This page is to share resources that a prospective patient, hygienist, speech pathologist, dentist, physician, chiropractor or other health care provider would find useful when considering oral myofunctional therapy.
Where can I learn more from Dave?
To learn more about courses Dave is teaching and courses he recommends visit myoDave.com
Are you interested in learning more about becoming a myofunctional therapist? Dave is currently teaching with the MyoMentor Institute - you can learn more information at MyoMentor. His current role is leading study clubs for newly graduated myofunctional therapists and teaching new myofunctional therapists how to build and grow their practice from launch to success.
Would you like to take a ‘crash course’ on myofunctional therapy? Sarah Hornsby has a great online course where you can learn some of the basics about myofunctional disorders at SarahKHornsby.com
Dave frequently teaches an in-person or virtual 1-hour study-club style course in the local Seattle area. If your office, study club, dental association, or hygiene association is interested, send me a message at dave@kenmoremyo.com. Dave also is available for virtual classes through zoom. Email for availability.
Are you a myofunctional therapist looking for individual one-on-one coaching? You can book a 30 minutes zoom consultation with Dave for $100 at https://calendly.com/kenmoremyo/.
Myofunctional Therapy and Pediatric Dental Care
The Role of Myofunctional Therapy in Pediatric Dentistry: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19424396.2024.2400418?fbclid=IwY2xjawFRjflleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfWLb_6Hwzo1OIM6rNivClIGx0PdyLiXCv5o6xuFRtKEwGObijIJByTMcg_aem_IHGQADFIzLTvLcH4ZC2k8w#abstract
Establishment of nasal breathing should be the ultimate goal to secure adequate craniofacial and airway development in children: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021755717308318?via%3Dihub
Mouth breathing, "nasal disuse," and pediatric sleep-disordered breathing: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25877805/
Myofunctional Therapy and Atypical Swallow (also called: Tongue Thrust Swallow)
Research study showing effectiveness of myofunctional therapy in correcting atypical swallow: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32367149/
A Meta Study evaluating the effectiveness of myofunctional therapy for adults with atypical swallow: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7522100/
Impact of Oral Myofunctional Therapy on Orofacial Myofunctional Status and Tongue Strength in Patients with Tongue Thrust: https://karger.com/fpl/article-abstract/73/5/413/819870/Impact-of-Oral-Myofunctional-Therapy-on-Orofacial?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Myofunctional therapy and sleep apnea
Research study on effectiveness of Oral Myofunctional Therapy on snoring & sleep apnea: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25950418
Medical Review article on using Oral Myofunctional Therapy to treat sleep apnea: https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/57/4/323/htm
Research study on Oral Myofunctional Therapy to treat sleep disordered breathing in children: https://www.sleep.theclinics.com/article/S1556-407X(14)00025-3/abstract
Case report on Oral Myofunctional Therapy used to treat upper airway resistance syndrome: https://aomtinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Case-Report-UARS-Myofunctional-Therapy-12.2015-Correa.pdf
Research paper on effect of oral pharyngeal muscle exercises to treat mild - moderate sleep apnea: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejcdt.2016.08.014
Systemic Review and meta analysis on using Myofunctional Therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4402674/
Systemic review and meta analysis on using myofunctional therapy to treat snoring: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00405-017-4848-5
Effect of sleep disordered breathing in children. Sleep disordered breathing is associated with daytime problematic behaviors, hyperactivity, and emotional difficulties: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3313633/
Meta analysis of effect of myofunctional therapy on obstructive sleep apnea: PDF
The Role of Myofunctional Therapy in Treating Sleep-Disordered Breathing: A State-of-the-Art Review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8306407/?fbclid=IwAR2vYuZsNA_IbszW7vPywe5gciPWoX2IAH4J5SsgDD-yM0qADBMREkpsuDA
Effect of myofunctional therapy on children with obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945720303555?via%3Dihub
Review of benefits of myofunctional therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea either as a stand alone treatment or in conjunction with other treatments: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8066493/
A systematic review of literature on the effectiveness of myofunctional therapy on reduction of snoring: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00405-017-4848-5
Research study discussing the benefits of nasal breathing re-education and myofunctional therapy on all 4 types of sleep apnea: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/3/471?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&_kx=X9D2MLn_MXCiVsvvvQmCDcnp5TzPSpTyJtffCemi8OY.Wd8SrD
How Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Can Aid in the Treatment of Sleep-Disordered Breathing: https://sleepworldmagazine.com/2024/08/16/how-orofacial-myofunctional-therapy-can-aid-in-the-treatment-of-sleep-disordered-breathing
Efficacy of myofunctional therapy for obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and network meta-analysis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40716836
Hyoid slump hypothesis: A rational approach to understanding obstructive sleep apnea and related airway disorders: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987725001483?via%3Dihub=
