If you’ve searched for myofunctional therapy exercises, you’ve probably encountered videos demonstrating tongue lifts, lip exercises, swallowing techniques and ways to improve tongue posture.
Some promise better breathing, straighter teeth, improved sleep or relief from jaw pain.
But which exercises actually help? And how do you know whether you’re doing the right ones?
Myofunctional therapy uses individualized activities to address clinically identified patterns involving the tongue, lips, jaw, oral resting posture and swallowing. The exercises are selected according to a person’s functional needs, rather than prescribed as a universal routine.
For some patients, treatment may involve developing awareness of tongue resting posture. For others, it may involve improving tongue and jaw coordination, retraining a specific swallowing pattern or integrating skills into daily activities.
Not everyone with mouth breathing, a lisp or an unusual tongue position needs myofunctional therapy.
At BreatheWorks, our approach begins by listening to the patient’s concerns, evaluating relevant functions and identifying what needs to change before selecting exercises.
What Are Myofunctional Therapy Exercises?
Myofunctional therapy exercises are structured activities used as part of treatment for certain orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs).
These disorders involve atypical resting postures or movement patterns of the tongue, lips, jaw and related oral structures.
Depending on the diagnosis and treatment goals, therapy may address:
- Oral resting-posture awareness and coordination
- Tongue and lip movement patterns
- Functional swallowing patterns
- Coordination among the tongue, lips and jaw
- Carryover of appropriate skills into everyday activities
An exercise may look simple, but its purpose should be specific.
For example, a tongue movement activity might be used to help a patient learn to move the tongue without excessive jaw movement.
That is different from prescribing the same activity to everyone who has a lisp or sleeps with their mouth open.
The clinical value of an exercise depends on whether it addresses a meaningful functional problem.
Five Types of Activities Used in Myofunctional Therapy
The following examples explain common categories of activities that may appear in a professionally developed treatment program.
They are educational descriptions, not an individualized home exercise prescription.
1. Tongue Resting-Posture Awareness
What it targets: Awareness of the tongue’s natural position when the person is not speaking, chewing or swallowing.
A clinician may help a patient recognize where the tongue rests during quiet activities and whether the position changes throughout the day.
The patient may learn to distinguish a relaxed resting posture from unnecessary tongue pressure, jaw clenching or lip strain.
For selected patients with an identified resting-posture concern, treatment may involve practicing a more appropriate position based on their anatomy and breathing ability.
Why it matters: Awareness can support the development of functional habits when a clinically significant pattern has been identified.
Important limitation: Not everyone needs to place the tongue tip in exactly the same location. A comfortable resting posture should not interfere with breathing or require forceful pressure against the palate.
A person with nasal obstruction should not be instructed to keep the mouth closed without appropriate medical assessment.
2. Tongue Movement and Coordination Activities
What they target: The ability to perform selected tongue movements with appropriate coordination.
A clinician may use tasks involving tongue elevation, lateral movement or other controlled movements.
For example, an activity may help identify whether the patient moves the jaw unnecessarily when attempting to move the tongue.
Treatment may then address that particular coordination pattern if it is relevant to the patient’s functional goals.
Why it matters: Tongue movement and coordination contribute to activities such as food management, swallowing and speech production.
Important limitation: Being able to move the tongue in a particular direction during an isolated task does not prove that the patient can chew, swallow or produce speech sounds correctly.
Functional skills must be assessed and practiced directly when indicated.
3. Lip Function and Comfortable Closure Activities
What they target: Selected aspects of lip movement, coordination and resting posture.
Some patients demonstrate difficulty maintaining relaxed lip closure.
When a qualified evaluation identifies a functional concern—and comfortable nasal breathing has been established—a clinician may use activities intended to support appropriate lip function.
Why it matters: The lips participate in oral resting posture, speech, eating and swallowing.
Important limitation: Persistent mouth-open posture may result from nasal congestion, enlarged adenoids, structural obstruction or other medical conditions.
Lip exercises cannot correct a blocked nasal airway.
The goal is comfortable function, not forcing the lips together.
4. Tongue and Jaw Coordination Activities
What they target: Coordination between the tongue and jaw during selected oral movements.
Some patients move the jaw excessively when trying to perform a tongue task. Others may demonstrate compensatory lip or facial movements.
