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Sleep apnea is not just a structural problem — it's also a muscular one. The tongue, lips, and throat muscles play a critical role in keeping your airway open during sleep. When those muscles are weak, poorly positioned, or have been restricted by a tongue tie, they contribute directly to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Myofunctional therapy addresses this muscular root cause directly.
What Is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?
Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is a structured program of exercises that retrains the muscles of the tongue, face, and throat — often described as physical therapy for your airway. It is not a quick fix. It is a guided, progressive program that builds new muscle habits over time.
The goals of
myofunctional therapy
are:
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Establish nasal breathing as the primary pattern — day and night
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Retrain the tongue to rest on the roof of the mouth where it belongs
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Correct improper swallowing patterns that place pressure on teeth and the jaw
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Build the muscle tone necessary to maintain an open airway during sleep
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Reduce or eliminate mouth breathing, snoring, and apnea-related muscle dysfunction
Who Benefits From Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is appropriate for children and adults. It is particularly valuable for:
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Patients who have had a tongue-tie release — therapy is essential after frenectomy to ensure lasting results and prevent reattachment
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Sleep apnea or snoring patients who want to address the muscular contributor alongside oral appliance therapy
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Mouth breathers — children or adults — especially those with chronic congestion or enlarged tonsils
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Children with speech delays, feeding difficulties, or open bite
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Patients with teeth grinding or jaw pain
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Anyone who has been told their tongue rests on the floor of the mouth
Our Myofunctional Therapy Partner
Jennifer DeJonge, RDH, OMT — OMT of Oklahoma
Better Sleep Oklahoma coordinates all myofunctional therapy referrals with Jennifer DeJonge, a registered dental hygienist with over 22 years of clinical experience and advanced training in orofacial myofunctional therapy.
Jennifer specializes in airway-related care and sees patients of all ages — from children as young as four through adults.
Jennifer sees patients both in-person and virtually throughout Oklahoma, making this care accessible regardless of where you are in the state.
Why Myofunctional Therapy and Frenectomy Work Together
One of the most important things to understand about tongue-tie treatment is that the procedure and the therapy must work together — neither is fully effective without the other.
When a tongue tie is released, the muscles don't automatically know how to function differently. Years of compensatory patterns are deeply ingrained. Without myofunctional therapy to guide the retraining process, the tongue often returns to the floor of the mouth, the risk of tissue reattachment increases, and the airway benefit of the release is diminished.
This is why Dr. Ousley requires a myofunctional therapy consultation both before and after every laser frenectomy. It is not optional — it is standard of care.