The way a child breathes, rests their tongue, swallows, and uses the muscles of the mouth and face can influence oral function and development over time. Habits such as persistent mouth breathing, thumb or finger sucking, and certain swallowing patterns may also be signs that a closer look is worthwhile.
This is where orofacial myofunctional therapy can help.
Orofacial myofunctional therapy focuses on the function and coordination of the tongue, lips, jaw, and facial muscles. When concerns are identified early, therapy may help children develop healthier functional patterns—and can be part of a collaborative approach involving dentists, orthodontists, ENTs, pediatricians, lactation professionals, speech-language pathologists, and other healthcare providers.
Why Early Evaluation Can Matter
Children grow quickly, and the patterns they develop when breathing, eating, speaking, and swallowing are repeated thousands of times.
Not every unusual habit indicates a problem. Children also change considerably as they grow. But persistent patterns may be worth evaluating, particularly when parents notice several concerns together.
Some signs that may warrant a closer look include:
- Habitual mouth breathing or lips apart at rest
- Difficulty breathing comfortably through the nose
- Snoring or restless sleep
- Thumb or finger sucking that persists
- Difficulty with chewing or swallowing
- Tongue thrust or unusual tongue posture
- Crowded teeth or changes in dental development
- Speech concerns
- Feeding difficulties
- Difficulty keeping the lips comfortably closed at rest
These signs can have many different causes. A myofunctional evaluation can help identify functional patterns that may be contributing to a child’s difficulties and determine whether myofunctional therapy or evaluation by another healthcare professional may be appropriate.
Mouth Breathing and Nasal Breathing
When possible, our bodies are designed to breathe primarily through the nose.
Children may temporarily breathe through their mouths when they’re congested with a cold or experiencing seasonal allergies. Persistent mouth breathing, however, deserves attention.
Sometimes a child develops a habit of mouth breathing. In other cases, there may be an underlying reason that nasal breathing is difficult, such as allergies, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or another airway concern.
A myofunctional therapist can evaluate the child’s breathing and oral-rest patterns and help determine whether another healthcare provider should be involved.
Once appropriate nasal breathing is possible, myofunctional therapy may help a child develop healthier breathing and oral-rest habits.
Why Tongue Posture Matters
The tongue does much more than help us speak and eat.
At rest, the tongue normally has a characteristic position within the mouth, with the lips comfortably closed and the tongue resting appropriately against the palate.
When the tongue consistently rests low or forward—or when a child has difficulty comfortably maintaining an appropriate resting posture—it may be associated with other oral or facial functional concerns.
There can be many reasons for an unusual tongue posture. That’s why an evaluation is important.
A myofunctional therapist looks at how the tongue moves and rests, along with lip function, breathing patterns, swallowing, and other oral behaviors. When appropriate, therapy uses individualized exercises and awareness techniques to help establish more functional patterns.
What About Tongue-Ties?
Parents increasingly hear about tongue-ties, also known as restricted lingual frenula.
The presence of a visible frenulum does not by itself mean a child needs treatment. What matters is function—how well the tongue moves and whether that movement is affecting feeding, swallowing, speech, oral rest posture, or other activities.
A myofunctional evaluation can be one part of assessing tongue function. When additional evaluation is needed, care may involve other appropriately trained healthcare professionals.
The goal isn’t simply to identify a tongue-tie. It’s to understand how the child’s tongue is functioning.
Swallowing Patterns
Swallowing is another function we repeat throughout the day without thinking about it.
During a mature swallowing pattern, the tongue, lips, jaw, and other muscles work together in a coordinated way. Some children develop a pattern commonly called a tongue thrust, in which the tongue moves forward or presses against or between the teeth during swallowing or at rest.
When these patterns persist, they may be relevant to dental development or orthodontic treatment.
Myofunctional therapy can help appropriate patients become aware of these patterns and learn more functional tongue-rest and swallowing behaviors.
Thumb and Finger Sucking
Thumb and finger sucking are normal soothing behaviors for infants and young children. When these habits persist as a child gets older, however, the repeated pressure can affect the teeth and oral structures.
Simply telling a child to stop isn’t always effective.
A supportive approach focuses on understanding the habit, helping the child become aware of it, and providing age-appropriate strategies for changing the behavior without shame or unnecessary pressure.
Addressing the habit earlier may also help reduce its continued influence on developing oral structures.
Myofunctional Therapy Is Often Part of a Team
One of the most important things for parents to understand is that myofunctional therapy isn’t intended to replace medical, dental, orthodontic, or other appropriate healthcare.
A child who cannot breathe comfortably through their nose, for example, may need evaluation for an underlying airway or allergy issue. A child with dental development concerns may need a dentist or orthodontist. Feeding, speech, sleep, or other concerns may involve additional specialists.
Myofunctional therapy focuses specifically on oral and facial function and behavior and can complement care from these other professionals.
When Should Parents Consider an Evaluation?
You don’t have to wait until a concern becomes severe to ask questions.
If you’ve noticed persistent mouth breathing, unusual tongue posture, tongue thrust, thumb or finger sucking, swallowing difficulties, or other oral habits, an evaluation can help you better understand what you’re seeing.
Sometimes reassurance is all that’s needed. Other times, therapy or referral to another healthcare professional may be appropriate.
The goal is not to find something wrong with every child. It’s to recognize patterns that deserve attention and help children develop healthy, functional habits when intervention is appropriate.
Have Questions About Your Child?
If you’ve noticed something about your child’s breathing, tongue posture, swallowing, or oral habits and aren’t sure what it means, Jennifer Block, RDH, COM, CST, CLC offers complimentary consultations to help families determine an appropriate next step.
Jennifer provides orofacial myofunctional therapy through telehealth, making consultations convenient for families from home.
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