Effects of orolingual myofunctional therapy on snoring–a randomized controlled trial: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/00016489.2025.2541603?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed&fbclid=IwVERDUAMl8hJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhUkI9Hyrtl74bsZ3glefpUeK_12P7HNQZiAvpD-9d_DOmJE-DkDUYxBcVZR_aem_GfhvfnPvCNeSj6rtQniiJg#abstract
Myofunctional therapy’s effect on bed wetting
Effect of breathing re-education on bed wetting: PDF
Combined effect of tongue tie release surgery with myofunctional therapy
A very clinical explanation of tethered oral tissues: PDF
A 2019 study showing the effectiveness of tongue tie releases with myofunctional therapy PDF
A clinical dissection of tongue ties a paper describing the anatomy of a tongue tie: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330756535_What_is_a_Tongue_Tie_Defining_the_anatomy_of_the_in-situ_lingual_frenulum
Research study defining tongue tie: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11325-016-1452-7
A description of a ‘functional release’ combining myofunctional therapy with a tongue tie release: https://www.lightscalpel.com/publications/tongue-tie-functional-release/
A study demonstrating both safety and effectiveness of myofunctional therapy and tongue tie release of professional singers and professional speakers: https://ijom.iaom.com/journal/vol49/iss1/1/?fbclid=IwAR3p6e6yRIBeMOMbMyp9p_ouhCearKTrbiIuMuqjWw2Z7EFEXSpXJ8FdNS8
A 2025 study demonstrating the effects of myofunctional therapy coupled with a tongue tie release: https://www.mdpi.com/2694-2526/51/2/11
Combined effect of myofunctional therapy and orthodontics
Study showing the importance of myofunctional therapy in combination with orthodontics when treating ‘anterior open bite: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2008.07.016
A study showing the connection of tongue tie to a narrow roof of the mouth: PDF
Effect of Myofunctional Therapy on TMJ pain, clenching & grinding
Evidence based review of connection between teeth grinding, sleep disorders and TMJ: https://aadsm.org/docs/JDSM.1.1.27.pdf
Effects of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy on Temporomandibular Disorders: 10.1179/crn.2010.033
Mouth breathing: adverse effects on facial growth, health, academics, and behavior: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20129889/
Study showing the effectiveness of myofunctional therapy on treating TMJ pain: https://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/bam/article/view/6759
Study showing the connection between dysfuntional swallowing pattern on TMJ pain: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7135951/
Neck and shoulder pain
Study showing improvement of neck and shoulder pain with breathing re-education: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25141528/
Mouthbreathing
The health benefits of nose breathing: https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=518e51c3807f277b38c313062532f75211e080cf
Effect of mouth breathing on the shape of face and airway: https://academic.oup.com/ejo/article/29/5/426/426214
Mouth breathing, “nasal disuse,” and pediatric sleep-disordered breathing: 10.1007/s11325-015-1154-6
Research study discussing the benefits of nasal breathing re-education and myofunctional therapy on all 4 types of sleep apnea: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/3/471?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&_kx=X9D2MLn_MXCiVsvvvQmCDcnp5TzPSpTyJtffCemi8OY.Wd8SrD
Air-conditioning in the human nasal cavity: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1569904808001262?via%3Dihub
Mouth breathing, "nasal disuse," and pediatric sleep-disordered breathing: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25877805/
Lip Seal
Research study showing the effect of myofunctional therapy on the ability for the lips to stay closed during the day and night: https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/67351/1/18_Junichiro%20Iida.pdf
Connection between pelvic floor dysfunction and tongue tie
This article discusses the connection between tongue tie and the pelvic floor: https://journals.lww.com/jwphpt/abstract/2023/10000/ankyloglossia,_a_contributor_to_pelvic_pain__a.8.aspx
Connection between the tongue and posture
The Connection between the Tongue, Posture and the Nervous System: https://www.chinesis.org/images/Libri%20pubbl/articolo_annali.pdf
Myofunctional therapy effects on tinnitus:
Otologic symptoms of temporomandibular disorder and effect of orofacial myofunctional therapy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18468271/
Books to read:
Here is a list of great books to read about myofunctional therapy, breathing, tongue posture and swallowing:
Close Your Mouth, by Patrick McKeown
Six Foot Tiger Three Foot Cage, by Felix Liao, DDS
Tongue-Tied, by Richard Baxter, DMD
GASP, by Dr Michael Gelb
Jaws, by Sandra Kahn and Paul Ehrlich
The Oxygen Advantage, by Patrick McKeown
SOS 4 TOTS, by Lawrence Kotlow DDS
Baby Led Weaning, by Tracey Murkett
The Evolution of the Human Head, by Daniel Lieberman
Deep Nutrition, by Catherine Shanahan MD
The Dental Diet, by Dr Steven Lin
Feed Your Baby and Toddler Right, by Diane Bahr
Nobody Ever Told Me (Or My Mother) That!, by Diane Bahr
Sleep Interrupted, by Dr Steven Park
Breath, by James Nestor
Breathe, Sleep, Thrive by Dr. Shereen Lim
Accomplished: How to Sleep Better, Eliminate Burnout, and Execute Goals, by Karese Laguerre
Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve: Self-Help Exercises for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Autism
Breathing for Warriors, by Belisa Vranich and Brian Sabin
A work in progress
This page is a work in progress - check back often for updates. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of available research but rather a quick reference for frequently referenced articles and papers. If you have a paper you think should be included, please email dave@myodave.com
“We are just beginning to realize how common and varied are vicious habits of the lips and tongue, how powerful and persistent they are in causing and maintaining malocclusion, how difficult they are to overcome and how hopeless is success in treatment unless they are overcome”. ”