Your tongue, lips and facial muscles work together thousands of times a day as you breathe, swallow and speak. When those patterns are off, the effects can ripple out into your bite, jaw and sleep. Myofunctional therapy in Calgary offers a gentle, exercise-based way to retrain those muscles, and it is a key part of how Evolution Dental approaches whole-body dentistry.
What Is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is a program of targeted exercises for the muscles of the face, mouth and tongue. Think of it as physiotherapy for your mouth. The goals usually include:
- Resting the tongue on the roof of the mouth
- Breathing through the nose instead of the mouth
- Keeping lips together at rest
- Swallowing correctly without pushing the tongue forward
These may sound small, but they influence how the jaws grow in children and how the jaw joints and airway function in adults.
Signs You or Your Child Might Benefit
- Mouth breathing during the day or at night
- Snoring or restless sleep
- Lips that rest apart
- Tongue thrust or a lisp
- Crowded teeth or an open bite
- Jaw tension, clenching or TMJ symptoms
- Orthodontic relapse (teeth shifting after braces)
- Long-term thumb sucking or pacifier use
How Myofunctional Therapy in Calgary Works at Evolution Dental
- Assessment. We look at tongue posture, breathing, swallowing, lip seal and how these relate to your bite and airway.
- Personalized plan. You receive a short series of exercises tailored to your needs.
- Daily practice. Most exercises take just a few minutes a day. Consistency matters more than intensity.
- Regular check-ins. We track progress and adjust exercises over several weeks or months.
How It Works with Other Treatments
Myofunctional therapy often supports other care:
- Tongue-tie release. Exercises before and after a tongue-tie release help the tongue learn its new range of motion.
- Orthodontics. Correcting muscle habits can support stable results with full face orthodontics and may lower the risk of teeth drifting back.
- Sleep and airway. Encouraging nasal breathing is one part of a broader approach to snoring and sleep quality.
- TMJ care. Better tongue and jaw posture may ease muscle strain for some patients.
Every patient is different, and results depend on the cause and how consistently exercises are done. Myofunctional therapy is not a cure-all, but for the right person it can be a meaningful, non-invasive step.
Tips to Start Building Better Habits Today
- Notice where your tongue rests. Aim for the whole tongue gently against the roof of your mouth.
- Keep lips closed and breathe through your nose when you are relaxed.
- Check your posture at your desk. Forward head posture can pull the jaw and tongue out of position.
- If your nose often feels blocked, talk to your doctor, since nasal breathing depends on a clear airway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can do myofunctional therapy? Both children (usually from about age four) and adults can benefit.
How long does it take? Many programs run for a few months, with exercises done daily at home.
Is it painful? No. The exercises are gentle, though some muscles may feel tired at first.
Book a Myofunctional Therapy Assessment in Calgary
If mouth breathing, snoring or jaw tension sounds familiar, let us take a closer look. Call Evolution Dental at (403) 208-9965 or book online to visit our Crowfoot office.