A clinician may use carefully selected activities to improve control and reduce unnecessary compensation when the pattern is clinically relevant.
Why it matters: Efficient oral function requires different structures to work together appropriately.
Important limitation: Jaw pain, locking, painful clicking or restricted opening may require dental or medical evaluation.
Exercises should not be used to push through pain or attempt to treat an undiagnosed temporomandibular disorder.
5. Functional Swallowing-Pattern Practice
What it targets: A clinically identified swallowing pattern that is appropriate for intervention.
Some patients demonstrate a persistent tongue thrust or another atypical oral swallowing pattern.
An appropriately trained SLP may use structured practice to help the patient learn a different functional movement pattern.
Treatment may involve attention to tongue, lip and jaw coordination during relevant swallowing activities.
Why it matters: Swallowing is an everyday function, and treatment should ultimately support appropriate performance during real activities.
Important limitation: Swallowing exercises should not be selected solely from an online demonstration.
Patients with coughing, choking, food sticking, painful swallowing or other symptoms of dysphagia need appropriate clinical assessment.
An exercise intended for a particular oral swallowing pattern may be unsuitable for someone with a different swallowing disorder.
Can You Do Myofunctional Therapy Exercises at Home?
Home practice may be an important part of an individualized treatment program.
However, there is a difference between practicing an activity prescribed by a qualified clinician and attempting to diagnose and treat yourself using a generic online routine.
A professionally designed home program should identify:
- The specific functional goal
- The activity selected to address that goal
- How to perform it correctly
- Which compensatory movements to avoid
- How often to practice
- When to stop or contact the clinician
- How progress will be assessed
Those details should reflect the patient’s age, medical history, abilities and clinical findings.
For example, an exercise that is appropriate for an adult with a specific tongue-coordination difficulty may not be appropriate for a young child or a patient with swallowing impairment.
More repetitions do not necessarily mean better treatment.
What Can Myofunctional Therapy Exercises Actually Improve?
For selected patients with orofacial myofunctional disorders, individualized therapy may help improve particular oral resting-posture or movement patterns.
Potential treatment targets include:
Oral resting posture
Some patients may benefit from learning and consistently using a more appropriate tongue, lip or jaw resting pattern.
Tongue thrust swallowing
Selected patients may benefit from treatment targeting a clinically significant atypical oral swallowing pattern.
Oral movement coordination
Therapy may address identified coordination difficulties relevant to functional activities.
Carryover into everyday routines
A major part of treatment is determining whether a patient can apply an appropriate skill outside a structured therapy session.
This may involve daily resting posture, swallowing or another specifically identified functional activity.
Treatment effectiveness should be judged by meaningful functional outcomes, not merely by whether the patient can perform a set of exercises.
What Myofunctional Exercises Cannot Reliably Fix
Online discussions sometimes present myofunctional therapy as a solution to nearly every problem involving the mouth, jaw or airway.
That is not supported by the available evidence.
Myofunctional exercises cannot remove nasal obstruction
Exercises cannot straighten a deviated septum, remove nasal polyps or resolve enlarged adenoids.
Medical evaluation and treatment may be necessary.
Exercises are not a cure for sleep apnea
Research has investigated oropharyngeal exercises as an adjunctive intervention for selected patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
However, exercises are not a substitute for diagnosis, CPAP or other established medical treatment.
Exercises cannot guarantee orthodontic changes
Myofunctional therapy is not a proven replacement for braces, palatal expansion or other orthodontic treatment.
Functional therapy may be coordinated with dental care when appropriate, but it cannot guarantee changes in tooth alignment or facial growth.
Exercises do not automatically correct a lisp
A lisp is a speech sound production problem that requires appropriate speech assessment.
Some patients have both a lisp and an OMD, but changing tongue resting posture or swallowing alone does not guarantee accurate speech production.
Direct articulation treatment may be necessary.
Exercises do not treat every jaw problem
Jaw pain can arise from temporomandibular disorders, dental conditions, muscle-related pain or other medical causes.
Myofunctional exercises are not a universal treatment for these conditions.
Exercises cannot replace a feeding or swallowing evaluation
A child who pockets food, coughs while eating or has difficulty managing textures may need a comprehensive pediatric feeding and swallowing evaluation.
