How Oral Motor & Myofunctional Therapy Can Help Your Child Thrive—Especially Surrounding a Tongue Tie Release

If you’ve been told your child has a tongue tie (also called a tethered oral tissues or TOTs), you may be wondering:“What happens before and after the release?”Or even, “Does my child really need therapy too?”

The short answer is: Yes—and here’s why.

While a tongue tie release (frenectomy) can free up the tongue physically, therapy is often essential to restore full function. That’s where oral motor therapy and myofunctional therapy come in. These therapies help your child build the muscle strength, coordination, and habits needed for healthy breathing, speaking, feeding, and more.

Let’s break down what each therapy is, what it helps with, and why it’s especially important before and after a tongue tie release.

What Is Oral Motor Therapy?

Oral motor therapy focuses on strengthening and coordinating the muscles of the mouth, lips, jaw, and tongue. It’s commonly used by feeding therapists to support kids younger than age 5 with:

• Feeding difficulties (especially picky eating or problems with chewing/swallowing)

• Drooling or poor lip closure

• Articulation and speech clarity issues

• Oral sensory challenges (over- or under-sensitivity in the mouth)

• Ties (tongue, lip, or cheek)

  
  

Therapists use age appropriate fun, targeted exercises and play-based activities to help kids build the foundational skills they need for eating and speaking.

What Is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy is for older kids and adults and is a more specialized branch of oral motor therapy that focuses on:

• Proper tongue posture (resting on the roof of the mouth)

• Nasal breathing instead of mouth breathing

• Correct swallowing patterns

• Lip seal (keeping lips closed at rest)

  
  

It’s often used for children who have:

• Mouth breathing habits

• Tongue thrust (pushing the tongue against the teeth when swallowing)

• Orthodontic concerns or relapse after braces

• Sleep-disordered breathing or snoring

• Ties (tongue, lip, or cheek)

  
  

How These Therapies Help With Tongue Tie (Before & After Release)

A tongue tie restricts the tongue’s range of motion. This can lead to challenges with:

• Breastfeeding or bottle feeding

• Speech development

• Chewing and swallowing

• Sleep and airway health

• Orthodontic and facial development

  
  

Simply releasing the tissue (with scissors, laser, or scalpel) doesn’t guarantee that the tongue will suddenly work correctly. That’s why therapy is so important.

Before the Release:

Therapy helps:

• Prepare the muscles by improving tongue strength and awareness

• Identify any compensatory habits (like using the lips or jaw instead of the tongue)

• Teach the child how to use their tongue correctly once it’s freed

  
  

Think of it like stretching before surgery to help your muscles recover more quickly afterward.

After the Release:

Therapy helps:

• Prevent re-attachment by encouraging movement and function

• Re-train the tongue to move, rest, and swallow properly

• Support feeding improvements (especially in babies and toddlers)

• Promote clearer speech and better airflow for nasal breathing

• Assist with sleep and orthodontic outcomes

  
  

The goal is full functional integration of the tongue and surrounding muscles—so your child can breathe, eat, and speak with ease.

What Conditions These Therapies Can Help With:

• Feeding difficulties (gagging, choking, food refusal, poor latch)

• Speech delays or unclear speech

• Mouth breathing, snoring, or restless sleep

• Tongue thrust and open-mouth posture

• Orthodontic problems or relapse after braces

• Facial and jaw development concerns

• Sensory processing issues in the oral area

  
  

What to Expect in Therapy

A therapist will evaluate your child’s muscle function, oral habits, and breathing patterns. From there, they’ll create a personalized plan that may include:

• Gentle stretches or massage

• Tongue and lip exercises

• Breathing and posture work

• Play-based feeding and oral awareness activities

• Parent education and home exercises

  
  

Consistency and family involvement are key to success—especially in the weeks following a tongue tie release.

Save Time, Stress, and Extra Appointments

Our experienced occupational therapist offers oral motor therapy, myofunctional therapy, and bodywork all in one session, providing a truly holistic and efficient approach to your child’s care. Instead of running from one provider to another, your child receives comprehensive, integrated support in one place—saving your family time, energy, and unnecessary stress.

If your child is preparing for a tongue tie release—or struggling with feeding, speech, or sleep—we’re here to help.👉 Contact us today to schedule an evaluation and learn how we can support your child’s full-body function and wellness.

Book Now!