Associates of Dental Arts

Dr. Gregory Kivett, Jr. & Dr. Nicholas Moore

525 West 32nd Street | Joplin, MO 64804

Associates of Dental Arts > Services > Myofunctional Therapy

Your Tongue—The Silent Artist! Your tongue is more than a muscle for speaking and eating—it’s a sculptor, shaping your face, influencing posture, guiding breathing, and even affecting your sleep. But what happens when this sculptor is tied down? Trying to grow with a tongue tie is like painting with your arm tied behind your back. Technically possible, but far from ideal.

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Myofunctional Therapy

The Tongue: Small But Mighty
The tongue connects to every system in the body—from the head to the pelvic floor. It plays a critical role in:
● Shaping the face and palate
● Supporting airway development
● Influencing posture and body alignment
● Facilitating proper sleep and breathing
● Connecting to core stability and pelvic floor function
When tongue function is limited, these systems suffer. Poor posture, chronic pain, and disrupted sleep can often be traced back to a hidden tongue tie.

What Is a Tongue Tie?
A tongue tie occurs when the frenum—a small string of tissue under the tongue—is too tight or restrictive. This tether limits mobility and prevents the tongue from resting and functioning properly.
There are two parts:
● Front (fascial) – visible near the tip
● Back (muscular/mucosal) – deeper and harder to see
Many newborns only have the front clipped in the hospital, leaving the back portion unaddressed—and the functional problems continue.

Why It Matters in Infancy
A tongue tie can make latching painful and inefficient for both mother and baby. Infants may:
● Struggle to latch
● Tire quickly while feeding
● Swallow excess air (leading to colic or reflux)
● Gain weight slowly
Switching to bottle feeding is sometimes necessary—but it can bypass natural oral development that helps shape the airway and face.

The Tongue’s Role in Facial Growth
A healthy tongue rests gently against the palate, stimulating it to grow wide and strong. A tied tongue can’t reach the roof of the mouth, leading to:
● High, narrow palates
● Crowded teeth
● Mouth breathing
● Misaligned bites
By age 9 or 10, these children often face braces, extractions, or orthodontic expansion.

Airway, Breathing & Sleep Problems
When a tongue tie causes chronic mouth breathing, it can lead to underdeveloped airways and poor sleep quality. In children, this often mimics ADHD symptoms—because tired kids tend to become hyperactive, not sluggish.
For adults, an underdeveloped airway can mean:
● Snoring
● Sleep apnea
● Chronic fatigue
● Headaches and neck tension

Myofunctional Therapy: Tongue Training for Life

Myofunctional therapy is like physical therapy for the tongue and facial muscles. It retrains the tongue, lips, and cheeks to work in harmony, supporting proper airway function and breathing. This therapy can: ● Promote nasal breathing over mouth breathing ● Improve swallowing patterns ● Help expand and maintain airway space ● Reduce snoring and symptoms of sleep apnea ● Improve facial muscle tone and symmetry How it helps with airway, breathing, and sleep issues: ● Encourages a forward tongue posture that keeps the airway open at night ● Strengthens muscles that support nasal breathing ● Trains proper rest posture, reducing the risk of airway collapse during sleep ● Can significantly improve oxygen intake and sleep quality for both children and adults When combined with a full tongue-tie release, myofunctional therapy ensures long-term results and prevents relapse.