What Is Myofunctional Therapy?
Most people have never heard of myofunctional therapy. But for the families who discover it, it often turns out to be the missing piece they've been looking for.
It's a structured exercise program that retrains the muscles of the tongue, lips, face and jaw — the muscles that control how we breathe, speak, chew, swallow and sleep. When these muscles develop unhelpful habits, the effects can show up as mouth breathing, persistent speech difficulties, dental crowding, poor sleep, jaw pain and more.
At Watagan Health Hub, myofunctional therapy is delivered by our speech pathology team and is uniquely integrated with our sister practice, Watagan Dental. We're the only provider offering this service in Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Valley.
Who Can Benefit from Myofunctional Therapy?
Children & Young People
The orofacial system develops rapidly in the first years of life, and poor muscle habits established early can have lasting consequences for dental development, airway health and speech clarity. Myofunctional therapy is the only dedicated orofacial service in the Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley region, supporting children with:
- Tongue tie (ankyloglossia) — pre- and post-frenectomy therapy
- Mouth breathing and open mouth posture
- Thumb sucking, dummy use and other oral habits
- Tongue thrust swallowing (reverse swallow)
- Lisps and persistent speech sound errors linked to tongue placement
- Dental crowding, narrow palate or orthodontic concerns
- Sleep-disordered breathing — snoring, restless sleep, night waking
For children undergoing tongue tie release (frenectomy), myofunctional therapy both before and after the procedure is strongly recommended to retrain muscle function, prevent reattachment and maximise the benefit of the release.
Adults
Orofacial muscle dysfunction doesn't resolve on its own in adulthood. For many adults across Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Valley, it has been present since childhood, quietly contributing to dental problems, jaw pain, poor sleep and chronic fatigue — often without anyone connecting the dots.
Myofunctional therapy supports adults with mouth breathing and chronic nasal congestion, tongue tie (pre- and post-frenectomy), sleep-disordered breathing and snoring, obstructive sleep apnoea (as an adjunct to CPAP or appliance therapy), TMJ dysfunction and jaw pain, teeth grinding (bruxism), and orthodontic relapse.
Adults often find myofunctional therapy to be a missing piece — addressing the underlying muscle habits that other treatments haven't been able to resolve.
Older Adults
While myofunctional therapy is most commonly associated with children and younger adults, orofacial muscle function remains relevant across the lifespan. For older adults, our team can support swallowing rehabilitation, oral motor exercises, mouth breathing management, and integration with dental and prosthodontic treatment planning.
If you are an older adult or a carer with concerns about oral function or swallowing, please contact us — we will advise on whether myofunctional therapy or our speech pathology service is the most appropriate pathway.
Conditions & Goals We Address
Tongue & Oral Tissue
- Tongue tie (ankyloglossia) — pre- and post-frenectomy
- Lip tie
- Tongue thrust swallowing (reverse swallow)
- Low tongue tone and resting posture
Breathing & Airway
- Mouth breathing and open mouth posture
- Sleep-disordered breathing
- Snoring
- Obstructive sleep apnoea (adjunct therapy)
- Chronic nasal congestion
Dental & Orthodontic
- Dental crowding and narrow palate
- Orthodontic relapse prevention
- Malocclusion — open bite, deep bite, overjet
- Teeth grinding (bruxism)
- TMJ dysfunction and jaw pain
Speech & Communication
- Lisps (interdental and lateral)
- Articulation errors related to tongue posture
- Speech sound disorders in children
Oral Habits & Development
- Thumb sucking and dummy/soother use
- Nail biting and other oral habits
- Fussy eating and oral sensory difficulties in children
- Drooling
Feeding & Swallowing
- Infant feeding difficulties
- Breastfeeding challenges related to tongue tie
- Dysphagia — oral phase (in conjunction with speech pathology)
How Myofunctional Therapy Works
Step 1 — Register Your Interest
Complete the form on this page. Our team will reach out to have a proper chat about your concerns and work out whether myofunctional therapy is the right pathway for you.
Step 2 — Initial Assessment
Your therapist conducts a thorough orofacial myofunctional assessment — looking at how the lips, tongue, jaw, palate and nasal airway are structured and functioning. This gives us the full picture before recommending anything.
Step 3 — Your Personalised Program
Based on the assessment, a targeted exercise program is developed specifically for you — not a generic routine, but one built around the patterns that actually need retraining in your case.
Step 4 — Weekly Sessions & Practice at Home
Sessions are weekly or fortnightly to progress exercises, check technique and advance to new goals. Between sessions, a simple home practice routine keeps things moving. Most programs run over several months.
