Helpful Tools to Restore Function
The Research
Myofunctional Therapy and Sleep Apnea
Research study on effectiveness of Oral Myofunctional Therapy on snoring & sleep apnea: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25950418
Medical Review article on using Oral Myofunctional Therapy to treat sleep apnea: https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/57/4/323/htm
Research study on Oral Myofunctional Therapy to treat sleep disordered breathing in children: https://www.sleep.theclinics.com/article/S1556-407X(14)00025-3/abstract
Case report on Oral Myofunctional Therapy used to treat upper airway resistance syndrome: https://aomtinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Case-Report-UARS-Myofunctional-Therapy-12.2015-Correa.pdf
Research paper on effect of oral pharyngeal muscle exercises to treat mild - moderate sleep apnea: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejcdt.2016.08.014
Systemic Review and meta analysis on using Myofunctional Therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4402674/
Systemic review and meta analysis on using myofunctional therapy to treat snoring: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00405-017-4848-5
Effect of sleep disordered breathing in children. Sleep disordered breathing is associated with daytime problematic behaviors, hyperactivity, and emotional difficulties: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3313633/
Meta analysis of effect of myofunctional therapy on obstructive sleep apnea: PDF
The Role of Myofunctional Therapy in Treating Sleep-Disordered Breathing: A State-of-the-Art Review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8306407/?fbclid=IwAR2vYuZsNA_IbszW7vPywe5gciPWoX2IAH4J5SsgDD-yM0qADBMREkpsuDA
Effect of myofunctional therapy on children with obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945720303555?via%3Dihub
Review of benefits of myofunctional therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea either as a stand alone treatment or in conjunction with other treatments: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8066493/
A systematic review of literature on the effectiveness of myofunctional therapy on reduction of snoring: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00405-017-4848-5
Research study discussing the benefits of nasal breathing re-education and myofunctional therapy on all 4 types of sleep apnea: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/3/471?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&_kx=X9D2MLn_MXCiVsvvvQmCDcnp5TzPSpTyJtffCemi8OY.Wd8SrD
How Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Can Aid in the Treatment of Sleep-Disordered Breathing: https://sleepworldmagazine.com/2024/08/16/how-orofacial-myofunctional-therapy-can-aid-in-the-treatment-of-sleep-disordered-breathing
Efficacy of myofunctional therapy for obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and network meta-analysis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40716836
Hyoid slump hypothesis: A rational approach to understanding obstructive sleep apnea and related airway disorders: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987725001483?via%3Dihub=
Effects of orolingual myofunctional therapy on snoring–a randomized controlled trial: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/00016489.2025.2541603?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed&fbclid=IwVERDUAMl8hJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhUkI9Hyrtl74bsZ3glefpUeK_12P7HNQZiAvpD-9d_DOmJE-DkDUYxBcVZR_aem_GfhvfnPvCNeSj6rtQniiJg#abstract
Why treating Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children is so critical
A study showing the effect of untreated snoring and obstructive sleep apnea in 9 and 10 year old children and its connection to less development of grey matter in the brain and behavioral problems: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22534-0
A study showing an increase in poor academic performance at 8 years old in children who have snoring and sleep breathing interruptions: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.661156/full
Myofunctional therapy’s effect on bed wetting
Effect of breathing re-education on bed wetting: PDF
Combined effect of tongue tie release surgery with myofunctional therapy
A very clinical explanation of tethered oral tissues: PDF
A 2019 study showing the effectiveness of tongue tie releases with myofunctional therapy PDF
A clinical dissection of tongue ties a paper describing the anatomy of a tongue tie: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330756535_What_is_a_Tongue_Tie_Defining_the_anatomy_of_the_in-situ_lingual_frenulum
Research study defining tongue tie: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11325-016-1452-7
