More Than Teeth:
How Oral Muscle Health Shapes Your Child's Future
Curious?
Does your child need assessment?
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How a child breathes and uses their oral muscles plays a major role in airway development and long-term health
Ever notice your children doing the following?
tongue thrust
open bite, mouth breathing
finger-sucking or pacifier habit?
sleep disturbances?
speech issues
Allergies
Lowered concentration
Snoring/Loud breathing
Bed-wetting
Fatigue
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Myofunctional therapy is a beneficial tool in habit correction, interceptive treatment of sleep-disordered breathing, and the optimization of orofacial growth and development.
Non-invasive airway exercises that are fun and effective. (and very “doable!”)
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If assessed and found earlier, it is usually easier to improve mouth breathing, tongue thrust, speech delays, and poor chewing habits /
Myofunctional therapy can serve as a form of “training” for oral muscles to improve tone, posture & function.
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Exercise-based, non-invasive, and child-friendly
Easy and Fun!
Exercises promote healthy growth and development — accomplished through targeted muscle exercises
Sessions are typically done in-office + at-home daily exercises
Treatment benefits include better facial symmetry, reduced snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, improved oral muscle movement, clearer thinking, and more balanced development. Studies show that myofunctional therapy decreases apnea-hypopnea index by approximately 62% in children.
At Celebrate, we take a collaborative approach — we may co-treat with speech-language pathologists, ENTs, OT/PTs or orthodontists as needed
Myofunctional Therapy for Kids in Pasadena
Helping your child breathe, swallow, and grow the way nature intended
Your child's tongue, lips, and jaw muscles shape their face, their airway, and their smile every day. Sometimes those muscles develop habits that work against them: breathing through the mouth, resting the tongue low, or pushing the tongue forward when swallowing.
Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is a gentle, exercise-based program that retrains these muscles. There are no shots, drills, or appliances to start. It's guided practice that kids can do at home in a few minutes a day.
At Celebrate Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Christine Aquino offers myofunctional therapy as part of our whole-child approach to dental care.
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Why it matters for growing kids
Childhood is when the face and jaws are still developing, and muscle habits help guide that growth. When the tongue rests on the roof of the mouth and the lips stay closed, the muscles support healthy jaw width and nasal breathing. When those habits are off, growth can follow a different path.
Myofunctional therapy is not a cure-all, and we'll always tell you honestly what it can and can't do. Research suggests it can be a helpful part of care for children with mouth breathing and sleep-disordered breathing, especially alongside care from ENTs, orthodontists, and other specialists. Starting earlier lets us work with your child's growth instead of against it.
What myofunctional therapy looks like at Celebrate
1. Evaluation
Dr. Aquino looks at how your child breathes, swallows, chews, and rests their tongue and lips. She'll also check for a tongue tie and review sleep, feeding, and health history with you.
2. A plan made for your child
If therapy is a good fit, we create a program based on your child's age, needs, and attention span. If something else needs attention first, such as enlarged tonsils or a restricted tongue tie, we'll refer you to a trusted specialist.
3. Short, fun daily exercises
Kids practice simple exercises at home, usually 5–10 minutes a day. Expect games, challenges, and plenty of encouragement from Cely along the way.
4. Regular check-ins
We meet every 2-4 weeks to track progress, add new exercises, and celebrate wins. Everyone has their own progress and program length varies- no one-size-fits-all.
Does your child have any of these signs?
Many families come to us because something "just seems off" without being sure what it is. Common signs that a myofunctional evaluation may help include:
Breathing through the mouth, especially during sleep or while concentrating
Snoring, restless sleep, or waking up tired
Lips that rest apart instead of closed
A tongue that pushes forward when swallowing or speaking
A tongue tie, or a history of feeding difficulties as a baby
Picky eating, slow eating, or messy chewing
Thumb sucking or prolonged pacifier use past age 3–4
Crowded teeth, an open bite, or a narrow upper jaw
Orthodontic relapse after braces
Dark circles under the eyes, or trouble focusing during the day
One sign on its own isn't cause for alarm. Several together are worth a closer look.
Working with your child's whole care team
Breathing and oral function involve more than teeth. When needed, we coordinate with:
Pediatricians
Ear, nose, and throat specialists (ENTs)
Orthodontists
Speech-language pathologists
Bodyworkers and lactation consultants, for tongue tie care
Who is it for?
Myofunctional therapy works best for children around [age 4 and up] who can follow simple directions and practice at home with a parent's help. For younger children, Dr. Aquino can still evaluate and guide habits like pacifier weaning and nasal breathing.
Meet your provider
Dr. Christine Aquino earned her DDS at the USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry and completed pediatric dental residency training at NYU. She has trained and is certified in orofacial myofunctional therapy to bring a gentle, whole-child approach to every visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is myofunctional therapy painful?
No. It's a series of muscle exercises, like physical therapy for the mouth and face.
How long does it take to see results?
Many families notice changes in lip closure and nasal breathing within the first few weeks. Lasting change depends on consistent practice, so most programs run 4-8 months.
Does my child need a tongue tie release first?
Not always. Dr. Aquino will assess tongue mobility at the evaluation. If a release is recommended, therapy before and after the procedure helps it work better.
Is it covered by insurance?
Myofunctional therapy is usually not usually covered by dental insurance. *every one’s plan is different; ask us and our insurance coordinator can check for eligibility.
Can my child do this if they're in braces?
We're happy to coordinate with your orthodontist about best timing of when therapy sessions are done.