Functional Face

02/10/2026

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PjOOFFCMvw8&fbclid=IwRlRTSAP4ABdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeyYrJn-xfhv98-euMBqzUWf5WSjyAwKlQVUEHvAt1oyP9jAkBn6cBayqPt0s_aem_YTce7Cly966aAA1UvkpwCw

Dr. Stacy welcomes pediatric dentist and airway-focused clinician Dr. Rafif Tayara to the ASAP Pathway Podcast for a global conversation on early interceptiv...

12/16/2025

We get asked these questions almost daily —
“What is myofunctional therapy? "
"Who is for?"
"Is it actually evidence-based?”

The short answer is yes — but not in the way most people think.

It’s often likened to physical therapy for the muscles of the mouth and airway, and the research is strongest in areas like breathing, sleep, orthodontic stability, and surgical outcomes.

I just published a detailed, evidence-informed breakdown answers our most commonly asked questions about myofunctional therapy.

If this has ever been confusing or unclear, it’ll help.

⬇️ I’ll drop the link in the comments below ⬇️

12/08/2025

Our recent BabyFace™ graduate 💚

Baby C came to us struggling with feeding efficiency (taking 30mins to finish 1.5oz) , endurance, gagging/choking, and mouth-open breathing during sleep—and had fallen off her growth curve after initially losing over 10% of her birth weight

Through functional evaluation, comprehensive collaborative care and oral function rehabilitation, her feeds became efficient, lower stress for mom and she returned to—and surpassed her growth curve.

We’re so grateful to this family for trusting us with her care and for allowing us to share her journey with permission.

BabyFace™ was created to support infants early—before feeding, airway, and developmental challenges become long-term struggles. Early function matters.

12/03/2025

Dry winter air doesn’t just make your skin feel tight — it can literally change the way you breathe.
When the air inside your home drops to that typical winter 20–30% humidity, your nose has to work twice as hard to warm and humidify it… and it simply can’t keep up.

That’s when people start noticing:
• more nasal dryness
• more “mystery congestion”
• thicker mucus
• waking up with a dry mouth
• and a slow slide into mouth breathing overnight

And once mouth breathing starts, sleep quality drops fast. Oxygen drops faster. And symptoms like snoring, restless sleep, nighttime anxiety, waking headaches, and fatigue all get worse.

The good news? This is one of the easiest root causes to fix.

Small changes can make a massive difference:
• keep your home humidity between 40–50%
• run a humidifier in your bedroom at night
• mist your nose with saline before bed
• keep your nasal passages healthy, open, and hydrated

Your nose wants to help you breathe better — it just needs the right environment. 😌
Better nasal breathing → better sleep → better days.

If you want help improving your breathing and sleep naturally (even if CPAP hasn’t helped the way you hoped), send us a message! We
love helping people uncover the root causes of their sleep and breathing struggles.

12/03/2025

New blog post is up!

Learn the early signs of mouth breathing and hidden airway problems in kids and adults. Discover symptoms that impact sleep, behavior, and facial development.

10/28/2025

Please help us congratulate Barbara, officially a Board-Certified Orofacial Myologist through the IAOM! 🎉🎓

Barbara has poured her heart into serving families at Functional Face, bringing compassion, skill, and a deep passion for helping people breathe, sleep, and thrive. She is a true advocate for airway-focused care, and we could not be more proud of her.

And here’s something special…
There are ONLY two IAOM Board Certified Orofacial Myologists in the entire Tri-State region —
and both of them are right here at Functional Face.

The International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM) is considered the gold standard in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy requiring rigorous education, clinical mentorship, and a proctored board examination to ensure excellence in evaluation and therapy. Barbara’s achievement is a testament to her dedication and the high standards we hold for patient care.

Barbara, thank you for the excellence you bring to every individual you serve. We are incredibly lucky to have you on our team and this is only the beginning!

Drop a 🎉 in the comments to celebrate her today!

10/15/2025

Sleep isn’t just rest — it’s when your child’s brain and body repair, grow, and reset. But if their breathing is disrupted, everything from behavior, to learning, to facial and body growth can be affected. My latest post breaks down the subtle red flags parents often miss when it comes to Sleep Disordered Breathing. Read it now to know what’s normal — and what’s not.

take a minute to read - then share it with another parent who deserves to know this too. 💚 together, we can help more kids breathe sleep and grow better. I want I want the last line to say together we can have more kids breathe sleep and grow better.

Learn the hidden signs of sleep-disordered breathing in kids and why early airway support protects brain, heart, and healthy facial growth.

10/14/2025

Sometimes the best treatment is the one that saves what nature made.

In this case, the original orthodontic plan involved removing several permanent teeth to make the bite line up, since there were congenitally missing teeth.

But when we think long-term — about tongue space, oral volume, and airway dynamics — extractions can create challenges down the road.

