When Your Child Snores: How Orofacial Therapy Can Help Them Breathe and Sleep Better
What parents might notice:
You might hear your child snoring at night, even if it’s soft or “just a bit noisy.” Maybe they sleep with their mouth open, wake up feeling restless, or seem tired during the day—short tempers, difficulty concentrating, or low energy at school can all be signs that sleep isn’t as restorative as it should be Royal Children's Hospitalsleephealthfoundation.org.auOrofacial Myology Adelaide.
Sometimes, surgery does part of the job—say, removing enlarged tonsils or adenoids—but symptoms like mouth breathing and snoring can linger, affecting sleep quality and daytime life Orofacial Myology Adelaide+1. That’s where orofacial myofunctional therapy can step in, helping your child rediscover peaceful sleep—and maybe even a brighter smile.
What Is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?
Simply put, it’s a gentle, exercise-based approach that strengthens the muscles of the mouth, tongue, face, and throat. By practicing small movements and retraining the way these muscles work, your child can learn to breathe through the nose, keep better tongue and lip posture, and ultimately reduce the vibration and obstruction that cause snoring and disrupted sleep Beyond SpeechMouth & Mind Speechorofacial-myology.comWikipedia.
Why This Matters for Sleep and Health
Airway stability: During sleep, muscles in the throat relax. If the tongue or soft tissues fall back, airflow gets blocked, leading to snoring or even pauses in breathing (known as hypopnea or apnea) Sleep Breath
Healthy breathing habits: Teaching your child to breathe through their nose and keep their tongue resting at the roof of the mouth supports better airway opening and facial development orofacial-myology.comMouth & Mind SpeechWikipedia.
Positive daily changes: When snoring decreases, many families see improved daytime energy, better mood, and sharper focus in school Wikipediasleephealthfoundation.org.auOrofacial Myology Adelaide.
What the Research Says
Recent studies show promising benefits for children:
One meta-analysis of myofunctional therapy in children reported a 43% drop in apnea–hypopnea index (AHI)—a key measure of sleep quality—and improved oxygen levels overnight Orofacial Myology.
Other scientific reviews show that orofacial myofunctional therapy can significantly reduce snoring and sleep disruption, while boosting overall sleep quality and life for both kids and adults SpringerLinkorofacial-myology.com.
In simple terms: small muscle-building exercises can make a surprisingly big difference.
What This Looks Like at Home
Parents often wonder: what’s involved? Here are examples of gentle, fun, and simple exercises your child might do (ideally with guidance from a trained therapist):
Tongue lifts: Press the tongue tip up to the roof of the mouth behind the front teeth and hold for 5 seconds, repeat.
Tongue wiggles: Stick the tongue out to touch the top lip or chin, hold briefly, then relax.
Lip closure games: Practice holding a spoon or button between the lips (not teeth) to build lip strength.
These help train better tongue and lip posture, and improve nasal breathing—with practice, the benefits can extend to calmer, quieter nights Verywell HealthNew York Postorofacial-myology.comMouth & Mind Speech.
The Bottom Line
If your child snores or seems always tired, orofacial therapy offers a non-invasive, comforting, and effective complement to medical care. It helps build strength, encourage nasal breathing, and restore healthier sleep—for happier, more alert days. Talk with a trained orofacial myologist or speech-pathology professional to see if these simple exercises might be the key to peaceful sleep for your child.