Mouth Breathing or Thumb Sucking? How Myofunctional Therapy Helps Children

Chronic mouth breathing, low tongue posture, and persistent thumb-sucking disrupt normal pediatric facial development, narrow the upper jaw, and restrict nasal airflow.

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is targeted physical therapy for the tongue, lips, and facial muscles. Guided by oral myofunctional therapist Richard Bennett, children practice fun daily muscle exercises that establish proper lip seal, nasal breathing, and resting tongue posture against the palate.

Correcting these habits early allows the upper jaw to expand naturally, opening nasal airways and reducing the need for aggressive tooth extractions or braces later in life.