Myo for Kids

A child’s airway, jaws, and facial structures develop over many years, with key growth happening in early childhood. The tongue and jaw muscles play a major role in guiding this growth. When they function properly, they help shape the palate and jaws, creating space for straight teeth and healthy breathing. When they don’t, growth can be stunted, leading to crowding, bite issues, and a smaller airway.

Supporting healthy development often requires a team-based approach. Depending on your child’s needs, care may involve an ENT to address sinus or airway blockages, an airway-conscious dentist/orthodontist to guide jaw and tooth development, and sometimes a sleep specialist to evaluate breathing during sleep. These providers help identify the issues and create the space needed for proper growth and breathing.

However, creating space alone is not enough. Treatments such as tongue-tie release, tonsillectomy and palatal expansion do not automatically teach the muscles how to work correctly. Myofunctional therapy is the critical piece that brings everything together. It retrains the muscles of the tongue, lips, and jaw to support nasal breathing, proper swallowing, and stable jaw development—helping ensure that improvements are long-lasting and support your child’s overall health.

    • Mouth breathing during the day or night

    • Snoring, restless sleep, or frequent waking, frequent bedwetting after age 3

    • Open-mouth posture or lips that don’t rest together

    • Crowded teeth, narrow palate, or teeth that don’t come together in both front or back.

    • Thumb sucking, prolonged pacifier use, or other oral habits

    • Difficulty chewing, picky eating, or avoiding harder foods

    • Speech concerns or unclear articulation

    • Tongue thrust or forward tongue posture

    • Frequent congestion, allergies, or sinus issues

    • Behavioral concerns linked to poor sleep, such as inattention or irritability

    If you recognize one or more of these signs, we encourage you to schedule a free 10-minute phone screening to see whether your child may benefit from myofunctional therapy. This brief conversation allows us to answer your questions, discuss your concerns, and help you determine the next best step—without pressure or commitment. Early guidance can make a meaningful difference in supporting your child’s growth, breathing, and overall health.

  • At what age can a child start myofunctional therapy?
     Myofunctional therapy can be beneficial at many ages, but early childhood is often an ideal time because the jaws and airway are still developing. That said, children, teens, and even adults can benefit. A phone screening or evaluation helps determine the most appropriate timing for your child.

    Does my child need a myofunctional assessment before a tongue-tie release?
     Yes. A myofunctional assessment should always take place before a tongue-tie release. Myofunctional therapy helps prepare the tongue and surrounding muscles for improved movement and function, which supports better healing and reduces the risk of reattachment after the procedure. For the best outcomes, myofunctional therapists and the provider performing the release work together as part of a coordinated treatment plan.

    What happens during a myofunctional evaluation?
     A myofunctional evaluation looks at how your child breathes, rests their tongue and lips, chews, swallows, and uses their oral muscles throughout the day. We also take baseline measurements so we can track progress over time and create a customized treatment plan tailored to your child’s specific needs.

Schedule a FREE screening