A description of a ‘functional release’ combining myofunctional therapy with a tongue tie release: https://www.lightscalpel.com/publications/tongue-tie-functional-release/
A study demonstrating both safety and effectiveness of myofunctional therapy and tongue tie release of professional singers and professional speakers: https://ijom.iaom.com/journal/vol49/iss1/1/?fbclid=IwAR3p6e6yRIBeMOMbMyp9p_ouhCearKTrbiIuMuqjWw2Z7EFEXSpXJ8FdNS8
A 2025 study demonstrating the effects of myofunctional therapy coupled with a tongue tie release: https://www.mdpi.com/2694-2526/51/2/11
Combined effect of myofunctional therapy and orthodontics
Study showing the importance of myofunctional therapy in combination with orthodontics when treating ‘anterior open bite: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2008.07.016
A study showing the connection of tongue tie to a narrow roof of the mouth: PDF
Effect of Myofunctional Therapy on TMJ pain, clenching & grinding
Evidence based review of connection between teeth grinding, sleep disorders and TMJ: https://aadsm.org/docs/JDSM.1.1.27.pdf
Effects of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy on Temporomandibular Disorders: 10.1179/crn.2010.033
Mouth breathing: adverse effects on facial growth, health, academics, and behavior: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20129889/
Study showing the effectiveness of myofunctional therapy on treating TMJ pain: https://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/bam/article/view/6759
Study showing the connection between dysfuntional swallowing pattern on TMJ pain: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7135951/
Neck and shoulder pain
Study showing improvement of neck and shoulder pain with breathing re-education: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25141528/
Mouthbreathing
The health benefits of nose breathing: https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=518e51c3807f277b38c313062532f75211e080cf
Effect of mouth breathing on the shape of face and airway: https://academic.oup.com/ejo/article/29/5/426/426214
Mouth breathing, “nasal disuse,” and pediatric sleep-disordered breathing: 10.1007/s11325-015-1154-6
Research study discussing the benefits of nasal breathing re-education and myofunctional therapy on all 4 types of sleep apnea: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/3/471?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&_kx=X9D2MLn_MXCiVsvvvQmCDcnp5TzPSpTyJtffCemi8OY.Wd8SrD
Air-conditioning in the human nasal cavity: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1569904808001262?via%3Dihub
Mouth breathing, "nasal disuse," and pediatric sleep-disordered breathing: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25877805/
Lip Seal
Research study showing the effect of myofunctional therapy on the ability for the lips to stay closed during the day and night: https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/67351/1/18_Junichiro%20Iida.pdf
Connection between pelvic floor dysfunction and tongue tie
This article discusses the connection between tongue tie and the pelvic floor: https://journals.lww.com/jwphpt/abstract/2023/10000/ankyloglossia,_a_contributor_to_pelvic_pain__a.8.aspx
Connection between the tongue and posture
The Connection between the Tongue, Posture and the Nervous System: https://www.chinesis.org/images/Libri%20pubbl/articolo_annali.pdf
Myofunctional therapy effects on tinnitus:
Otologic symptoms of temporomandibular disorder and effect of orofacial myofunctional therapy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18468271/
Myofunctional Therapy and Pediatric Dental Care
The Role of Myofunctional Therapy in Pediatric Dentistry: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19424396.2024.2400418?fbclid=IwY2xjawFRjflleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfWLb_6Hwzo1OIM6rNivClIGx0PdyLiXCv5o6xuFRtKEwGObijIJByTMcg_aem_IHGQADFIzLTvLcH4ZC2k8w#abstract
Establishment of nasal breathing should be the ultimate goal to secure adequate craniofacial and airway development in children: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021755717308318?via%3Dihub
Mouth breathing, "nasal disuse," and pediatric sleep-disordered breathing: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25877805/
Myofunctional Therapy and Atypical Swallow (also called: Tongue Thrust Swallow)
Research study showing effectiveness of myofunctional therapy in correcting atypical swallow: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32367149/
A Meta Study evaluating the effectiveness of myofunctional therapy for adults with atypical swallow: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7522100/
Impact of Oral Myofunctional Therapy on Orofacial Myofunctional Status and Tongue Strength in Patients with Tongue Thrust: https://karger.com/fpl/article-abstract/73/5/413/819870/Impact-of-Oral-Myofunctional-Therapy-on-Orofacial?redirectedFrom=fulltext