Myofunctional Therapy in Duluth, MN
Exercises that retrain how your tongue, lips, and face rest, swallow, and breathe, for kids and adults, in person or online.
Our hygienists Naomi VonRueden, RDH, and Janelle Soukkala, RDH, run Duluth's first myofunctional therapy program through OMT Duluth, in our office since 2020.
Key highlights
- Orofacial myofunctional therapy uses exercises to retrain the muscles of the tongue, lips, and face.
- It helps with mouth breathing, low tongue posture, tongue thrust, and snoring.
- A 2015 review in the journal Sleep found it cut sleep apnea severity by about half in adults.
- Most sessions happen by video after your first in-person visit.
- Exercises take a few minutes a day, and consistency matters more than time.
- We pair therapy with tongue tie release and palatal expansion when needed.
What is myofunctional therapy?
Orofacial myofunctional therapy is a program of targeted exercises that retrains the muscles of the tongue, lips, cheeks, and face so they rest, swallow, chew, and breathe the right way.
Think of it as physical therapy for the mouth.
When the tongue rests against the roof of the mouth and the lips stay closed, breathing moves through the nose. When the tongue rests low and the lips stay open, mouth breathing follows, and that affects sleep, jaw growth, and the bite. Those are habits of muscle, and like any muscle habit, they can be retrained with the right exercises done consistently.
Signs you or your child may benefit
Red flags in kids
- Mouth open at rest or breathing through the mouth
- Snoring or restless sleep
- Tongue pushing forward when swallowing
- Thumb sucking or pacifier use past the toddler years
- Messy eating or trouble with certain foods
Red flags in adults
- Snoring or waking up tired
- Clenching, jaw pain, or neck tension
- Teeth shifting after orthodontic treatment
- Tongue resting low in the mouth
A quick self-check: close your lips, and notice where your tongue is. If it's resting on the floor of your mouth or pushing against your front teeth instead of the roof of your mouth, that's low tongue posture, and it's one of the most common things we treat.
What myofunctional therapy treats
| Problem | How therapy helps |
|---|---|
| Mouth breathing | Trains lip closure and tongue posture for nasal breathing |
| Tongue thrust | Retrains the swallow so the tongue stops pushing on teeth |
| Snoring and sleep apnea | Strengthens the tongue and throat muscles |
| Teeth shifting after orthodontics | Removes the tongue and lip habits that push teeth |
| Tongue tie recovery | Prepares the tongue before release and guides it after |
| Oral habits | Helps kids stop thumb sucking and pacifier use |
What the research shows
A 2015 systematic review and meta-analysis in the journal Sleep found that myofunctional therapy lowered sleep apnea severity by about 50% in adults and 62% in children, and reduced snoring.
The authors described it as a useful addition to other sleep apnea treatments. That's how we use it, alongside appliances, expansion, and care from your physician, and never as a replacement for a sleep study or a medical diagnosis.
Myofunctional therapy vs. speech therapy
| Myofunctional therapy | Speech therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Resting posture, swallowing, breathing | Speech sounds and language |
| Common goals | Nasal breathing, correct swallow, tongue posture | Clear speech, language skills |
Both work on the tongue and lips, and kids sometimes need both.
Is myofunctional therapy right for you?
Therapy is likely to help
- Mouth breathing or low tongue posture in a child who can follow instructions
- Snoring or clenching in an adult who'll do a few minutes of exercises daily
- Teeth shifting after orthodontics
Let's talk it through first
- A young child who may not be ready for daily exercises yet
- A tongue tie that may limit progress, where release may come first
- Speech concerns, where a speech evaluation may run alongside
Start somewhere else
- Blocked nasal breathing from allergies or enlarged tonsils, which needs an ENT first
- Suspected sleep apnea with no diagnosis, which needs a sleep study
- Someone who can't commit to daily practice right now
What we do, and what we don't
What we do
We assess tongue, lip, and facial muscle function, build a personalized exercise program, and coach you through it in person and by video. We coordinate with Dr. Zelen on tie releases and expansion, and with your physician, ENT, or speech therapist when needed.
What we don't
We don't diagnose or treat sleep apnea. That's a medical diagnosis that belongs with a physician and a sleep study, and we'll help you get there. We also can't do the exercises for you. Therapy works when it's practiced daily, and we're upfront about that at the first visit.
