muscle function, jaw or facial tension may continue even while wearing them. In children, these tendencies can show up in subtle ways. You might notice your little one sleeps with their mouth open, snores or breathes noisily at night, struggles with certain speech sounds, prefers softer foods, or seems restless during sleep. These signs are easy to overlook but can reflect how the mouth and airway are functioning.

Oral habits, speech and feeding

Issues with the tongue’s ability to move freely and fully—including tongue tie, a congenital condition in which the tip of the tongue is tethered to the floor of the mouth by a short or tight band of tissue—can affect both swallowing and speech. Myofunctional therapy may be used to address persistent tendencies such as thumb sucking or prolonged pacifier use, difficulty chewing textured foods, as well as speech sound errors related to tongue placement.

Over time, these habits can influence muscle coordination and facial development. Because of this, concerns such as inefficient chewing, swallowing difficulties and certain speech issues are addressed through myofunctional therapy in collaboration with speech-language pathologists. A broader range of signs may indicate the need for evaluation. These include frequent mouth breathing, jaw clenching or grinding during sleep, difficulty keeping your lips gently closed, a tongue that rests low in the mouth, snoring or noisy nighttime respiration, waking feeling groggy, ongoing facial or jaw tension, or speech sounds that are unclear.

The way jaw and facial muscles develop affects more than just comfort and airway function. It also shapes the form of the face. This happens gradually, starting in infancy, as bones respond to how muscles are used day after day. The jaw grows in response to movement and pressure. Chewing, swallowing and tongue motion all stimulate the bones of the face, guiding how wide, forward and strong it becomes. When these muscles are used regularly and with effort, they help support a wider, more stable facial structure.

Breastfeeding plays a unique role in this process. Nursing requires coordinated use of the tongue, lips and jaw, with the tongue pressing upward against the palate, supporting these structures to work together. This repeated motion helps strengthen oral muscles and encourages forward and outward jaw growth. Bottle feeding, by contrast, relies on a different sucking mechanism that places less demand on these muscles and does not engage the jaw and tongue in the same way. According to a review in Springer Nature, “Influence of the duration of breastfeeding on quality of muscle function during mastication in preschoolers: a cohort study”:

“The jaw movements involved in extraction of milk from the breast provide major stimuli for growth of the temporomandibular joint and, consequently, encourage harmonious growth and development of the facial region.”

Importance of early intervention

Starting early can make a big difference. As children grow, chewing becomes an important driver of facial development. Diets that rely heavily on soft or processed foods require far less effort than those that involve tearing and grinding, such as fibrous vegetables, tougher cuts of meat or whole grains. When kids are chewing less because they are eating foods like soft white bread, yogurts and packets of mashed fruits and vegetables, the jaw receives less stimulation, which influences how it develops. Over time, reduced oral muscle use has been linked to narrower dental arches, crowded teeth and a jaw that sits farther back rather than developing forward. These structural changes do not just affect appearance; they can also influence how easily the airway stays open and how much effort the jaw and neck muscles must use during air exchange.

Even after bone structure is mostly set, muscle tone and posture continue to play a big role in teens, young adults and adults. Chronic clenching, a low resting tongue position, or ongoing mouth breathing can contribute to facial tension and muscle strain. While these factors may not significantly alter bone shape, they can influence how the face holds tension and how comfortably the jaw functions. Understanding how these habits develop helps explain how treatment works in practice. If these patterns sound familiar, it may not be a matter of isolated symptoms, but rather how the muscles of the mouth have adapted over time.

How Myofunctional Therapy Works

A central focus of myofunctional therapy is how the tongue, lips and jaw are positioned when not actively moving. Encouraging the tongue to rest gently against the palate and maintaining relaxed lip posture may reduce the need for surrounding muscles to compensate, resulting in less tension in the face, neck and jaw. Therapy also supports nasal breathing when possible, allowing air to be filtered, humidified and slowed before it reaches the lungs, which can promote steadier respiration. Because swallowing and chewing involve complex, coordinated muscle work, this method works to improve the timing and function of these movements, which may help reduce strain on the jaw and surrounding muscles.

“Therapy focuses on restoring muscle harmony so patterns align with proper oral posture. When muscle patterns are not aligned, issues develop later in life,” Ritchie said.

