Have you ever woken up feeling like you fought a battle in your sleep? You might feel symptoms like dry mouth, or head pounding. Your partner might even be giving you the side-eye because you were snoring like a chainsaw. If so, you’re not alone! Snoring and poor sleep are incredibly common issues. However, what if the solution didn’t involve complicated machines or mediation?
Myofunctional therapy is the tongue workout you didn’t know you needed!
If the idea of exercising your tongue sounds weird, stick with us. It turns out that the position and strength of your tongue, mouth, and facial muscles play a huge role in how well (or how poorly) you sleep. Let’s explore how myofunctional therapy can help you breathe better, sleep deeper, and wake up feeling refreshed.
Why Do We Snore in the First Place?
Snoring happens when the muscles in your throat, tongue, and soft palate relax too much during sleep. This causes the airway to narrow or become partially blocked, leading to those not-so-charming vibrations we all know as snoring.
Common causes of snoring:
- Poor tongue posture (tongue falls back into the throat)
- Mouth breathing
- Weak or improperly positioned throat and facial muscles
- Nasal congestion
- Sleep position
If you snore regularly, it’s not just an annoyance, it can also be a sign of something more serious, like sleep apnea. That is where myofunctional therapy comes in!
How Myofunctional Therapy Tackles Snoring at the Source
Myofunctional therapy is like personal training for your mouth and airway. It involves a series of targeted exercises that strengthen the muscles of your tongue, throat, and face, the very muscles that contribute to snoring and sleep problems.
How it Works:
- It trains your tongue to rest at the roof of your mouth (instead of falling back into the throat).
- Encourages nasal breathing instead of mouth breathing.
- Strengthens the muscles around your airway, preventing collapse during sleep.
- Improves swallowing patterns and reduces tongue thrusting.
Think of it as “fitness for your face”, only instead of working on abs, you’re working on better breathing and deeper sleep.
The Myofunctional Sleep Workout (Yes, It’s a Thing!)
Here are a few simple exercises that could help you reduce snoring and improve your sleep:
Tongue Push-Ups
- Place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth, just behind your front teeth.
- Push your tongue upward and hold for 5 seconds.
- Repeat 10 times
Why it works: Strengthens tongue muscles and improves resting posture.
Lip Seal Challenge
- Close your lips and hold them together without clenching your jaw.
- Breathe through your nose for 30 seconds.
- Repeat 5 times.
Why it works: Encourages nasal breathing and improves lip strength.
“Ahhh” Hold
- Open your mouth and say “Ahhh” (like you’re at the dentist).
- Hold for 10 seconds.
- Repeat 5 times.
Why it works: Strengthens the soft palate and throat muscles.
The Tongue Slide
- Place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth.
- Slide it backward as far as you can without opening your mouth.
- Repeat 10 times.
Why it works: Improves tongue strength and positioning.
But Does it Really Work?
Studies have shown that myofunctional therapy can reduce snoring by up to 50% and improve symptoms of mild to moderate sleep apnea. Many patients report better sleep quality, reduced mouth breathing, and improved overall well-being after just a few weeks of consistent therapy.
From Snore to Score- It’s Time to Sleep Like a Pro!
If you’re ready to kick snoring to the curb and finally get the restful sleep you deserve, myofunctional therapy could be the game-changer you’ve been looking for. Schedule a consultation at Lake Forest Smiles today! Our expert team is ready to help you breathe better, sleep deeper, and wake up feeling refreshed!