Myofunctional Therapy, Tongue Ties & Why Airway Health Matters at Every AgE

If you’ve ever been told you snore, if you grind your teeth, wake up exhausted or breathe through your mouth — this post is for you.

Airway health is one of the most overlooked foundations of overall wellness. And two of the biggest pieces of that puzzle? Tongue ties and myofunctional therapy.

This is why I’m so excited about the new podcast episode I just released on this topic — and why I’m especially invested right now: my husband, Ryan, has officially started his myofunctional therapy and tongue tie release process. We’re sharing the journey in real time, and I cannot wait for you to follow along.

What Is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy is a specialized form of therapy that retrains the muscles of the mouth, tongue, and face to function properly.

It focuses on:

• Proper tongue posture (resting at the roof of the mouth)

• Nasal breathing instead of mouth breathing

• Correct swallowing patterns

• Lip seal and jaw stability

Think of it as physical therapy for your mouth and airway.

When these muscles aren’t working properly (because of a tongue tie, blocked airway, narrow palate, underdeveloped jaw) the entire airway can be compromised.

What Is a Tongue Tie?

A tongue tie (ankyloglossia) happens when the tissue under the tongue (the frenulum) is too tight, thick, or restrictive. This limits proper tongue movement.

While many people think tongue ties only affect babies and breastfeeding, that’s simply not true.

They can impact anyone!

And the consequences often show up in ways people don’t connect back to the tongue.

The Connection Between Tongue Ties & Airway Health

Your tongue should naturally rest on the roof of your mouth. When it does, it helps:

• Support proper jaw development

• Maintain an open airway

• Encourage nasal breathing

When the tongue is restricted:

• It rests low in the mouth

• The airway can narrow

• Mouth breathing becomes common

• Sleep quality declines

Over time, this can affect facial development in children and contribute to chronic symptoms in adults.

⚠️ Symptoms of a Restricted Airway

These symptoms often go overlooked or are treated in isolation:

👇 In Babies & Children:

• Difficulty breastfeeding

• Clicking while nursing

• Colic or reflux

• Mouth breathing

• Snoring

• Dark under-eye circles

• ADHD-like symptoms

• Bedwetting

• Crowded teeth

👇 In Teens & Adults:

• Chronic mouth breathing

• Snoring

• Sleep apnea, or poor sleep in general

• Teeth grinding (bruxism)

• TMJ pain

• Headaches

• Forward head posture

• Chronic fatigue

• Anxiety or brain fog

• Hormone issues (especially cortisol)

• Plantar fasciitis (heel and foot pain) - specifically connected to a tongue tie

• Tension in the neck and shoulders, poor range of motion

So many people are chasing solutions for fatigue, anxiety, and poor sleep — without ever evaluating their airway. This is your sign to change that!

Going over scan results so we can see what aspects of Ryan's airway are affected.

Starting to learn his myofunctional therapy exercises.

Why Myofunctional Therapy Matters (Even Before a Release)

One important thing to understand:

A tongue tie release alone is often not enough. For anyone but babies.

If the tongue has been restricted for years, the muscles have adapted to compensation patterns. Simply cutting the restriction without retraining the muscles can lead to poor outcomes or reattachment.

That’s where myofunctional therapy comes in.

It:

• Prepares the muscles before a release

• Strengthens proper tongue function

• Improves nasal breathing

• Enhances surgical outcomes

• Reduces the risk of reattachment

• Supports long-term airway health

When the airway improves, the ripple effects can be incredible.

And for children, it can change the entire trajectory of development.

This is not cosmetic. This is foundational.

Ryan’s Journey (And Why We’re Sharing It)

My husband, Ryan, has officially started his myofunctional therapy and tongue tie release process — and it has already been eye-opening.

Like so many adults, he has had symptoms for years that we didn’t fully connect to airway restriction. He grinds his teeth, has started to snore, doesn't sleep well, has some hormone issues, has plantar fascitis and tension in his neck and shoulders.

Watching him begin this process has reinforced how common — and how overlooked — this issue really is.

We’re documenting what we learn, what surprises us, and how it impacts his sleep, energy, and overall health. Make sure you follow along on Instagram or Facebook to see how it goes!

Listen to the New Podcast Episode 🎙️

Want to learn more and hear from a myofunctional therapist?

Listen to the new episode here.

Connect to Roberts Integrative Dentistry for a virtual or in person consultation here.

The Missing Piece

As someone who is passionate about nutrition and root-cause wellness, I truly believe airway health is one of the missing pieces in so many health conversations.

Be sure to follow along as we share more about Ryan’s journey — and if you haven’t already, listen to the new podcast episode today.

Your airway matters. Your sleep matters. Your health matters.

Wishing you abundant health, Melisha

*This is not medical advice. This is for. informational purposes only. Consult with your preferred practitioners for advice.