05/05/2026
Most orthodontists straighten the teeth, but if the muscles are still working against the result, the teeth can drift right back. That is one reason myofunctional therapy matters.
At Thousand Oaks Orthodontics, Dr. Thomas Lee works with trained myofunctional therapists because lasting orthodontic results are not just about tooth movement. They are also about teaching the mouth and tongue how to function correctly.
Cleveland Clinic explains that orofacial myofunctional therapy retrains the muscles of the mouth and face to support better breathing, swallowing, tongue posture, and oral function.
The tongue is supposed to rest on the roof of the mouth. In growing kids, that helps support normal upper-jaw development. When children mouth-breathe instead, the palate can stay narrower, and the airway may have less room. In adults, habits like tongue thrust and poor oral posture can continue to push on the teeth long after braces or Invisalign are removed.
That is exactly why it can be such an important partner to orthodontic treatment.
There is also real research behind it. In a study on anterior open bite, relapse after treatment was about 6.8 times greater without myofunctional therapy than with it.
In plain English, when the muscle pattern was addressed, the orthodontic result held much better.
🦷 Myofunctional therapy helps retrain the cause, not just the symptom.
🦷 Braces or Invisalign move the teeth into better positions.
🦷 The combination helps support results that last.
Dr. Lee offers a free consultation, 0% in-house financing, no credit check, and no money down.
Call 805-585-3184 or visit thousandoaksorthodontics.net.
The tongue is supposed to rest on the roof of the mouth. In growing kids, that helps support normal upper-jaw development. When children mouth-breathe instead, the palate can stay narrower, and the airway may have less room. In adults, habits like tongue thrust and poor oral posture can continue to push on the teeth long after braces or Invisalign are removed.