Ongoing research suggests that strengthening and synchronizing the muscles of the mouth and throat may help support airway stability, especially when sleeping. A study published in Sleep Medicine Reviews found that individuals who practiced myofunctional therapy experienced less snoring, improved oxygen levels, and reduced daytime sleepiness. A 2024 study in Scientific Reports similarly found fewer breathing interruptions during sleep among participants practicing daily oral and facial exercises, which researchers linked to improved muscle control in the upper airway. A 2025 review of multiple clinical trials, “Efficacy of myofunctional therapy for obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and network meta-analysis,” reported that participants often felt more rested and alert during the day.

Myofunctional therapy can be part of a team-based approach, with providers coming from a range of professional backgrounds depending on individual needs. This can include certified myofunctional therapists, certified orofacial myologists, speech-language pathologists, dentists and orthodontists involved in airway-focused care, as well as physical and occupational therapists who address posture and jaw function. Sleep specialists may also be involved when airway obstruction or sleep-related concerns are suspected.

A myofunctional therapy program typically begins with a comprehensive assessment. The therapist evaluates how the muscles of your mouth and face function during rest and movement, considering factors such as tongue posture, lip seal, respiratory habits, swallowing mechanics and jaw motion. In some cases, head and neck posture is also considered, as this can influence how easily air moves and the amount of effort required for breathing.

The process may include simple tasks, such as noting where the tongue rests when your mouth is closed, how air moves during quiet breathing, or how swallowing is initiated. The goal is not to diagnose a condition, but to identify how muscles are being used in ways that may contribute to ongoing symptoms. Based on this analysis, the therapist designs an individualized treatment plan. Exercises are selected to support improved muscle coordination, tone and endurance. These practices are typically brief and targeted, focusing on specific movements or positions. For example, therapy may involve activities that encourage the tongue to rest against the palate, promote efficient swallowing techniques, or support nasal breathing when possible.

Sessions often combine education with exercises. Therapists explain how oral muscles affect breathing, jaw tension or sleep quality, helping you better understand why certain techniques are used. Progress is monitored over time, with adjustments made based on how muscles respond and whether patterns begin to shift. Therapy is usually structured over weeks or months rather than days, so that muscles have time to adapt. Therapists may communicate with dentists, orthodontists, speech-language pathologists or sleep specialists to coordinate care and make sure that therapy aligns with other treatments. Programs typically last 6 to 12 months, though many patients see improvements within 4 to 8 weeks.

If you’re noticing any of the symptoms mentioned in yourself or your child, the first step is an evaluation. Ask your dentist or medical provider if they screen for oral muscle function or airway issues. If you have sleep or breathing concerns, collaboration with sleep medicine specialists or ENTs may be appropriate. Alongside professional care, exploring simple, low-intensity practices that support awareness of breathing and oral posture can help. One example is mouth taping during sleep, which involves placing a small piece of breathable tape over your lips to encourage nasal breathing. This method is not appropriate for everyone and should be avoided if you experience anxiety around breathing or untreated sleep apnea.

Other supportive practices include paying attention to how you breathe during the day, gently encouraging nasal breathing when it feels comfortable, and becoming aware of where the tongue rests when the mouth is closed. Addressing nasal congestion with humidifiers or saline rinses may also support easier breathing. These approaches do not replace professional care or medical evaluation, but they can help build awareness and support healthier day-to-day function while decisions about next steps are made.

Sometimes the most overlooked driver of symptoms sits right under your nose. The mouth isn’t just a passive part of the body—it’s an active driver of how you breathe, move and regulate tension. When these muscles have been trained to function inefficiently over years of unconscious behaviors, the effects don’t stay local; they ripple through the entire body.

Myofunctional therapy works by reconnecting these functional relationships, linking symptoms to meaningful improvements in how you feel. When the mouth, jaw, neck and tongue are in sync, they support the body as a whole—making breathing more efficient, reducing strain and restoring balance. It’s not a quick fix, but it offers a path forward for issues that may have been overlooked for years.

~

If you’ve found value in this article, please cross-post and restack it!

To support the research and health education of AVFC editorial, please consider making a donation today. Thank you.

 

IPAK-EDU is grateful to A Voice for Choice Advocacy as this piece was originally published there and is included in this news feed with mutual agreement. Read More