Frequently Asked Questions
Myofunctional therapy is essentially physical therapy for the muscles of your face, mouth, and throat. It involves a customized series of exercises designed to correct improper muscle function, establish nasal breathing, correct swallowing patterns (like tongue thrust), and achieve a proper resting oral posture (tongue on the roof of the mouth, lips sealed).What exactly is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT)?
Every patient is unique, but a standard comprehensive program typically spans 8 to 12 sessions over a period of several months. Sessions are tailored to your needs and may be scheduled weekly to every 2 to 3 weeks. You will need to dedicate about 5-10 minutes twice a day to practicing your exercises at home.How long does a typical treatment program take?
How is it different than speech therapy?
While there is some overlap, they are distinct disciplines. Speech therapists primarily focus on articulation, voice, and language—how you sound and communicate. Myofunctional therapy focuses on the underlying muscular function, breathing mechanics, swallowing, and resting posture. Often, speech therapists and myofunctional therapists work collaboratively for patients with speech issues tied to structural or functional oral deficits.
How is it different than speech therapy?
While there is some overlap, they are distinct disciplines. Speech therapists primarily focus on articulation, voice, and language—how you sound and communicate. Myofunctional therapy focuses on the underlying muscular function, breathing mechanics, swallowing, and resting posture. Often, speech therapists and myofunctional therapists work collaboratively for patients with speech issues tied to structural or functional oral deficits.
Myofunctional therapy is an evidence-based complementary treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), but it is not a standalone 'cure.' By strengthening the airway and tongue muscles, therapy can significantly reduce the severity of OSA and snoring. It is incredibly effective when used alongside CPAP therapy, often making the CPAP much more comfortable and effective to use.
Can myofunctional therapy cure sleep apnea?
Teeth sit in a state of equilibrium between the lips/cheeks and the tongue. If you have a tongue thrust (swallowing against the teeth) or low tongue posture, the constant muscular force will push your teeth out of alignment. If these muscular forces aren't corrected, your teeth will likely shift back after braces are removed (orthodontic relapse). Therapy corrects the root cause so your orthodontic results last.
Why does my orthodontist want me to do this?
Thrive and Breathe is an out-of-network, fee-for-service provider. Myofunctional therapy is highly specialized and coverage varies drastically between medical and dental insurance plans. We can provide you with a superbill containing the appropriate medical codes, which you can submit to your insurance provider for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
Do you take insurance?
What does an exercise really look like?
Exercises are simple but highly targeted. For example, we might use orthodontic elastics placed on the tip of your tongue to help you locate 'the spot' on the roof of your mouth, or practice specific swallowing mechanics using water to isolate the correct muscles without recruiting your facial muscles. They are pain-free and progressively increase in difficulty.
Do you offer telehealth appointments?
Yes! While we have a physical location in San Jose, CA, myofunctional therapy translates exceptionally well to telehealth appointments. We use a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform.