“The most important thing you can do is be an advocate for your child’s airway health”
Dr. Shereen Lim-Breathe, sleep, thrive

Align your health

Here to help educate and guide clients towards optimal health with orofacial myofunctional therapy

The benefits of myofunctional therapy go well beyond what one may think

Poor posture
Chronic pain
Jaw pain
Chronic headaches
Toxic oral habits

Mouth breathing
Sleep apnea and snoring
Improve sleep
Correct tongue thrust
Tongue- Tie

Digestive concerns
Fatigue
Orthodontic relapse
Speech problems
Grinding

What is orofacial myofunctional therapy?

Orofacial myofunctional therapy, commonly known as myofunctional therapy, is a specialized form of therapy that involves a personalized program designed to strengthen weak facial muscles and retrain dysfunctional oral patterns. Myofunctional therapy is “hands-off therapy”, meaning no manual manipulation of the muscles is being done. Therapy involves static and dynamic movements to enhance muscle strength and function. The current shift towards a soft food diet has caused a weakening of our facial muscles, while habits such as mouth breathing, digit sucking, or pacifier use can alter the structure of the face, airway, and muscle function. Weak muscles can result in various issues, such as snoring, mouth breathing, crooked teeth due to incorrect swallowing, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD), among others. By complying with and staying motivated to complete myofunctional therapy, individuals can correct maladaptive oral habits, and achieve proper oral rest posture. This therapy provides several health benefits, including improved breathing, better sleep, reduced digestive concerns, and alleviation of TMJ pain, to name a few.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate in myofunctional therapy?

A good general starting age is 4-6 yrs old depending on maturity level. Clients must have volitional control and understand what is being taught. I do offer a mini myo course for my younger clients that aren’t quite ready for a full myofunctional therapy plan.

Does insurance cover myofunctional therapy?

Some insurances do have coverage for myofunctional therapy but most do not. I treat my patients with the most comprehensive care. Therefore I wont’ allow insurance companies to dictate the best course of action for a client. I do offer a superbill to submit for reimbursement but do not accept insurance at this time.

What is a tongue tie?

A frenum or frenulum is the band of tissue under the tongue which attaches at the floor of the mouth. Some individuals frenulum is too short, too thick, too long, or attached at the wrong spot which can affect proper function of the tongue. In some cases the physical barrier, tongue tie, must be released to rehabilitate proper muscle function of the tongue.

Does myofunctional therapy help sleep apnea?

A strong muscle such as the muscles at the back of the throat, tongue, and jaw, are more like to work correctly and not fall back into the airway while sleeping. Research has shown myofunctional therapy to be a great option to decrease apnea-hypopnea index (AHO) in mild and moderate sleep apnea cases.

Click here to learn more

What causes sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a structural issue. The jaw didn’t grow outward or wide enough leading to lack of proper airway space A long term fix is visiting an airway centered orthodontist to assess the bones of the head neck and face. Myofunctional therapy helps strengthen the muscles to help lower symptoms associated with sleep apnea.

Still have questions?

Can’t find the answers you’re looking for? Let’s talk.

Let’s Chat →