Every child is different, but common signs of an orofacial myofunctional disorder may include:

• Frequent mouth breathing

• Difficulty breathing comfortably through the nose

• Lips that remain open while resting

• A tongue that rests low or pushes forward

• Tongue thrust during swallowing

• Drooling beyond the expected age

• Messy or difficult chewing

• Food pocketing in the cheeks

• Difficulty moving food around the mouth

• Speech sound concerns, especially with sounds such as S, Z, SH, CH, J, T, D, N, L, or R

• Prolonged thumb, finger, or pacifier habits

• Difficulty progressing through orthodontic treatment

• Teeth shifting after orthodontic treatment

• Snoring, restless sleep, or waking with a dry mouth

• A history of tongue-tie or other oral restrictions

Having one of these signs does not automatically mean your child has an OMD. A thorough evaluation can help determine whether your child’s oral resting posture and movement patterns are affecting daily function.

Orofacial myofunctional therapy helps children develop more functional patterns for using the muscles of the mouth and face.

Depending on your child’s needs, therapy may focus on:

• Establishing a comfortable closed-lip resting posture

• Improving tongue resting position

• Supporting nasal breathing when medically appropriate

• Improving tongue, lip, and jaw coordination

• Developing a more functional chewing and swallowing pattern

• Reducing tongue thrust

• Improving speech sound production

• Preparing for or supporting recovery from a tongue-tie procedure

• Helping your child maintain progress made through dental or orthodontic care

Therapy is individualized and should never feel like a long list of random mouth exercises. We help children understand what their mouth is doing, practice new movement patterns, and use those skills during real activities such as eating, drinking, speaking, and resting.

Speech, swallowing, breathing, oral habits, and dental development are closely connected.

For example, practicing an S sound may not be enough if your child’s tongue continues to rest or push forward between the teeth. Orthodontic changes may also be more difficult to maintain when the underlying tongue and swallowing patterns have not changed.

Orofacial myofunctional disorders can have several contributing factors. Your child may benefit from coordinated care involving professionals such as:

• A speech-language pathologist

• A pediatrician

• An ear, nose, and throat physician

• A pediatric dentist

• An orthodontist

• An allergist

• A sleep specialist

• Another appropriately trained medical or dental provider

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Our therapists do not diagnose airway obstruction, allergies, enlarged tonsils, sleep apnea, or structural restrictions. When concerns are identified, we help families understand which provider may be appropriate for further evaluation.

Your child’s evaluation may include observation of:

• Breathing patterns

• Lip and tongue resting posture

• Tongue movement and coordination

• Jaw stability

• Chewing and swallowing

• Speech sound production

• Oral habits

• Feeding history

• Dental and orthodontic history

• Sleep-related concerns reported by the family

We will talk with you about what you are seeing at home, explain our findings, and create recommendations based on your child’s specific needs.

Changing an established muscle pattern takes time and repetition. Short, consistent practice at home is often an important part of progress.

We make home activities realistic for busy families and help your child build new skills through supportive, age-appropriate practice. You will understand what your child is working on, why it matters, and how to encourage progress without turning every meal or conversation into therapy.

Consider scheduling an evaluation if your child:

• Consistently breathes through their mouth

• Has an open-mouth resting posture

• Pushes the tongue forward when speaking or swallowing

• Has speech sounds that have not improved with traditional therapy

• Struggles with chewing or swallowing

• Is preparing for a tongue-tie procedure

• Is experiencing orthodontic concerns related to tongue posture or oral habits

• Has been referred by a dentist, orthodontist, physician, or other provider

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You do not need to determine the cause on your own. Our team can evaluate your child’s oral movement patterns, help you understand what may be contributing to their challenges, and guide you toward the next appropriate step.