Those muscles are essential to eating and breathing, and they help us communicate and express emotion — while also shaping dental and airway health over time.
Definition
- One of the most important factors in good muscle function is Oral Rest Posture: the position in which oral and facial muscles rest when not in use. That resting pattern is a primary focus of therapy.
- Therapists use neuromuscular exercises to teach the tongue, lips, and jaws to rest in the proper place and to break noxious oral habits like thumb sucking and nail biting.
- Correcting Oral Rest Posture and function can support facial appearance, dental occlusion, speech and articulation, tongue-thrust swallow patterns, and healthier breathing habits.
- Certified Orofacial Myologists (COM) are dentists, dental hygienists, speech-language pathologists, or allied health professionals with specialized postgraduate training accredited by the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM).
When to use this guide
- Use this guide when a provider mentioned "myofunctional therapy," "oral rest posture," or "OMD" and you want a clear definition before booking.
- Use it when you are comparing educational resources with what an evaluation at OMT of York actually assesses.
Failure modes
- Treating only the most visible symptom (for example, a tongue thrust) without addressing rest posture and airway often leaves the underlying pattern in place.
- Habit appliances that only block the tongue can prevent proper rest posture and invite new compensations.
- Assuming therapy is "just for kids" overlooks adults who carry lifelong breathing, swallowing, or jaw patterns.
Proof & sources
- Practice brochures created by Oral Myofunctional Therapy of York (© 2017) frame OMT around Oral Rest Posture and neuromuscular retraining — not isolated "tongue thrust therapy."
- Angie Lehman, RDH, COM has practiced orofacial myology exclusively since 2012, earned IAOM certification in 2014, and has served on the IAOM board of directors.
- In RDH Magazine, Angie and Joy Lantz describe orofacial myology as the study and treatment of oral and facial muscles as they relate to speech, dentition, chewing, swallowing, and overall health.
Interactive · Oral Rest Posture
Tap the markers to see how rest posture works.
Oral Rest Posture is the position where oral and facial muscles rest when not in use — a primary focus of orofacial myofunctional therapy.
Tongue on palate
One of the most important factors in good muscle function is where oral and facial muscles REST. The tongue ideally rests on the roof of the mouth.
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What is a primary focus of orofacial myofunctional therapy?
Action
If this definition matches what you or your child are experiencing, start with an in-person evaluation — no referral required.
Common questions
Is myofunctional therapy the same as speech therapy? +
They can overlap, but OMT focuses on Oral Rest Posture and orofacial muscle patterns that support breathing, swallowing, and dental stability — often alongside an SLP when speech goals are primary.
Who provides certified care? +
IAOM-certified COMs complete specialized training and clinical evaluation. At OMT of York, care is delivered by credentialed therapists under Angie Lehman's COM leadership.
Sources
- OMT of York brochure: Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (© 2017)
- RDH Magazine: "Clearing Up the Confusion" — Angie Lehman, RDH, COM with Joy Lantz, RDH, COM