Research in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
At Function & Flourish Therapy, our approach is grounded in clinical experience and decades of evidence-based research. This page features a curated collection of research articles, clinical studies, and professional literature that support the role of myofunctional therapy in functional, airway-centered care that affects overall wellness.
The Importance of Nasal Breathing
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: https://link.springer.com/article/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/
Lingual and Maxillary Labial Frenuloplasty with Myofunctional Therapy as a Treatment for Mouth Breathing and Snoring: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2019/3408053
The Importance of Proper Tongue Position
Correlation Between Tongue Posture and Malocclusion / Dental Arch Dimensions: https://www.cureus.com/articles/350465-correlation-between-tongue-morphology-and-dental-arch-dimensions-in-skeletal-class-i-and-class-ii-malocclusions-a-cephalometric-study.pdf
Effect of Maxillary Expansion Combined with Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37551573/
Effect of Myofunctional Therapy on Tongue Strength/Placement in Patients with Tongue Thrust: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33113529/
Pilot Clinical Trial: OMT vs Non-OMT in Children with Anterior Open Bite: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26136435/
The Importance of Treating Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children
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 and Atypical Swallow Pattern (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
Myofunctional Therapy and Bed Wetting
Effect of breathing re-education and bedwetting: PDF
Myofunctional Therapy and Frenectomies (Tongue Tie Releases)
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 2025 study demonstrating the effects of myofunctional therapy coupled with a tongue tie release: https://www.mdpi.com/2694-2526/51/2/11
Zaghi S, Shamtoob S, Peterson C, et al. Assessment of posterior tongue mobility using lingual-palatal suction: Progress towards a functional definition of ankyloglossia: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joor.13144
Lingual and Maxillary Labial Frenuloplasty with Myofunctional Therapy as a Treatment for Mouth Breathing and Snoring: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2019/3408053
Short Lingual Frenulum and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children: https://joymoeller.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Short-Frenulum-Pediatric-OSA-Myofunctional-Therapy-JPR-4.2015-1.pdf
Multidisciplinary management of ankyloglossia in childhood: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4765751/
Functional Improvements of Speech, Feeding, and Sleep After Lingual Frenectomy Tongue-Tie Release: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0009922820928055
Lingual frenuloplasty with myofunctional therapy: Exploring safety and efficacy in 348 cases: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/lio2.297
Lingual and Maxillary Labial Frenuloplasty with Myofunctional Therapy as a Treatment for Mouth Breathing and Snoring: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2019/3408053
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
Tongue posture and breathing affects facial growth and sleep apnea (By: Christian Guilleminault): https://www.sleep.theclinics.com/article/S1556-407X(18)30098-5/abstract
Short Lingual Frenulum and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children: https://joymoeller.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Short-Frenulum-Pediatric-OSA-Myofunctional-Therapy-JPR-4.2015-1.pdf
Effects of Oropharyngeal Exercises on Patients with Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.200806-981OC
Myofunctional Therapy to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article-abstract/38/5/669/2416863
Apraxia in children and adults with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article-abstract/42/12/zsz168/5580770
Towards Restoration of Continuous Nasal Breathing as the Ultimate Treatment Goal in Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea: https://joymoeller.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Guilleminault-OMT-Oral-Breathing-2014-pediatrics-neonatal-biology-001-1.pdf
Myofunctional Therapy and TMJ Pain, Clenching and 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: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/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/
Myofunctional Therapy and Its Role in Orthodontic Outcomes
Study showing the importance of myofunctional therapy in combination with orthodontics when treating ‘anterior open bite: https://www.ajodo.org/article/S0889-5406(09)01331-6/abstract
A study showing the connection of tongue tie to a narrow roof of the mouth: PDF