Helping Little Mouths Breathe, Sleep, Chew and Thrive
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT)
We support children with breathing, tongue posture, feeding, sleep, oral habits and speech concerns through fun, family-focused therapy tailored to your child’s unique needs.
What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT)?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a personalised treatment approach that helps retrain and strengthen the muscles of the lips, tongue, cheeks and face. By promoting healthy oral posture both at rest and during everyday activities, OMT supports effective breathing, chewing, swallowing, speech, and overall growth and development.
Facial Structures and Oral Development
A child’s facial growth and oral development are influenced by how the muscles, jaws, tongue, airway and teeth work together over time.
Correct Tongue Posture
The tongue plays an important role in shaping the palate and supporting healthy breathing. Low tongue posture or tongue thrust patterns may impact facial growth and oral function.
Jaw & Teeth Development
Jaw growth can be influenced by breathing patterns, oral habits and muscle function. Some children may develop crowded teeth or bites that do not line up properly as they grow.
Oral Habits
Prolonged dummy use or thumb sucking can influence how the jaws, teeth, and mouth muscles develop as a child grows.
Airway & Breathing
Healthy nasal breathing supports sleep, concentration, facial development and overall wellbeing. Mouth breathing can place extra strain on growing muscles and structures.
Chewing & Swallowing Patterns
Difficulties with chewing or an immature swallowing pattern, such as tongue thrust, can affect speech, feeding, bite development and how the muscles of the mouth work together.
Would my Child Benefit From OMT?
If your child experiences any of the following symptoms, they may benefit from an OMT assessment.
Snoring or breathing through the mouth during the day and/or at night
Difficulties managing different food textures and/or a preference for chewing on one side
Restless sleep (waking frequently through the night)
Crowded teeth or a bite that is misaligned
Imprecise speech sounds- lisps, difficulties with producing the ‘l’ and ‘r’ sounds, slushy quality to speech
Enlarged tonsils
Frequently sick with colds/flus, ear infections or sounds congested even when well
Daytime fatigue despite adequate amount of sleep
Oral habits such as thumb sucking, prolonged dummy use and nail biting
Jaw pain or discomfort when talking or eating