Step 5 — Review, Coordination & Discharge
Progress is assessed at regular intervals. If you're also working with a dentist, orthodontist or GP, we coordinate clinical updates throughout — so everyone is working in the same direction.
The Science Behind Myofunctional Therapy
The Mouth-Body Connection
How oral function shapes whole-body health
It might seem surprising that the way your tongue rests in your mouth could affect how well you sleep, how your face grows, and whether your teeth stay straight after braces. But the connection is real — and well-established in the research.
When the tongue can't achieve its correct resting posture — due to a tongue tie, low muscle tone, habitual mouth breathing or other factors — the effects ripple outward. The jaw may develop narrowly, the airway becomes restricted, and the teeth lose the balance of forces that keeps them in position.
Myofunctional therapy works at the source of these patterns. By retraining how the muscles function at rest and in movement, it supports better breathing, better sleep, and a more stable dental and skeletal foundation for the long term.
Myofunctional Therapy & Dental Health
A natural fit with dental and orthodontic care
Watagan Health Hub is uniquely positioned to offer myofunctional therapy within an integrated dental-allied health setting. Our sister practice, Watagan Dental, works alongside our allied health team to provide coordinated care for patients where oral structure and function intersect.
This makes us the only provider in Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Valley offering myofunctional therapy within a dental-integrated allied health clinic.
Before tongue tie release: Pre-operative myofunctional therapy prepares the tongue and surrounding muscles, improving range of motion and reducing the risk of complications.
After tongue tie release: Post-operative therapy is essential to retrain movement patterns and prevent reattachment of the frenulum. Without myofunctional exercises following release, the benefits of the procedure are significantly reduced.
Orthodontic treatment: The tongue exerts more force on the teeth than orthodontic appliances. Without correct resting posture and swallowing patterns, orthodontic relapse is common. Myofunctional therapy addresses this directly.
Accessing Myofunctional Therapy
NDIS Funding
Myofunctional therapy delivered by a speech pathologist may be funded under the NDIS where it relates to a participant's communication, swallowing or daily living goals.
Relevant NDIS support categories include:
- Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living (Support Category 15) — where myofunctional therapy addresses communication or swallowing function
Eligibility will depend on the individual participant's plan and stated goals. Please contact us if you'd like guidance on how myofunctional therapy may fit within your NDIS plan.
Private Clients
Myofunctional therapy at Watagan Health Hub is delivered by our speech pathology team and is accessible to private clients without a referral.
Private health insurance may cover myofunctional therapy under speech pathology extras. Check your policy or contact your fund to confirm your entitlements.
Medicare rebates are available where myofunctional therapy is delivered as part of a speech pathology service under an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) plan, accessed via GP referral.
Aged Care & Older Adults
For older adults requiring oral motor or swallowing support, myofunctional therapy may be accessed through the following pathways:
- Home Care Packages (HCP) — where services are arranged through an approved provider
- Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) — for eligible clients living in the community
- DVA — for eligible veterans and their families
- Residential Aged Care — facility-funded or self-funded arrangements
Please contact us to discuss your specific needs. In some cases, our speech pathology team will be the most appropriate pathway for swallowing and oral motor concerns in older adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does myofunctional therapy involve?
Myofunctional therapy is a structured exercise program designed to retrain the muscles of the tongue, lips, face and jaw. Sessions involve assessment, instruction in specific exercises, and monitoring of progress.
Is myofunctional therapy the same as speech pathology?
They overlap, but they are distinct. Myofunctional therapy focuses specifically on the resting posture and function of the orofacial muscles. At Watagan Health Hub, myofunctional therapy is delivered by our speech pathology team, who have specialist training in this area.
Does my child need myofunctional therapy before or after a tongue tie release?
Both — in most cases. Pre-operative therapy helps prepare the tongue muscles before a frenectomy. Post-operative therapy is essential for retraining movement patterns and preventing reattachment.
Can myofunctional therapy help with snoring and sleep problems?
Yes. Research has established strong links between orofacial muscle dysfunction and sleep-disordered breathing, and myofunctional therapy is supported by clinical evidence as an adjunct treatment.
How long does myofunctional therapy take?
Most programs run for three to six months, with weekly or fortnightly sessions. Some complex presentations may require a longer course of therapy.
Has myofunctional therapy been scientifically studied?
Yes. There is a growing body of peer-reviewed evidence supporting myofunctional therapy for sleep-disordered breathing, tongue tie rehabilitation, orthodontic stability and speech sound disorders.
Do I need a referral from my dentist to access myofunctional therapy?
No referral is required, though many clients are referred by their dentist, orthodontist, GP or paediatrician.
Register Your Interest in Myofunctional Therapy
