Myofunctional Therapy for Kids & Teens: Why Oral Muscle Health Matters
Myofunctional Therapy: The Missing Piece for Healthy Development 👅
Parents often notice things like speech sound struggles, mouth breathing, picky eating, or orthodontic concerns — but few realize these issues may share a common root: how the muscles of the mouth and face work together.
At B.well tots, we specialize in helping children and teens by combining traditional therapy with myofunctional exercises to retrain oral and facial muscles. The right muscle function during growth can support clearer speech, better breathing, and healthy smiles for life.
What Is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy uses targeted exercises to strengthen and coordinate the muscles of the tongue, lips, cheeks, and jaw. These muscles affect:
Chewing and swallowing
Breathing (nasal vs. mouth breathing)
Speech clarity and articulation
Dental growth and orthodontic stability
Airway health (including snoring and sleep apnea risk)
When these muscles don’t work properly, it’s called an orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD). OMDs can appear at any age — from toddlers with drooling or chewing challenges to teens with lingering lisps or jaw tension.
Why Myofunctional Therapy Matters at Every Stage
Toddlers & Preschoolers (1–5): Early Oral Skills & Speech
Persistent drooling or open-mouth posture can affect jaw growth and airway health.
Difficulty chewing or unclear speech often ties back to weak or uncoordinated oral muscles.
Early therapy builds healthy oral patterns before kindergarten and speech milestones.
School-Age Children (6–12): Breathing, Sleep & Dental Development
Mouth breathing, snoring, or restless sleep may indicate airway and muscle issues.
Therapy improves nasal breathing, supports better sleep, and helps kids feel rested and focused at school.
For kids in braces, myofunctional work helps keep teeth in place after orthodontic treatment.
Teens & Young Adults (13–21): Speech Refinement & Long-Term Health
Lingering lisps, poor tongue posture, or jaw discomfort can be addressed before adulthood.
Teens completing orthodontics can protect their smile with proper muscle balance.
Young adults with TMJ discomfort or mouth breathing can benefit from non-invasive muscle retraining.
The B.well Approach to Myofunctional Therapy
At B.well tots, we tailor care to each developmental stage while making therapy practical and engaging.
Holistic Evaluations
We assess more than just speech — looking at breathing, chewing, tongue posture, swallowing, jaw growth, and sleep patterns to understand the whole child or young adult.
Family Coaching & Education
Parents and caregivers are key to success. We teach you how to support exercises at home and understand healthy oral habits.
Age-Appropriate, Engaging Exercises
Our therapy plans are playful and developmentally appropriate — from fun toddler games to teen-friendly strength and posture work.
Flexible Scheduling
We offer both in-person and virtual sessions to fit busy family life and schedules.
Team Collaboration
We partner with pediatricians, orthodontists, dentists, ENTs, and other providers to create a complete care plan.
Things to Know Before Starting Therapy 📋
Consistency is key: Success comes from daily practice at home, especially for older kids and teens.
Sometimes it takes a team: Structural issues (tongue-tie, enlarged tonsils, airway concerns) may need collaboration with other specialists.
Change takes time: Building new muscle patterns requires weeks or months — but the long-term results are worth it.
Choose a trained provider: Seek therapists with specialized myofunctional training and pediatric experience (like our team at B.Well Tots).
Signs Your Child or Teen Could Benefit From Myofunctional Therapy
🚩 Persistent open-mouth posture
🚩 Mouth breathing or snoring
🚩 Drooling beyond toddler years
🚩 Speech sound errors (especially /s/, /sh/, /l/, /r/)
🚩 Difficulty chewing or swallowing
🚩 Braces relapse or orthodontic concerns
🚩 TMJ discomfort or jaw tension
If you’ve noticed any of these, an evaluation can help uncover what’s happening beneath the surface.
Help Your Child Breathe, Speak & Smile Better
Healthy oral muscle function sets the foundation for clear speech, proper breathing, strong jaw growth, and a confident smile.
At B.well tots, we’re passionate about helping children and young adults build habits that last a lifetime. Our myofunctional therapy programs are tailored to each age and stage — so your child can thrive today and grow into a healthy future.