Kathryn Howard, MAS, BA, RDH, OMT
Founder | Align Myofunctional Therapy

Hi, I’m Kat — a dental hygienist and myofunctional therapist who helps adults finally get relief from jaw pain, chronic tension, clenching, grinding, and the sleep issues that so often come with them.

But this isn’t just professional for me — it’s personal.

I’ve experienced jaw dysfunction firsthand. For years, I dealt with popping, tension, and tightness in my jaw that left me fatigued, frustrated, and searching for real answers. Being told to “just wear a nightguard” wasn’t enough — and it wasn’t until I discovered myofunctional therapy that I started to understand the why behind my pain and how to truly heal it. That journey changed everything — and it’s now my mission to help others uncover those same root causes and lasting solutions.

That experience came full circle with my daughter.

When she was born with a tongue tie, breastfeeding was incredibly difficult. Despite seeing two pediatricians and two lactation consultants — all of whom told me a release “wasn’t needed” or would be “overkill” — my mom intuition and background in dental hygiene told me otherwise. I sought a fifth opinion from a tongue-tie-savvy dentist, who confirmed the tie was interfering with her ability to nurse and gain weight. She underwent a frenectomy at just one month old, and after four weeks of diligent wound care, our nursing journey transformed. We went on to breastfeed for 28 months — a gift I’ll never take for granted.

These personal experiences shape everything I do at Align Myofunctional Therapy. I know how confusing, isolating, and exhausting jaw issues and functional oral challenges can feel — especially when you’re told “it’s not a big deal.” I also understand as a parent when providers scoff at your concerns of mouth breathing, snoring, and state, “They will grow out of it.” I promise you they won’t grow out of it, but rather into their symptoms, which is not the direction we want.

At Align, I take a whole-body, root-cause approach to helping adults with TMJ pain, tension, clenching, and airway-related sleep issues. I create customized therapy plans that work with your unique structure and needs — focusing on tongue strength, oral posture, breathing mechanics, and nervous system support to help you stabilize your jaw and breathe with ease again.

Ready to take the first step?

Book your free assessment today and let’s explore what’s really behind your jaw pain and sleep concerns — and how we can start resolving it, together.
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