What Is Myofunctional Therapy, Really?

Written By Lori Eckhardt

If you’re wondering if this is right for your family—here’s a clear answer.

Let’s start with something simple:

Where is your tongue right now?

It may seem like a small thing, but that one question opens the door to understanding myofunctional therapy—a specialized, science-based approach that helps retrain the muscles of the face, tongue, and mouth for better health and function.

At Buffalo Myo, we often say: 🌟 "Good habits start at rest—and healthy breathing begins with the right foundation."

Let’s take a moment to walk through exactly what that means.

📘 The Basics: What Is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy is like physical therapy, but for the muscles we use to breathe, chew, swallow, and speak. It focuses on correcting improper habits like:

  • Mouth breathing

  • Low tongue posture

  • Open-lip resting position

  • Improper swallowing patterns (like tongue thrust)

  • Clenching or grinding

  • And even messy eating or speech challenges

👨‍👩‍👧 Who Is It For?

These patterns often develop in childhood—but they can continue into adulthood if they’re never addressed.

🧒 For Children

If your child is:

  • A chronic mouth breather

  • Has had a tongue or lip tie

  • Wakes up tired, wets the bed, or snores

  • Struggles with messy eating or picky textures

  • Or is headed for orthodontic treatment…

They may benefit deeply from myofunctional therapy. We support growing faces and developing patterns that can set the stage for a healthier future.

👧 For Teens

With braces, sports, screen time, and hormonal changes, teens are at a crossroads.

If they’re:

  • Still breathing through their mouth

  • Experiencing headaches, poor posture, or jaw tension

  • Grinding or clenching during sleep

    Therapy helps align form and function so they can thrive physically and emotionally.

👩‍🦳 For Adults

Yes—even adults can change these patterns. If you're:

  • Dealing with TMJ pain or clenching

  • Always congested or breathing through your mouth

  • Struggling with sleep or daytime fatigue

  • Dealing with tension in your jaw, neck, or shoulders

Myofunctional therapy can help improve quality of life by restoring proper function and breathing. It’s never too late.

🧩How Does It Work?

Think of myofunctional therapy like training your muscles to work smarter, not harder. We begin with an in-depth evaluation to understand:

  • Your resting posture

  • Breathing patterns

  • Tongue placement

  • Swallowing mechanics

  • And your goals (because those matter too)

Then, we create a customized therapy plan. You’ll practice gentle, targeted exercises that strengthen and retrain the orofacial muscles. The goal is:

  • Lips together

  • Tongue on the palate

  • Breathing through the nose

  • Swallowing with proper coordination

It’s simple, consistent, and often life-changing.

🧭 Is This Right for You or Your Child?

If anything you’ve read today sounds familiar—trust that you're not alone.

At Buffalo Myo, we combine compassionate care with expert knowledge to help individuals and families breathe better, sleep better, and function better—for life.

And because we believe in the power of education first, we always welcome questions.

📞 Let’s Talk

Whether you’re a parent just starting to explore the connection between mouth breathing and your child’s sleep…

Or an adult who’s tired of grinding, jaw pain, or feeling “off” all the time…

We’re here for you.

📍 Located right here in Buffalo, NY

📩 Reach out today to schedule a consultation or simply ask a question. No pressure—just partnership.

👉 Schedule a Consultation → https://buffalomyo.clientsecure.me

✨ Because healing starts with understanding.

Lori Eckhardt