What Happens in Orofacial Myology Therapy? A Parent-Friendly Guide (Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs)
If your dentist, orthodontist or speech pathologist has recommended orofacial myology (myofunctional therapy), you may be wondering what actually happens in a session.
Good news:
- It’s fun
- It’s gentle
- Kids LOVE it
Here’s what therapy looks like.
1. A personalised program (not one-size-fits-all)
The therapist begins by assessing your child’s:
- tongue rest posture
- lip closure
- breathing habits
- swallowing pattern
- speech sounds
- oral habits
Then we create a step-by-step therapy plan based on your child’s needs.
2. Fun exercises to strengthen tongue, lips & cheeks
Examples of activities include:
- Tongue clicks
- Finding and holding the “spot” (the palate position behind top teeth)
- Tongue tip lifts
- Fish faces
- Puffing cheeks
- Blowing cotton balls or bubbles
- Straw strengthening activities
Kids think of it as a silly face game — but these exercises build real muscle coordination.
3. Correct swallowing training
One common exercise is the swallow hold:
- sip of water
- tongue placed on the correct spot
- swallow without pushing forward
We teach this step-by-step so it becomes natural and automatic.
4. Habit elimination coaching
If thumb sucking, dummy use or nail biting is involved, therapy includes:
- behaviour strategies
- replacement activities
- positive reinforcement
- fun reward charts
5. Daily home practice (2–5 minutes a day)
Consistency builds muscle memory.
Home practice ensures that posture changes last long-term.
6. What results can you expect?
Over time, children often learn to:
- keep lips closed at rest
- maintain proper tongue rest posture
- swallow without tongue thrust
- breathe through their nose
- reduce snoring/mouth breathing
- develop clearer speech
- improve dental alignment
- protect braces results
These changes impact speech clarity, facial development, breathing, and long-term dental health.
Serving Families Across Melbourne’s East
Our team supports children from:
- Blackburn
- Box Hill
- Doncaster
- Glen Waverley
- Nunawading
- Burwood
- Mitcham
We provide therapy in English, Cantonese (廣東話), and Mandarin (普通话) to ensure clear, confident communication for your family.Book an orofacial myology assessment
DM us “OM” for personalised advice