Generic tongue exercises do not establish swallowing safety.
Why Isn’t There One Exercise Routine for Everyone?
Two patients may have the same visible symptom but need very different care.
Consider three examples.
Patient A: A child rests with their mouth open because of persistent nasal obstruction. The appropriate next step may be medical airway evaluation rather than lip-closure exercises.
Patient B: An adult has a clinically significant tongue thrust swallowing pattern but no speech sound difficulty. Treatment may focus on swallowing function rather than articulation.
Patient C: A child has a persistent interdental lisp but no clinically significant OMD. Direct speech sound treatment may be appropriate without a separate myofunctional program.
The symptom alone does not determine the intervention.
A comprehensive evaluation identifies the actual problem, its functional impact and the most appropriate treatment.
How Does BreatheWorks Decide Which Exercises Are Appropriate?
At BreatheWorks, our clinical approach is not to begin with a standard list of tongue exercises.
It begins with understanding the patient.
An SLP with specialized orofacial myofunctional training considers the patient’s history, relevant functional patterns and any medical or dental concerns before developing recommendations.
First, we listen to the patient’s experience
The clinician begins with questions such as:
- What concern brought you or your child to therapy?
- When did it begin?
- Has it changed over time?
- Does it affect speech, chewing, swallowing or daily comfort?
- Is there a history of mouth breathing, nasal congestion or snoring?
- Have dental or orthodontic concerns been identified?
- Have you tried exercises or previous therapy?
- Which activities were helpful or difficult?
- What would meaningful improvement look like?
The answers help determine what needs to be investigated.
For children, caregiver observations and developmental history are particularly important.
Next, we evaluate relevant structures and functions
Depending on the patient’s presentation, the clinician may assess:
Oral resting posture: How the tongue, lips and jaw are naturally positioned.
Tongue movement: Whether relevant movements can be performed and how the jaw and lips participate.
Lip function: Whether comfortable closure and appropriate movement are possible.
Jaw coordination: Whether compensatory movement patterns occur during selected tasks.
Swallowing: Whether a clinically significant oral swallowing pattern is present.
Speech production: Whether a speech sound disorder requires direct assessment and treatment.
Feeding and chewing: Whether additional functional evaluation is needed.
Not every patient needs every assessment.
The clinician selects procedures according to the patient’s symptoms and the questions that need answering.
We consider medical, dental and airway factors
If a patient has persistent nasal obstruction, significant snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, jaw pain or other concerning symptoms, additional evaluation may be appropriate.
An SLP cannot diagnose every medical or dental condition that may influence oral function.
Depending on the findings, care may involve an ENT, pediatrician, sleep specialist, dentist, orthodontist or another qualified professional.
Sometimes these issues need attention before functional exercises can be introduced.
We assess how the patient responds to appropriate instruction
When clinically indicated, a clinician may use selected movement or functional tasks to determine whether the patient can modify a pattern with cues.
For example, can a patient reduce an unnecessary jaw movement during a relevant tongue task?
Can a patient produce a more appropriate speech sound with direct instruction?
Does a functional swallowing pattern change with an appropriate therapeutic cue?
These observations can help identify useful treatment approaches.
They do not replace diagnosis or prove that every response will carry over into daily life.
We develop an individualized plan
If therapy is appropriate, the clinician identifies specific goals and selects activities that address them.
A plan may include supervised practice, individualized home activities, caregiver coaching and periodic reassessment.
The clinician also considers whether the patient can perform the activity accurately and apply the skill during everyday routines.
Progress should be monitored through meaningful functional changes.
The question is not “Which exercises should everyone do?” It is “Which intervention, if any, addresses this patient’s identified functional difficulty?”
How Often Should You Do Myofunctional Therapy Exercises?
There is no single evidence-based schedule that applies to every patient or every exercise.
Practice frequency depends on the treatment target, the patient’s abilities, the type of activity and the clinician’s plan.
Some programs involve short, regular practice opportunities, but the appropriate dosage must be individualized.
For children, practice also needs to account for attention, motivation, developmental readiness and family routines.
Avoid assuming that a longer or more intensive exercise session will produce faster results.
