Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
What Is Oral Myology?
Oral myology or Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT), is a special type of therapy that helps retrain the muscles of the mouth, tongue, lips, and face.
Think of it like physiotherapy, but for the mouth and face.
We use it to correct habits or patterns that affect breathing, chewing, swallowing, speaking, jaw growth, and even sleep.
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You can ask yourself a few questions to see if your child may benefit from OMT:
• Does your child wake up multiple times during the night?
• Does your child act out through the day, or wake up tired?
• Is your child a fussy eater?
• Have you noticed crooked teeth or changes in their bite?
• Does your child mouth breathe?
• Does your child snore?
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If you’ve answered yes to any of these, OMT may help address the underlying cause and support healthier long-term habits.
Why It Matters
When these muscles don’t work properly, people might:
1. Breathe through their mouth instead of their nose
2. Have a tongue tie or tongue thrust (pushing the tongue forward when swallowing)
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3. Develop crooked teeth, open bites, or speech issues
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4. Snore or have disturbed sleep
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5. Have trouble breaking habits like thumb or dummy sucking
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6.Helping the muscles work correctly supports overall health, proper growth, and can make dental or orthodontic treatment last longer.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)​
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Q: Is this covered by Medicare or private health?
A: This service is usually not covered by Medicare, and most private health funds do not provide rebates for it. Coverage can vary, so you may wish to check with your health fund to see if your policy includes any applicable benefits.
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Q: Does it hurt?
A: Not at all, it’s just gentle exercises and habit training.
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Q: Who is it for?
A: Children, teens, and even adults who have habits or muscle patterns affecting their breathing, speech, teeth, or sleep.
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