Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a form of therapy that focuses on the function, coordination and strength of the muscles of the mouth, face and jaw.

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These muscles are involved in important everyday functions including breathing, chewing, swallowing, speech, facial expression and maintaining an appropriate resting posture of the lips and tongue.

When these muscles are not functioning efficiently or working together as they should, it can contribute to an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD).

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At Happy Faces, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is used to identify and address these dysfunctional patterns through individualised exercises, functional activities and reminder techniques.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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These functions are connected. When one part isn't working efficiently, it can influence the way the other parts function.

 

​What are Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?

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Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are conditions involving abnormal or inefficient function of the muscles and structures of the mouth, face and jaw.

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OMDs can affect children, teenagers and adults. They may develop during childhood as oral and facial patterns are established, or persist into adulthood when dysfunctional patterns have become habitual.

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A range of factors can contribute to the development or persistence of an OMD, including:

• Persistent oral habits such as thumb, finger or pacifier sucking

• Restricted tongue movement, including tongue-tie

• Airway or breathing difficulties

• Structural or physiological differences

• Neurological or developmental factors

• Dental or orthodontic factors

• Other factors affecting normal oral and facial function​

 

Often, there is not one single cause. Instead, several factors can interact to influence how the muscles of the mouth, face and jaw function.

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How can an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder affect function?

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Because the muscles of the mouth, face and jaw are involved in so many everyday functions, an OMD can have a wide range of effects.

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Not everyone with an OMD will experience all of these difficulties, and the presence of one of these signs does not necessarily mean that an OMD is present.

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What does Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy involve?​

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01 — Comprehensive assessment

We assess the structures and function of the mouth, face and jaw.

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02 — Identify the functional pattern

We look at how breathing, tongue posture, swallowing, chewing and muscle function interact.

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03 — Individualised therapy

Your program is tailored to your age, needs and goals.

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04 — Functional practice

Exercises, activities, devices and reminder techniques help establish new patterns.

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05 — Make it automatic

The goal is for efficient patterns to become part of everyday function.

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Every person is different - there is no single Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy program that suits everyone. Treatment is based on the individual's oral structure, muscle function, breathing patterns, age, development, symptoms and goals.

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Tongue Posture & Tongue Thrust

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The tongue plays an important role in swallowing, speech, chewing and the development of the oral and facial structures.

Ideally, the tongue should rest comfortably against the palate with the lips gently together and the teeth slightly apart. During swallowing, the tongue should move in a coordinated pattern without excessive forward or lateral pressure against the teeth.

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A tongue thrust occurs when the tongue moves forward or between the teeth during swallowing, speech or at rest.

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Signs that may indicate an inefficient tongue posture or tongue thrust include:

• The tongue resting between or against the teeth

• The tongue being visible between the teeth when speaking or swallowing

• Difficulty maintaining an appropriate tongue resting posture

• Messy eating or difficulty managing food

• Excessive drooling or saliva loss

• Speech sound difficulties associated with tongue placement

• An open bite or difficulty maintaining orthodontic correction

 

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can help retrain tongue posture, coordination and swallowing patterns.

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When these patterns are identified during childhood, therapy may be particularly valuable because oral and facial structures are still developing. However, OMT can be beneficial at any age.

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Swallowing Dysfunction

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Swallowing is a complex process involving coordinated movement of the tongue, lips, jaw, cheeks and throat.

An inefficient swallowing pattern can involve excessive movement of the lips, cheeks or jaw, forward tongue pressure, poor tongue elevation or other compensatory movements.

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OMT can be used to improve the coordination and efficiency of the muscles involved in swallowing where appropriate.

For individuals with more complex swallowing difficulties, collaboration with other health professionals, including a speech pathologist, may be recommended.

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Tongue-Tie

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A tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, occurs when the lingual frenulum restricts the movement or function of the tongue.

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The lingual frenulum is a normal structure — a fold of tissue connecting the underside of the tongue with the floor of the mouth. However, in some people its anatomy may restrict tongue movement or contribute to compensatory patterns.

Importantly, the appearance of the frenulum alone does not determine whether a tongue-tie is functionally significant. Assessment should consider both anatomy and tongue function.

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At Happy Faces, we assess tongue function and the way restricted movement may be affecting oral function. In some cases, therapy alone may be appropriate. In other cases, referral to an appropriately qualified dental or medical professional for further assessment may be recommended.

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Where a lingual frenectomy is indicated, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is recommended before and after the procedure to help establish functional tongue movement and address compensatory muscle patterns.

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Sleep-Disordered Breathing

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Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is an umbrella term describing abnormal or disrupted breathing during sleep. It includes conditions ranging from snoring through to obstructive sleep apnoea.

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OMDs can sometimes occur alongside sleep-disordered breathing, particularly when dysfunctional oral posture and breathing patterns are present.

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Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy may form one component of a multidisciplinary approach for selected individuals with sleep-disordered breathing.

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Treatment may focus on factors such as tongue and lip posture, oral muscle function and nasal breathing patterns.

OMT does not replace medical assessment or treatment for sleep-disordered breathing. Where SDB is suspected, assessment by an appropriate medical or sleep professional may be recommended.

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[Learn more about Breathing Therapy →]

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Speech & Oral Function

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The lips, tongue, jaw and cheeks all contribute to speech production.

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Some speech sound difficulties can be associated with inefficient tongue posture, reduced tongue mobility or poor coordination of the oral muscles.

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Where appropriate, OMT may be used alongside speech pathology to address the underlying oral motor patterns that may be contributing to speech difficulties.

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OMT does not replace speech therapy, and collaboration between professionals can be particularly valuable when both speech and orofacial myofunctional difficulties are present.

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Jaw & Facial Pain

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The muscles and joints of the jaw are used constantly for activities such as chewing, speaking and swallowing.

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Dysfunction in these systems can contribute to jaw and facial pain, muscle tension or restricted movement.

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Jaw and facial pain can have many contributing factors, including muscle function, joint disorders, dental factors, trauma, sleep, stress and other physical or psychological influences.

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For selected individuals, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy may form part of a broader treatment approach to improve muscle coordination, jaw function and oral posture.

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Because jaw and facial pain can have complex causes, assessment and collaboration with other appropriately qualified health professionals may be recommended.

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A Collaborative Approach

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Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy does not exist in isolation.

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Depending on your individual needs, we may work alongside dentists, orthodontists, ENT specialists, GPs, sleep physicians, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, lactation consultants and other health professionals.

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Our role is to identify the functional patterns that may be contributing to your concerns and determine whether OMT is appropriate, or whether another professional should be involved.

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Who can benefit from Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?

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OMT can be appropriate for children, teenagers and adults.

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It may be recommended when there are concerns about:

• Tongue posture or tongue thrust

• Swallowing or chewing function

• Oral muscle coordination

• Speech-related oral function

• Tongue restriction

• Dental or orthodontic stability

• Snoring or sleep-disordered breathing

• Jaw or facial muscle function

 

An assessment is the best way to determine whether Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is appropriate for you or your child.