We recommended an alternative plan that will take a bit longer to complete, but it preserves his natural anatomy, which supports better function and airway health for the future.

Collaboration like this changes futures. 🦷✨
Thankful for the work we get to do.💚

10/06/2025

Here we grow again!

Now Hiring: Pediatric Occupational Therapist (Feeding & Orofacial Focus)

Schedule: Flexible, Part-Time to start (with growth potential)
Compensation: Competitive rate per visit (commensurate with experience). Employment or subcontractor arrangement available.

About Us:
At Functional Face, we specialize in orofacial myofunctional therapy — helping families improve oral function, airway health, and sleep-disordered breathing. We’re excited to expand into pediatric feeding therapy and are looking for the right OT to grow this service with us.

Who We’re Looking For:
We are seeking a licensed Occupational Therapist with a heart for pediatrics — especially preschoolers. Feeding therapy experience is welcome, but not required. If you’re passionate and eager to learn, we’ll provide the mentorship and arrange the specialized training you need.

This is a great fit for:

New grads ready to grow in a unique specialty

OTs who love pediatrics and want to expand into feeding/oral function

Therapists who value collaboration and family-centered care

Responsibilities:

Conduct evaluations and develop individualized treatment plans

Provide therapy for feeding and oral function

Partner with caregivers and our myofunctional team to support progress at home

Document sessions and maintain clinical records

Requirements:

Valid OT license (Indiana) and liability insurance

Strong communication and organizational skills

Ability to work independently and in a team environment

Background check required

What We Offer:

Flexible schedule, starting part-time with growth opportunity

Mentorship and arranged specialty training in feeding/orofacial therapy

A collaborative, supportive practice culture

Opportunities for continuing education

Competitive compensation

How to Apply:
Send your resume and a brief introduction to frontdesk@functionalfaceomt.com with the subject line: Pediatric OT Applicationin

10/01/2025

Functional Face™ is growing! While we continue to provide care for older children and adults through our traditional myofunctional therapy and sleep consulting programs, we’re expanding with a new program division: BabyFace™ 👶💕

Courtney has recently become a Certified Infant Feeding Counselor (IFC®), which means BabyFace™ can now walk alongside families from the very beginning — helping babies feed well, grow strong, breathe easier, and sleep more soundly. This preventative, functional, and holistic approach connects feeding with oral function, airway health, sleep, and long-term growth and health.

Why this matters:
🍼Early feeding challenges aren’t just about milk. They can be the first signs of oral dysfunction.
🌱 These early patterns influence jaw growth, airway development, and even future sleep quality and overall health.
🤱By supporting oral skills and screening airway development in infancy, we can help babies feed comfortably now and grow into stronger sleepers, breathers, and talkers later.

I am so pleased to now support families from the very beginning, giving babies the healthiest start possible while continuing to offer the same trusted care you know at Functional Face.

🎉 Launch Special: To celebrate, we’re offering 20% off the BabyFace™ Prenatal and Infant Evaluations through October.
➡️ No code needed — all October BabyFace™ automatically receive the discount.

09/29/2025

A new systematic review confirms what airway providers have been seeing for years:

Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) consistently improves nasal airflow, airway volume, and even sleep apnea symptoms in kids. This isn’t brand-new information — but it’s another strong piece of evidence backing the connection between structure and airway health.

But here’s the secret: expansion creates the space, and myofunctional therapy helps kids learn how to use it — with healthy tongue posture, lips together, and nasal breathing.

Together, they make long-term results more likely. 🤝

📚 Read the study here:

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and impaired nasal breathing are common in children and are frequently linked to maxillary constriction. Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is an orthopedic treatment used to increase upper airway dimensions and improve respiratory function. It has be...

09/17/2025

🌙 Parents of kids with snoring, restless sleep, or constant congestion… this one’s for you.

If your child is struggling with tonsil and adenoid issues, you’ve probably been told surgery is the only option. Sometimes surgery is absolutely the right path. But other times, there are natural strategies worth trying first.

The hard part is knowing:

Is surgery really what’s needed right now?

How long should we wait to see if things improve?

What steps can we take at home in the meantime?

What questions should we be asking our providers?

That’s exactly why I created the Tonsil & Adenoid Toolkit — a parent-friendly guide packed with step-by-step routines, checklists, and doctor questions to help you navigate this season with confidence.

If something is going to help, it’s likely one of the strategies inside this guide. But waiting too long can mean missed opportunities for your child’s growth, sleep, and overall health.

✨ Right now, the Toolkit is available at introductory pricing: just $17 (regularly $27).
⏰ This launch special ends Sunday at midnight.

https://functionalface-omt.systeme.io/tonsilandadenoidnaturaltoolkit

Better sleep begins with better breathing. 🌿💤

Discover natural, research-backed ways to support healthy tonsils & adenoids and improve your child’s breathing — without surgery