How Long Does Myofunctional Therapy Take to Work?
Treatment timelines vary.
Relevant factors include:
- The functional difficulty being addressed
- Age and developmental readiness
- Medical and anatomical considerations
- Consistency and quality of practice
- Whether additional speech, feeding or dental treatment is needed
- The patient’s ability to apply new skills in daily life
Some patients may make progress on particular tasks relatively quickly but need additional time to use those skills consistently.
Others may require a different treatment approach after reassessment.
A responsible treatment plan includes goals and a way to determine whether progress is occurring.
Are Myofunctional Exercises Safe for Children?
Appropriately selected activities can be part of treatment for children with clinically significant OMDs.
However, exercises should be developmentally appropriate and based on a qualified assessment.
Children should not be encouraged to force tongue movements, clench their jaws, restrict breathing or practice swallowing techniques that are not appropriate for their needs.
Persistent mouth breathing, feeding difficulties, swallowing symptoms and significant speech concerns deserve individualized evaluation.
Parents should also be cautious about online programs that promise to reshape a child’s face, eliminate orthodontic treatment or cure sleep apnea.
How Is Myofunctional Therapy Different From Speech Therapy?
Speech therapy for a speech sound disorder focuses on accurate sound production and communication.
Myofunctional therapy addresses selected oral resting-posture and functional movement patterns.
The approaches may overlap for patients who have both types of concerns.
An SLP with specialized OMD training can evaluate whether direct speech treatment, myofunctional intervention or both are appropriate.
However, nonspeech oral exercises are not an evidence-based substitute for direct treatment of speech sound errors.
The treatment must match the diagnosis and functional goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best myofunctional therapy exercises for beginners?
There is no universally best routine. Appropriate activities depend on whether the patient has a clinically significant resting-posture, swallowing, movement-coordination or other functional concern.
Can I start tongue posture exercises without an evaluation?
You can observe your natural tongue posture, but persistent concerns should be evaluated before beginning a structured corrective program. This is particularly important if you have nasal obstruction, jaw pain or swallowing difficulties.
Do myofunctional exercises strengthen the tongue?
Some therapeutic activities may target specific movement or strength-related goals when clinically indicated. However, many OMD interventions focus on coordination, resting patterns and functional behaviors rather than generalized strengthening.
Can myofunctional exercises fix mouth breathing?
They cannot correct structural nasal obstruction. Selected patients with confirmed functional oral-posture concerns may benefit from individualized therapy after appropriate medical factors have been considered.
Do tongue exercises help with a lisp?
A lisp typically requires direct speech sound assessment and, when indicated, articulation treatment. Tongue exercises alone are not a reliable substitute.
Can myofunctional therapy cure snoring or sleep apnea?
No. Oropharyngeal exercises have been studied as adjunctive treatment in selected patients, but they do not replace medical diagnosis or established sleep-apnea treatment.
Should my tongue always be pressed against the roof of my mouth?
No. Typical resting posture varies with anatomy and development. It should be comfortable and should not involve forceful pressure, jaw clenching or impaired breathing.
Are myofunctional therapy exercises appropriate for toddlers?
Structured therapy depends on the child’s developmental abilities, functional findings and readiness to participate. Young children with feeding, swallowing or airway concerns may need other types of assessment or intervention.
Can I use an online myofunctional therapy program instead of seeing a clinician?
An online program may provide general education, but it cannot reliably determine the cause of an individual’s symptoms or whether particular exercises are appropriate.
The Right Exercise Begins With the Right Evaluation
Myofunctional therapy is not about collecting as many tongue exercises as possible.
It is about identifying a meaningful functional problem and selecting an appropriate way to address it.
At BreatheWorks, we begin by listening to the patient’s concerns, evaluating relevant oral functions, considering medical and dental factors, and developing individualized recommendations.
Sometimes that leads to myofunctional therapy. Sometimes it leads to speech treatment, feeding or swallowing assessment, medical referral or another form of care.
If you or your child has persistent concerns involving tongue posture, tongue thrust, mouth breathing or related oral functions, contact BreatheWorks to discuss whether a comprehensive evaluation would be appropriate.
This article is intended for general education and does not provide an individualized exercise prescription or replace medical assessment, diagnosis or treatment.
