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Holistic Dentistry

What is a myofunctional therapist?

January 9, 2026

What is a myofunctional therapist?

A myofunctional therapist is a specially trained professional who helps retrain the muscles of the mouth, face, and sometimes the neck so they work in harmony with breathing, swallowing, speaking, and correct position of the tongue.

Did you know that mouth breathing can increase the risk of cavities? Using gentle, targeted exercises, a myofunctional therapist teaches patients how to rest the tongue, lips, and jaw in healthier positions and how to use these muscles correctly while chewing, swallowing, and even at rest. This approach is often called orofacial myofunctional therapy.

At Natural and Cosmetic Dentistry in Clearwater, Florida, Dr. Beata A. Carlson, Dr. Michael “Mikey” Thomas, and Dr. Lewis Luo often work with a myofunctional therapist as part of a holistic, airway-focused treatment plan that looks at the whole person, not just the teeth.

What does a myofunctional therapist do?

You can think of a myofunctional therapist as a type of “physical therapist” for the face and mouth.

During care, a myofunctional therapist will typically:

Evaluate how you or your child:

    • Breathe (nose versus mouth)

    • Swallow

    • Rest the tongue and lips

    • Chew and hold the jaw

Identify orofacial myofunctional disorders, such as:

    • Tongue thrusting

    • Open-mouth posture

    • Mouth breathing

    • Low tongue position

    • Difficulty maintaining lip seal

Create a personalized exercise program to:

    • Encourage nasal breathing

    • Support a healthy tongue resting position on the palate

    • Promote closed-lip posture

    • Normalize chewing and swallowing patterns

Coach you through exercises you complete at home

These exercises are simple but powerful. Over time, the goal is to build new, healthier habits so the muscles of the face, tongue, and jaw work properly all day and all night.

Conditions a myofunctional therapist may help with

A myofunctional therapist does not replace your dentist, orthodontist, or physician, but they can be an important part of your care team. Myofunctional therapy may be recommended if you or your child has:

  • Mouth breathing, especially at rest

  • Tongue thrust (pushing the tongue against or between the teeth)

  • Open-mouth posture during the day or at night

  • Difficulty keeping lips closed at rest

  • Thumb or finger sucking habits

  • Orthodontic relapse (teeth shifting after braces)

  • Certain types of:

    • Snoring or mild sleep-disordered breathing

    • TMJ discomfort or jaw tension

    • Speech or swallowing difficulties related to tongue and lip posture

In our Clearwater office, myofunctional therapy often works alongside airway-focused orthodontics, TMJ care, and sleep and breathing support to create a complete holistic plan.

How myofunctional therapy fits into holistic dentistry

At Natural and Cosmetic Dentistry, we understand that the mouth is deeply connected to overall health. That is why Dr. Carlson, Dr. Mikey, and Dr. Luo look beyond cavities and cleanings and also evaluate:

  • Jaw alignment and TMJ function

  • Breathing patterns (nose versus mouth)

  • Head and neck posture

  • Tongue and lip posture

A myofunctional therapist fits naturally into this holistic approach by helping to:

  • Support proper facial growth and development in children

  • Protect orthodontic results by correcting the muscle habits that contributed to misalignment

  • Encourage healthy nasal breathing, which can benefit sleep, energy, and focus

  • Reduce strain on the jaw and TMJ through better muscle balance

Instead of just straightening teeth, we want to understand why teeth became crowded or misaligned in the first place. A myofunctional therapist often helps address these root causes.

What happens during a myofunctional therapy visit?

Every provider is unique, but a typical visit with a myofunctional therapist may include:

1. Detailed evaluation

  • Review of health and dental history

  • Observation of facial posture, tongue posture, and swallowing

  • Assessment of breathing patterns, tongue mobility, and lip seal

2. Personalized exercise plan

The myofunctional therapist will demonstrate specific exercises, which may include:

  • Breathing exercises to reinforce nasal breathing

  • Tongue posture and placement drills

  • Lip and cheek strengthening exercises

  • Swallowing practice that coordinates the tongue and lips

3. Homework and follow-up

Success with a myofunctional therapist relies on consistency. Most patients:

  • Practice their exercises daily at home

  • Return for regular visits to adjust and progress their program

  • Work with their dental and medical team alongside therapy

Myofunctional therapist vs. orthodontist vs. speech therapist

It can be confusing to know which professional does what. Here is a simple comparison:

Airway-focused dentist or orthodontist

Focuses on teeth, jaws, bite, and airway
Uses tools such as braces, clear aligners, or growth-guidance appliances

Speech-language pathologist (SLP)

Focuses on speech, language, and feeding
Some SLPs have additional training in myofunctional therapy

Myofunctional therapist

Focuses on the function and habits of the tongue, lips, cheeks, and jaw
Uses exercise-based therapy to improve breathing, swallowing, and resting posture

In many cases, a myofunctional therapist, dentist, orthodontist, and speech therapist work together. At Natural and Cosmetic Dentistry, our doctors frequently coordinate care with local myofunctional therapists and other healthcare professionals to support whole-body wellness.

Is myofunctional therapy only for children?

No. A myofunctional therapist can work with all ages.

Children

Early myofunctional therapy can support proper facial growth, promote nasal breathing, and help prevent long-term issues like crowded teeth or open bites.

Teens

Therapy can stabilize orthodontic results, improve breathing patterns, and support better jaw function and posture.

Adults

Even long-standing mouth-breathing, tongue posture issues, or snoring may improve with consistent myofunctional exercises and habit retraining.

Improvement is possible at any age when the patient is motivated and follows the program recommended by the myofunctional therapist.

How our Clearwater team works with myofunctional therapists

At Natural and Cosmetic Dentistry in Clearwater, FL, Dr. Beata Carlson, Dr. Michael Thomas (Dr. Mikey), and Dr. Lewis Luo:

  • Evaluate your airway, bite, TMJ, posture, and overall oral health

  • Identify when a myofunctional therapist should be part of your treatment

  • Create a personalized plan that may include:

    • Myofunctional therapy

    • Airway-focused orthodontics and growth guidance

    • Biocompatible and biological dental care

    • Supportive holistic therapies

Our goal is more than a beautiful smile. We want a comfortable bite, a healthy airway, balanced muscles, and a smile that supports your overall wellness.

Could you benefit from a myofunctional therapist?

You or your child may benefit from a myofunctional therapist if you notice:

  • Mouth breathing during the day or night

  • Snoring or restless sleep

  • Difficulty keeping lips closed at rest

  • Tongue pushing against or between the teeth

  • Teeth shifting after previous orthodontic treatment

If these signs sound familiar, it may be time to talk with a dental team that understands how a myofunctional therapist fits into holistic care.

Click here to schedule an appointment.

Our office is located at 1825 Sunset Point Road in Clearwater, Florida.

We are welcoming new and returning patients who want to support their smiles—and their overall health—through natural, holistic, and airway-focused care, including collaboration with a myofunctional therapist.

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