Myofunctional Therapy (MFT): Training the Muscles Behind a Healthy Smile

When people think about orthodontics, they often think about teeth, braces, or clear aligners. But teeth do not move or function in isolation. The tongue, lips, cheeks, breathing pattern, and swallowing habits all play important roles in how the mouth develops and in how stable orthodontic results can be.

This is where myofunctional therapy can help.

What Is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy is a series of exercises that retrain the muscles of the mouth and face. The goal is to improve tongue posture, nasal breathing, swallowing patterns, lip seal, and overall oral function. It focuses on correcting unhealthy muscle habits involving the tongue, lips, cheeks, and jaw.

Ideally, the tongue should rest gently against the roof of the mouth, the lips should close comfortably at rest, and breathing should happen primarily through the nose. When these functions are not working properly, it may contribute to dental crowding, open bite, relapse after orthodontic treatment, jaw tension, mouth breathing, and changes in facial development. Holistically, it may impact facial symmetry, eating, oxygen intake, and sleep quality.

Myofunctional therapy helps patients become more aware of these patterns and gradually retrain the muscles through guided exercises.

Who May Need Myofunctional Therapy?

A patient may benefit from myofunctional therapy if they have:

• Mouth breathing

• Improper tongue posture at rest

• Tongue thrust or improper swallowing pattern

• Open bite or orthodontic relapse

• Difficulty keeping lips closed at rest

• Thumb sucking or prolonged oral habits

• Speech or swallowing concerns related to tongue function

• Snoring or signs of airway concerns

• Tension in the jaw, lips, or facial muscles

One of the most common signs is an improper swallow, in which the tongue pushes forward against the teeth rather than pressing upward against the palate. Over time, this repeated pressure can affect tooth position and bite stability.

Another important sign is a low tongue posture, in which the tongue rests on the floor of the mouth rather than the roof. Proper tongue posture helps support healthy jaw development, nasal breathing, and balanced facial muscle tone.

Why is Mouth Breathing a problem?

1. Drying of the mouth: when the mouth stays dry, we may have a higher risk of:

   1. bad breath

   2. cavities

   3. gum inflammation

   4. dry/cracked lips

2. Jaw and Facial Growth Effects

   1. Narrow Upper Arch

   2. High Palate

   3. Crowding

   4. Open Bite

   5. Longer and Narrower Facial Profile

   6. Weak Lip Seal

   7. Asymmetry

3. Induce Orthodontic Relapse (Going back to the beginning)

   1. Poor Tongue Support

   2. Open Bite re-occur

   3. Unstable Bite Correction

4. Sleep and Airway Concerns

   1. Snoring or Sleep Apnea

   2. Restless Sleep

   3. Grinding at night

   4. Dry Mouth upon waking

   5. Fatigue

Assessment Comes First

Before beginning exercises, it is important to assess whether any physical obstructions may prevent proper function.

For example, mouth breathing may be related to enlarged tonsils or adenoids, allergies, chronic nasal congestion, a deviated septum, or airway restriction. Tongue posture may also be affected by a tongue-tie or limited tongue mobility.

At RM Dentistry, we assess these physical obstacles before introducing myofunctional therapy to determine whether the issue is primarily a habit, a muscle pattern, or an underlying structural concern.

What Do Myofunctional Therapy Exercises Include?

Myofunctional therapy exercises are customized to each patient, but they often focus on awareness, strength, coordination, and consistency. We use various of tools that are commonly found in our home

Goals of exercises may include:

• Tongue posture training: Learning to rest the tongue gently on the roof of the mouth.

• Nasal breathing practice: Encouraging breathing through the nose rather than the mouth.

• Lip seal exercises: Strengthening the lips so they can close comfortably at rest.

• Swallowing exercises: Training the tongue to move upward during swallowing instead of pushing forward against the teeth.

• Tongue strengthening exercises: Improving tongue control and range of motion.

• Cheek and facial muscle exercises: Encouraging balanced muscle function on both sides of the face.

• Jaw relaxation and posture awareness: Reducing unnecessary tension in the jaw and facial muscles.

• Other Appliances that help accelerate the process.

Balanced oral and facial muscles can also influence appearance. When the lips, tongue, and facial muscles function properly, patients may notice a more relaxed lip posture, fuller-looking lips, improved facial symmetry, and a smoother contour along the jawline and lower face. These changes come from improved muscle tone and function rather than cosmetic treatment.

Are there any Downsides?

It requires commitment and daily practice. Results do not happen overnight, and exercises must be done correctly and consistently. Also, if there is an untreated airway issue, tongue-tie, or other physical restriction, therapy may be limited until that concern is addressed.

Myofunctional therapy is not a replacement for orthodontics, medical care, or airway treatment when those are needed. Instead, it works best as part of a comprehensive plan.

How We Combine Myofunctional Therapy With Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontic treatment moves teeth into better alignment, but muscles help determine whether those results stay stable.

If a patient has tongue thrust, mouth breathing, or poor tongue posture, those habits may continue to place pressure on the teeth even after braces or aligners. This can increase the risk of relapse.

By combining myofunctional therapy with orthodontic care, we can address both tooth position and the underlying muscle patterns. This may help improve treatment efficiency, bite stability, facial balance, and long-term results.

For children, therapy may support healthier oral development as they grow. For teens and adults, it can help improve function and protect orthodontic investment.

A Healthier Smile Starts With Better Function

A beautiful smile is not only about straight teeth. It is also about how the mouth breathes, rests, swallows, and functions every day.

Myofunctional therapy helps retrain the muscles that support the teeth, jaws, lips, and face. When combined with orthodontic treatment, it can be a valuable tool for improving both function and long-term stability.

If you or your child has mouth breathing, tongue thrust, low tongue posture, or orthodontic relapse, ask us whether a myofunctional assessment may be helpful.

References available upon request