Frequently Asked Questions

  • Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is a specialised program that focuses on improving the function of the muscles of the face, tongue, lips, and airway. Through a series of exercises and habit retraining, OMT helps establish healthy breathing, swallowing, chewing, speaking, and resting oral posture patterns.

  • OMT can benefit both children and adults who experience:

    • Mouth breathing

    • Tongue thrust

    • Speech concerns

    • Poor tongue posture

    • Open mouth posture

    • Sleep-disordered breathing

    • Snoring

    • Orthodontic concerns

    • Relapse following orthodontic treatment

    • Difficulty chewing or swallowing

    • Thumb sucking or dummy habits

  • Some common signs include:

    • Mouth breathing during the day or night

    • Snoring

    • Restless sleep

    • Frequent dribbling

    • Difficulty with speech sounds

    • Open mouth posture

    • Crowded teeth

    • Dark circles under the eyes

    • Tongue thrusting

    • Difficulty keeping lips together at rest

    • If you are unsure, we recommend booking an assessment.

  • No. OMT and orthodontics work best together. While orthodontics can move teeth, OMT addresses the muscle function and habits that may have contributed to the problem in the first place. Combining both approaches often provides more stable long-term results.

  • In some cases, yes. Certain speech difficulties can be influenced by tongue posture, tongue thrust, or oral muscle function. We often work collaboratively with speech pathologists to achieve the best outcomes.

  • Many patients present with mouth breathing, snoring, poor sleep quality, or other airway-related concerns. OMT aims to support healthy nasal breathing and oral function. Where appropriate, we may recommend collaboration with an ENT, sleep physician, dentist, orthodontist, or other healthcare professional.

  • You can book an appointment by contacting our clinic via phone, email, or our online booking system. Our team will help determine the most appropriate appointment type for you or your child.

  • No referral is required. You can book an assessment directly with us. However, we frequently work alongside orthodontists, dentists, ENTs, speech pathologists, osteopaths, and other healthcare providers who may refer patients for therapy.

  • During your assessment we will:

    • Discuss your concerns and goals

    • Review relevant medical and dental history

    • Assess breathing patterns

    • Evaluate tongue function and oral posture

    • Assess swallowing patterns

    • Screen for airway-related concerns

    • Discuss whether OMT is appropriate and develop a personalised treatment plan

  • Every patient is different. Most therapy programs involve regular sessions over several months, depending on age, motivation, consistency with home exercises, and treatment goals.

    Successful outcomes rely heavily on completing prescribed exercises between appointments.

  • Absolutely. It is never too late to improve breathing, oral posture, swallowing patterns, and muscle function. Adults commonly seek OMT before or after orthodontic treatment, for airway concerns, or to address long-standing oral habits.

  • Home practice is an essential part of therapy. Patients are provided with exercises and activities to complete between sessions. Consistency is one of the biggest factors influencing success.

  • Assessment and therapy appointment lengths vary depending on the type of appointment and the patient's needs. Appointment details will be provided when booking.

  • Unfortunately private health insurers are yet to recognise Myofunctional therapy on their schedule. We are working on them though.

  • We work with both children and adults. The most appropriate age for therapy depends on the individual's needs, developmental stage, and ability to participate in exercises.

Airway & Sleep FAQs

  • Our bodies are designed to breathe through the nose. Nasal breathing helps filter, warm, and humidify the air before it reaches the lungs, supports healthy jaw and facial development, improves oxygen delivery, and promotes better quality sleep. Persistent mouth breathing can affect growth, oral health, sleep, and overall wellbeing.

  • No. While occasional snoring during a cold may be normal, regular snoring is not considered a normal part of healthy sleep in children. It can be a sign that your child is working harder to breathe during the night and may indicate an underlying airway concern that should be assessed. What are signs of poor-quality sleep in children? Some common signs include:

    • Snoring

    • Mouth breathing during sleep

    • Restless sleep

    • Frequent waking

    • Night sweats

    • Teeth grinding (bruxism)

    • Sleeping in unusual positions, such as with the head tilted back

    • Bedwetting beyond the expected age

    • Daytime fatigue

    • Difficulty concentrating

    • Behavioural concerns or hyperactivity

    • Dark circles under the eyes

    • If your child experiences several of these symptoms, an airway assessment may be beneficial.

  • Yes. Chronic mouth breathing during childhood can influence how the jaws, face, and dental arches develop. It may contribute to narrow arches, crowded teeth, altered facial growth, and poor tongue posture. Early identification and intervention can support healthier development.

  • No. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is not a cure for obstructive sleep apnoea. However, research suggests it may help improve muscle tone and oral function, making it a valuable part of treatment for some people when used alongside medical care. We work collaboratively with ENTs, sleep physicians, dentists, orthodontists, and other healthcare professionals when appropriate.

  • Not everyone requires a sleep study. If your child's symptoms or assessment suggest a possible sleep-disordered breathing condition, we may recommend discussing a sleep study with your GP or another appropriate medical specialist.

  • Airway and breathing concerns often involve more than one area of health. The best outcomes are usually achieved through a collaborative approach. Depending on your needs, we may recommend working alongside an ENT specialist, orthodontist, dentist, GP, sleep physician, speech pathologist, osteopath, or other healthcare provider.

  • Yes. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids can reduce the size of the airway, making nasal breathing more difficult. Children may compensate by breathing through their mouth, snoring, or experiencing disturbed sleep. If we suspect this may be contributing to your symptoms, we may recommend referral to an ENT specialist.

  • Possibly. Surgery may improve the size of the airway, but it does not automatically change established breathing patterns or oral habits. Many children continue to mouth breathe or maintain poor tongue posture after surgery. OMT helps retrain healthy breathing, tongue posture, swallowing, and oral muscle function.

  • An airway-focused assessment looks beyond the teeth. We assess breathing patterns, oral posture, tongue function, swallowing, sleep history, oral habits, and facial development to identify factors that may be affecting breathing, growth, and function. If needed, we will recommend appropriate referrals as part of your care plan.

  • Yes. Adults may seek treatment for mouth breathing, snoring, orthodontic stability, sleep concerns, jaw tension, or poor tongue posture. Therapy is tailored to each individual's needs and often forms part of a multidisciplinary treatment plan.

  • Not necessarily. Mouth breathing can have many causes, including allergies, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, nasal obstruction, habitual breathing patterns, or oral muscle dysfunction. A thorough assessment helps identify the likely contributing factors and determine the most appropriate management.

  • We are always happy to help. If you are unsure whether Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is right for you or your child, please contact us and we can discuss your concerns.