Myo Matters

09/03/2025

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08/28/2025

Here are 5 daily myofunctional habits that can support your child’s overall health:

1. Nasal Breathing All Day & Night
Encourage your child to keep their lips closed and breathe through their nose. Nasal breathing filters, humidifies, and warms the air, supports facial development, and improves sleep quality.

2. Lips Together, Teeth Apart (Resting Posture)
Teach your child to rest with their lips gently closed, teeth slightly apart, and tongue on the
roof of the mouth. This posture promotes proper jaw growth and prevents strain on facial muscles. If you need help - myofunctional therapy can help!

3. Tongue on the Roof of the Mouth
The tongue should rest fully against the palate, not low in the mouth. This supports proper
palate development, improves airway space, and encourages optimal swallowing patterns. If this is difficult for your child, you need to uncover why!

4. Chewing Whole Foods
Encourage chewing a variety of firm foods (fruits, vegetables, meats). Proper chewing strengthens jaw muscles, supports digestion, and helps develop correct swallowing patterns.

5. Swallowing Correctly
Guide them to swallow without thrusting the tongue forward or using their lips excessively.
A correct swallow keeps teeth aligned and supports healthy oral function.

By nurturing these simple daily habits, you
’re helping your child build the foundation for
lifelong oral health, proper growth, and overall well-being. ✨

08/25/2025

Myofunctional Therapist-Approved Tools for Babies: Supporting Oral Development

As myofunctional therapists, we know that the right tools in early feeding and drinking can make a big difference in supporting proper oral motor development, jaw growth and optimal face, jaw and airway development.

Here are a few of our favorite recommendations for parents:

1. Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair
Promotes stable, upright positioning with feet supported – essential for safe swallowing
and optimal oral motor function.

2. Upseat Ergonomic Chair
Supports proper pelvic alignment and encourages active sitting, helping babies develop
core strength necessary for feeding.

3. ezpz Tiny Cup
Perfectly sized for little hands, this open cup encourages lip seal, tongue elevation, and
independent drinking skills.

4. Mushie Silicone Training Cup
Another great option for practicing open-cup drinking with soft, baby-friendly silicone
material.

5. Weesprout Baby-Led Weaning Set
Encourages self-feeding with safe, easy-to-grip utensils and bowls that support fine motor
skills.

6. Legendairy Milk Honey Bear Straw Cup
A fun, transition-friendly straw cup that promotes a mature swallow pattern and oral-
motor development.

The right products can help set your little one up for success— building strong oral foundations early on!

CLICK ON THE LINK IN OUR BIO TO HEAD STRAIGHT TO OUR AMAZON STORE!

08/19/2025

Some kids prefer softer foods—not just because of taste, but because chewing can actually be challenging.

Difficulty with harder textures may point to reduced oral muscle strength, swallowing dysfunction, or even a tongue-tie restriction.

When we only address the structural issues—like releasing a tongue-tie—without improving function, true progress can be limited. Myofunctional therapy works hand in hand with structural treatments to strengthen orofacial muscles, improve chewing and swallowing, and support balanced facial growth.

Learn more at www.breatheinstitute.com

08/17/2025

We’re so excited to introduce the new Myofunctional Therapist onboard for MyoMatters!

“My name is Lana Wegner and I studied at Hawkeye for Dental Hygiene and have been
practicing for 13 years. I got certified in Myofunctional therapy through the Sarah
Hornsby program a little over a year ago. I have really enjoyed seeing patients and seeing
improvements with their breathing, sleeping, and overall proper function of their tongue.
I got interested in Myofunctional Therapy from a peer hygienist that was practicing and
discussing the signs and benefits that I was seeing in my own children! In my free time I enjoy my kids activities, garden/outdoors, and am an avid runner! I am excited to be on this journey and helping others!”

08/14/2025

We can’t wait! Don’t miss this opportunity to launch your brand new self love and care program via Faceyoga! Head to the link in bio to register for the upcoming webinar on August 20th. 🙌🏽

08/12/2025

Online myofunctional therapy offers a convenient way to support your child’s oral function and development. With tailored exercises and one-on-one guidance, we make it simple for families, no matter where you live! 🌎

08/08/2025

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Did you know that by age 5, a child’s facial structure is already 85% of its adult size?

This isn’t just an interesting fact — it’s a wake-up call. Craniofacial growth is happening rapidly in the early years, and if it’s going in the wrong direction, waiting to address it can mean missing the window for optimal development.

Many kids show signs of dysfunctional growth patterns early on — mouth breathing, poor sleep, snoring, dark under eyes, crowded teeth — but these red flags are too often dismissed as “normal.”

The truth is: they’re not normal — they’re common. And left unaddressed, they can affect airway health, sleep quality, behavior, and even cognitive development.

That’s why tools like the Fairest-6 — a simple screening tool to catch these signs early, when intervention is most effective and least invasive.

If you’re noticing these signs, don’t wait to ask questions. Depending on the child’s age and symptoms, support may come from:
• An airway-focused pediatric dentist
• A ENT
• A myofunctional therapist
• Or a speech-language pathologist (SLP) trained in oral motor skills and feeding

Early, collaborative care can make all the difference.

Learn more at www.thebreatheinstitute.com



Albert, A. M., Ricanek, K., Patterson, E., & Cuervo, L. J. (2019). Craniofacial changes in children—Birth to late adolescence. ARC Journal of Forensic Science, 4(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.20431/2456-0049.0401001

08/05/2025

Discover how faceyoga can naturally lift, tone and relax your facial muscles to enhance your appearance - no needles, no downtime.

This course combines ancient techniques with modern science to help you:
• Strengthen and tone facial muscles
• Support lymphatic drainage and reduce puffiness
• Improve posture, breathing, and facial symmetry
• Boost confidence and reconnect with your body

Whether you’re looking to soften lines, define contours, or simply feel more vibrant—
this course is for you.
💻 Online and easy to follow
🧘♀ Guided by Paula from MyoMatters who is a certified Faceyoga instructor
🌿 Backed by myofunctional therapy principles

Glow from the inside out—naturally. Enrol now and feel the difference!

Register using the link in our bio!

08/02/2025

Let’s talk about how myofunctional therapy can support better sleep — naturally.

Many people with sleep apnea are prescribed a CPAP machine to keep their airway open overnight. While CPAP can be life-changing, it’
s not always comfortable..

But here’s the good news:
Myofunctional therapy — a series of targeted exercises that retrain the tongue, lips, and
facial muscles — has been shown to improve airway function, tone the muscles of the throat, and even reduce sleep apnea symptoms.

In fact, studies show that myofunctional therapy can:

✅ Improve nasal breathing
✅ Increase muscle tone in the upper airway
✅ Reduce airway collapse during sleep
✅ Less claustrophobic feeling
✅ Less air swallowing
✅ Able to reduce CPAP pressure

This supports better breathing, deeper rest, and a more comfortable experience using CPAP.

07/30/2025

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