Supporting healthy tongue, lip and breathing habits
The way the tongue, lips and facial muscles work affects breathing, swallowing and chewing. In some children, these habits are part of the picture when we assess their teeth and jaws. Where we think it may help, we offer orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) alongside orthodontic treatment for children across Dublin and Ireland.
What is myofunctional therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is a programme of exercises for the tongue, lips and face. It aims to encourage:
Like physiotherapy, it depends on regular practice. Results depend on how consistently the exercises are done.
What the evidence shows
Myofunctional therapy is a developing field. Some studies suggest it can improve tongue posture and lip seal, and reduce the severity of sleep apnoea, mainly in adults. Most studies are small, and the evidence in children is limited. It has not been proven to prevent orthodontic relapse.
We recommend it as a supporting treatment, not a replacement for orthodontic, ENT or medical care.
Who may benefit?
We may suggest myofunctional therapy for children who have:
Mouth breathing often has a medical cause, such as enlarged adenoids or allergies. These should be assessed by a doctor first. Exercises won’t correct a blocked nose.
If your child has speech concerns, we recommend assessment by a speech and language therapist.
How we deliver it
Tongue Teacher app. We use Tongue Teacher, an app designed to guide children through myofunctional exercises at home. It lets your child practise at their own pace, at a time that suits your family.
Specialist myofunctional therapists. We also work with myofunctional therapists in the UK. With your consent, we share the records taken at Lusk Orthodontics, so they can carry out an assessment and guide your child’s exercises through online sessions. This means you don’t need to travel for appointments.
If you have concerns about your child’s mouth breathing, tongue posture, swallowing or lip function, book an assessment at Lusk Orthodontics. We will check whether myofunctional therapy is suitable and how it fits with the rest of your child’s care.
Muscle function plays an important role in maintaining orthodontic results. If abnormal tongue posture or swallowing habits remain after treatment, they can contribute to relapse over time.
For many patients, particularly growing children, combining orthodontics with myofunctional therapy helps address both:
This combined approach supports healthier oral function and more stable long-term treatment outcomes.
Many of our younger patients undergo palatal expansion before beginning myofunctional therapy.
Palatal expansion widens the upper jaw and creates the space needed for the tongue to rest naturally against the roof of the mouth. Myofunctional therapy then teaches the tongue and surrounding muscles how to function correctly within that new space.
At Lusk Orthodontics, therapy combines clinical supervision with convenient home-based exercises.
We use The Tongue Teacher digital platform, allowing patients to:
Our approach goes beyond simply straightening teeth.
Using comprehensive clinical assessment together with advanced digital technology, we evaluate not only your teeth and jaws but also the functional factors that influence long-term oral health.
Where appropriate, myofunctional therapy is integrated with:
5.0
We highly recommend Dr Erfan Sallom. He transformed our daughter’s teeth, and she’s extremely happy with her beautiful smile! We were looking for an Orthodontist who had a reputable history, gave excellent results, held high standards, was kind and gentle, and that is what we got. She didn’t have to get any teeth removed, which was a bonus. Really appreciated the individual time, updates, never felt rushed, and a personable approach. Thank you, Erfan. – Georgina
5.0
I was very anxious about orthodontic treatment and, as such, delayed it for years. I did not need to be nervous with the expertise and professionalism of Erfan. He was very motivational and ensured I achieved an excellent result. I am now extremely happy with my smile. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone. – Ciara K
5.0
I would really recommend anyone to Dr Erfan Salloum. My experience with Erfan was amazing. I had no issue; he was very knowledgeable about his work and was always happy to explain the next steps with my treatment and concerns, or answer any questions about my treatment plan, etc!