How therapy works, step by step
- 01Questionnaire.Before your first visit, you fill out a detailed form about breathing, sleep, eating, habits, and any past orthodontic or speech work. For kids, parents fill it out. This gives us a baseline we can measure against at the end.
- 02In-person assessment.Your therapist watches how you breathe at rest, where your tongue sits, how you swallow, and how your lips close. We check tongue range of motion and look for a tie. We take photos and sometimes short videos so you can see what we see.
- 03Your exercise plan.You get a small set of daily exercises built for your goals, usually starting with tongue posture and lip seal. We teach each one in person, watch you do it, and send you home with written and video instructions.
- 04Sessions.Regular check-ins, most by video, where we review your practice, correct form, and move you to the next set of exercises. Sessions are short, and the daily practice between them is what does the work.
- 05Re-assessment.At the end of your program, we repeat the questionnaire and the exam and compare. You see the change in tongue posture, breathing, and the symptoms you came in with.
What a session and the daily exercises look like
A typical video session runs about 20 to 30 minutes. You show your therapist the exercises you've been doing, they correct anything that's drifted, and they add one or two new ones. For kids, parents sit in so they can coach at home.
The daily exercises take a few minutes. Early ones focus on finding and holding the spot where the tongue should rest, sealing the lips, and breathing through the nose. Later ones work on swallowing without the tongue pushing forward and on strengthening the tongue and throat muscles that keep the airway open during sleep.
Consistency matters more than time. Five minutes every day beats an hour once a week.
Our kids' camp
We run a 12-session myofunctional therapy camp for kids, part in person and part online.
Kids learn the exercises together, which keeps them motivated in a way that solo practice often doesn't. They see other kids doing the same thing, and it turns into a game instead of a chore. Families fill out questionnaires at the start and end of camp, so we can see what changed.
The Duluth News Tribune and Fox21 have both featured the camp. Ask us about the next session.
How therapy fits with other treatment
Myofunctional therapy often works best as part of a bigger plan.
- Before and after tongue tie release, so the tongue learns its new range
- With palatal expansion, so the tongue rests in the new space
- After Invisalign or braces, to keep teeth from shifting
- With sleep appliances, to strengthen the airway muscles
Because our therapists and Dr. Zelen work in the same office, the sequencing happens in one place. You don't have to coordinate between a therapist across town and a dentist who's never seen their notes.
Who treats you
Cost
The cost of myofunctional therapy depends on the length of your program and whether you join the kids' camp. You'll get your cost in writing after the assessment.
We offer interest-free CareCredit plans. Financing options
Myofunctional therapy FAQ
How long does myofunctional therapy take?
Most myofunctional therapy programs run for several months of daily exercises with regular check-ins. Your therapist sets the plan at your assessment.
Can myofunctional therapy be done online?
Most myofunctional therapy sessions can happen by video after an in-person assessment, so families across the Northland can take part.
What age can kids start?
Kids can start myofunctional therapy once they can follow simple instructions and practice daily, often around age five or six. We'll tell you at the assessment whether your child is ready.
Does myofunctional therapy help sleep apnea?
Research shows myofunctional therapy can lower sleep apnea severity and reduce snoring. It works best alongside other treatment and care from your physician.
Is myofunctional therapy the same as speech therapy?
Myofunctional therapy focuses on posture, swallowing, and breathing, while speech therapy focuses on speech sounds and language. Some kids need both.
Do I need a tongue tie release first?
Many patients start myofunctional therapy without a release. If a tie limits progress, we talk about release.
Where can I find a myofunctional therapist near me in the Duluth area?
Mount Royal Dental runs Duluth's first myofunctional therapy program at our office on Woodland Avenue in Duluth, MN, with video sessions for families in Hermantown, Superior, Two Harbors, Cloquet, and across the Northland. Call (218) 464-5222 to book an assessment.
Myofunctional therapy on Woodland Avenue
Mount Royal Dental sits at 1624 Woodland Avenue, Duluth, MN 55803, at the corner of Woodland and St. Marie, next to the Mount Royal Shopping Center near UMD.
Monday 8 to 3, Tuesday through Thursday 8 to 4:30, Friday closed. Call (218) 464-5222.
