Part 1: For Patients and Families

Many people use a CPAP machine to help them breathe better at night. While it can relieve symptoms of sleep apnea, it doesn’t fix the problem — it only manages it.

Myofunctional Therapy takes a different approach. This therapy retrains the muscles of the mouth, tongue, and face to work the way nature intended. The goal is to restore proper breathing, tongue posture, and muscle coordination so your airway can stay open naturally — even while you sleep.

Sometimes the real issue isn’t just snoring or restless nights. It’s the way your airway is shaped or how the muscles around it function. Problems may include:

• A narrow or underdeveloped airway
• Collapsed or constricted pharyngeal arches
• A low or restricted tongue posture
• Poor oral rest habits like mouth breathing or tongue thrusting

When these issues are corrected through Myofunctional Therapy, patients often breathe, sleep, and even focus better — all without relying on machines.

Part 2: For Professionals — The Structural Connection

From a clinical perspective, CPAP therapy is an effective management tool for obstructive sleep apnea, but it does not address the etiology of airway compromise. Myofunctional Therapy, however, targets the neuromuscular and structural components that contribute to airway restriction.

Key contributing factors may include:

• Pharyngeal arch development: A constricted or asymmetrical pharyngeal arch can reduce airway space and alter airflow dynamics.
• Airway volume and tongue position: Low or posterior tongue posture can diminish oropharyngeal patency, influencing airway collapse during sleep.
• Craniofacial growth patterns: Oral breathing, restricted nasal airway, and improper oral rest posture influence maxillary and mandibular growth trajectories.
• Neuromuscular tone: Hypotonic or uncoordinated orofacial musculature fails to support airway stability, particularly during sleep.

Through targeted muscle re-education, nasal breathing promotion, and postural correction,
Myofunctional Therapy seeks to normalize function, expand airway space, and enhance craniofacial balance — treating the root cause of dysfunction rather than managing symptoms.

A Healthier Way to Breathe

Myofunctional Therapy works at the intersection of structure and function. By supporting healthy muscle tone, nasal breathing, and tongue placement, it can create lasting changes in the airway — helping individuals of all ages achieve deeper, quieter, more restorative sleep.