Myofunctional therapy to retrain breathing, tongue posture, and swallowing
The muscles of the face and mouth learn habits, good and bad. At Toothpillow Breathing & Sleep Center, Dr. Jeff Buxton and our therapy team use simple exercises and myofunctional trainers to help kids and adults build nasal breathing and healthy tongue posture that support every other step of airway care.
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Your tongue is working all day and all night
You swallow all day long, and your tongue rests somewhere every minute you are awake and asleep. Where it rests matters. A tongue that sits up on the palate supports the upper jaw and nasal breathing. A tongue that sits low, with the lips apart, tends to go along with mouth breathing.
Mouth breathing, a low tongue, and a narrow jaw often show up together, and each one can reinforce the others. Could your child's open-mouth habit, or your own restless sleep, be part of that loop? Myofunctional therapy is designed to help the muscles learn a healthier pattern.
- Nasal breathing, day and night
- Tongue resting on the roof of the mouth
- Lips closed comfortably at rest
- A healthier swallow pattern
Signs myofunctional therapy may be worth exploring
These are common reasons families and adults ask us about therapy. An evaluation helps sort out what is really going on.
Mouth breathing
Lips apart during the day, open-mouth sleep, or a dry mouth in the morning.
Low tongue posture
A tongue that rests on the floor of the mouth or pushes against the teeth instead of resting on the palate.
Snoring or restless sleep
Noisy breathing, tossing and turning, or waking up tired. Muscle habits are one piece of the sleep puzzle we look at.
Thumb sucking or pacifier habits
Long-running oral habits in kids that can shape how the tongue and jaw rest.
Swallowing and chewing patterns
A tongue thrust, messy eating, or a swallow that uses the lips and cheeks more than the tongue.
Before or after other treatment
Patients having a tongue-tie release, palate expansion, or aligners, where retraining the muscles may help support the result.
It all starts with an airway consultation
Before anyone talks treatment, we get the full picture. Your consultation with Dr. Buxton includes:
- A 3D CBCT scan of the airway, jaws, and joints
- A digital intraoral scan (no goopy molds)
- Photos and a hands-on exam of breathing, tongue, and bite
- A plain-language walkthrough of what we see and what your options are
Airway consultation: {$350 for kids and adults}
Therapy starts with the whole airway picture
Muscle habits are only one part of breathing and sleep. Before we build a therapy plan, Dr. Buxton looks at the full picture during an airway consultation: tongue and lip mobility, how you or your child swallows and breathes, and jaw growth.
That visit can include a 3D CBCT airway scan, a digital intraoral scan, and photos. For adults, we often add at-home sleep data. If a tight frenulum is holding the tongue back, or the palate is too narrow for the tongue to rest comfortably, therapy works best alongside a plan to address those too.
What myofunctional therapy looks like
Therapy is a series of short, simple routines you practice at home, guided by our team.
Evaluate and set goals
We look at breathing, tongue posture, lip seal, and swallowing, then agree on clear goals, like nasal breathing during the day or keeping the tongue up at rest.
Learn the exercises
Our team teaches a few targeted exercises for the tongue, lips, and breathing. Some patients also use a soft myofunctional trainer for extra guidance.
Practice at home
Short daily practice is the goal. Consistency matters more than intensity, and we keep routines kid-friendly.
Check in and progress
Regular visits let us track progress, adjust exercises, and move to the next level as new habits settle in.
Built to work with expansion and frenectomy
Therapy is rarely the whole plan here. It is the piece that helps the rest hold. When we create more room with palate expansion for kids or DOMEzero expansion for adults, a tongue that rests on the newly widened palate may help support that space. When we release a tie with a laser frenectomy, myofunctional therapy helps the tongue learn its new range.
That combination (structure plus function) is at the heart of how we care for airways at every age, from young kids starting growth guidance to adults working through a full airway protocol.
- Paired with every frenectomy we perform
- Designed to support expansion and aligner results
- Therapists, sleep techs, and Dr. Buxton working as one team
Hear it from Dr. Buxton
Short videos from Dr. Jeff Buxton. Educational only; every patient is different.
Stop scrolling. I got a quick question for you. Where is your tongue rested right now? If your tongue is sitting low and not up at the roof of your mouth, we may have a problem. Let me break this down for you. When the tongue is sitting low, it leads to open mouth posture.
It also restricts our airway, which makes it harder for us to breathe. And if it's harder for us to breathe, we're going to open our mouth and do more mouth breathing. The other negative effect is we are bypassing the filtration system and the air that we're breathing in is unfiltered and is full of toxins and other things, which are going to make us sick.
Let's contrast that with having the tongue up high and to the roof of the mouth like it should be. When the tongue is to the roof of the mouth, our airway is more open. We're able to get more oxygen in and breathe better. We're also going to be breathing through our nose. which allows us to filter the air as it comes in, which leads to a healthier airway and a healthier you. So let's get that tongue up to the roof of our mouth.
Watch: why tongue posture and breathing matter
Videos from the Toothpillow patient education series. Educational only; every child is different.
Videos are from the Toothpillow brand library.
What patients and families say
Real Google reviews from our Draper office, Dr. Buxton's patients, and Toothpillow families. Individual experiences; every airway is different.
"You will love working with the practioner and staff. They are knowledgeable and friendly. It has been a great experience every appointment. It’s a nice plus that the office is also a beautiful place."
"Dr. Buxton really cares about his patients. I couldn't be happier with the results! ... Not to mention the new office and decor are absolutely stunning. Everyone in the office is so friendly!"
"Great staff. Nice office. Quite relazing visits."
Frequently asked questions
What is myofunctional therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is a program of exercises for the tongue, lips, face, and breathing. The goal is to help build healthy habits like nasal breathing, a closed-lip rest posture, a tongue that rests on the roof of the mouth, and a healthy swallow.
Is myofunctional therapy for kids or adults?
Both. We work with kids, teens, and adults. The exercises and trainers are adjusted to age, and parents help younger kids practice at home.
How long does myofunctional therapy take?
It depends on the goals and on how consistently the exercises are practiced. We will give you a realistic outline after your evaluation.
Can myofunctional therapy help with snoring or sleep?
Muscle habits are one factor in how we breathe during sleep, and therapy may help support nasal breathing and tongue posture. For snoring or possible sleep apnea, we look at the whole airway, including jaw structure and sleep testing, since therapy alone may not be enough.
What are myofunctional trainers?
They are soft, flexible mouthpieces that help guide the tongue and lips toward healthier positions. Dr. Buxton will explain how and when to wear one if it's part of your plan.
Where can I find myofunctional therapy near me in Utah?
Our office in Draper offers myofunctional therapy as part of airway care for families and adults from Salt Lake City, Sandy, South Jordan, and across the Salt Lake valley. Start with an airway consultation so we can see the full picture.
Treatments that often go together
Tongue Tie & Frenectomy
A precise laser tongue-tie release for kids age 3 and up, teens, and adults, always paired with myofunctional therapy so the tongue learns its new range.
Learn more →
Palate Expanders
Removable and fixed expanders, including RPE and Hyrax, that widen a narrow upper jaw to make room for teeth and easier nasal breathing.
Learn more →
DOMEzero Expansion
Adult palate expansion paired with clear aligners from day one, designed to widen the upper jaw without the big front-tooth gap.
Learn more →Schedule your airway consultation
Book online or call. Consultations for kids, teens, and adults at our Draper office.
14203 Minuteman Drive #101
Draper, UT 84020
Just off I-15, minutes from IKEA
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM
"Great place! They are doing it differently. Well done!"
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