I would recommend Erfan to anyone, there’s no safer hands to be in than Erfan for sure! – Martin R
5.0
I have just finished my two-year orthodontic treatment with Dr Erfan, and I would highly recommend him. He explained everything perfectly about the treatment plan, and I was always treated with great care. You are in good hands! Many thanks. – Julie P
5.0
I would highly recommend Dr Erfan from start to finish. He took the time to make the entire process for our daughter as easy as possible. We are delighted with the results & she has received many compliments on her beautiful smile. – Caroline C
5.0
I’m very happy with my treatment and results. I was delighted with Dr Erfan Salloum’s attention to detail, and so happy he took the time to make sure everything was perfect. Thank you. – Orlaith D
5.0
My daughter has been under the care of Dr Erfan Salloum for the past three years, as she had a lot of work to be done. She has had braces removed, and the result is stunning. We are thrilled about how well everything went. – Elizabeth G
5.0
Absolutely delighted with my results. Thank you to Dr Erfan and his team for taking care of me so well! Treatment lasted 24 months, and it was so worth it. Would recommend it to everyone! – Ang
5.0
Everyone was very nice and professional, and Dr Erfan Salloum did a great job with my braces. – Matthew C
5.0
I am very grateful to Dr Efran Salloum for taking the time to do a free video consultation with me to discuss my issue. He listened attentively to my concerns, offered insight and advised me of a range of clear options to explore for my particular issue (which concerns narrow airways). I very much appreciated his expertise, which he conveyed with kindness and without expectation. I would highly recommend Dr Efran for his expert knowledge and professionalism. – Shelagh S
5.0
My daughter had a great experience, thrilled with the results. She was treated very well at every appointment and now has a gorgeous smile thanks to Erfan and the team. – Auds C
5.0
Incredibly happy with my experience with Dr Erfan. He was a pleasure to deal with throughout the process, explained everything clearly, offered all support needed, and the results have been absolutely perfect. Ultimately, I can’t recommend Dr Erfan highly enough. He and his team are incredibly professional and highly skilled, so you’ll be in safe hands throughout your treatment. – Laurence W
5.0
We highly recommend Dr Erfan Sallom. He transformed our daughter’s teeth, and she’s extremely happy with her beautiful smile! We were looking for an Orthodontist who had a reputable history, gave excellent results, held high standards, was kind and gentle, and that is what we got. She didn’t have to get any teeth removed, which was a bonus. Really appreciated the individual time, updates, never felt rushed, and a personable approach. Thank you, Erfan. – Georgina
5.0
I was very anxious about orthodontic treatment and, as such, delayed it for years. I did not need to be nervous with the expertise and professionalism of Erfan. He was very motivational and ensured I achieved an excellent result. I am now extremely happy with my smile. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone. – Ciara K
5.0
I would really recommend anyone to Dr Erfan Salloum. My experience with Erfan was amazing. I had no issue; he was very knowledgeable about his work and was always happy to explain the next steps with my treatment and concerns, or answer any questions about my treatment plan, etc!
I would recommend Erfan to anyone, there’s no safer hands to be in than Erfan for sure! – Martin R
5.0
I have just finished my two-year orthodontic treatment with Dr Erfan, and I would highly recommend him. He explained everything perfectly about the treatment plan, and I was always treated with great care. You are in good hands! Many thanks. – Julie P
5.0
I would highly recommend Dr Erfan from start to finish. He took the time to make the entire process for our daughter as easy as possible. We are delighted with the results & she has received many compliments on her beautiful smile. – Caroline C
5.0
I’m very happy with my treatment and results. I was delighted with Dr Erfan Salloum’s attention to detail, and so happy he took the time to make sure everything was perfect. Thank you. – Orlaith D
5.0
My daughter has been under the care of Dr Erfan Salloum for the past three years, as she had a lot of work to be done. She has had braces removed, and the result is stunning. We are thrilled about how well everything went. – Elizabeth G
5.0
Absolutely delighted with my results. Thank you to Dr Erfan and his team for taking care of me so well! Treatment lasted 24 months, and it was so worth it. Would recommend it to everyone! – Ang
5.0
Everyone was very nice and professional, and Dr Erfan Salloum did a great job with my braces. – Matthew C
5.0
I am very grateful to Dr Efran Salloum for taking the time to do a free video consultation with me to discuss my issue. He listened attentively to my concerns, offered insight and advised me of a range of clear options to explore for my particular issue (which concerns narrow airways). I very much appreciated his expertise, which he conveyed with kindness and without expectation. I would highly recommend Dr Efran for his expert knowledge and professionalism. – Shelagh S
5.0
My daughter had a great experience, thrilled with the results. She was treated very well at every appointment and now has a gorgeous smile thanks to Erfan and the team. – Auds C
5.0
Incredibly happy with my experience with Dr Erfan. He was a pleasure to deal with throughout the process, explained everything clearly, offered all support needed, and the results have been absolutely perfect. Ultimately, I can’t recommend Dr Erfan highly enough. He and his team are incredibly professional and highly skilled, so you’ll be in safe hands throughout your treatment. – Laurence W
The founder and the specialist orthodontist at Lusk Orthodontics. He is a winner of the British Orthodontic Society's Maurice Berman Prize for clinical excellence, with a particular interest in complex orthodontic treatment,…
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“We highly recommend Dr Erfan Sallom. He transformed our daughter’s teeth, and she’s extremely happy with her beautiful smile! We were looking for an Orthodontist...”
“I was very anxious about orthodontic treatment and, as such, delayed it for years. I did not need to be nervous with the expertise and...”
“I would really recommend anyone to Dr Erfan Salloum. My experience with Erfan was amazing. I had no issue; he was very knowledgeable about his...”
“I have just finished my two-year orthodontic treatment with Dr Erfan, and I would highly recommend him. He explained everything perfectly about the treatment plan,...”
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