Pediatric Myofunctional Therapy in Oklahoma City
Helping Children Breathe Better, Sleep Better, and Grow Well
If your child snores, breathes through their mouth, or has been flagged for a tongue tie — you're in the right place. At OMT of Oklahoma, we specialize in pediatric myofunctional therapy for children ages 4 and up, helping kids build the healthy oral habits and breathing patterns that support their growth, sleep, and overall development.
We know how overwhelming it can feel to search for answers when something seems off with your child. Our goal is to make this process clear, compassionate, and effective — for both you and your child.
Is Your Child Showing These Signs?
Many of the most common childhood health concerns — from restless sleep to behavioral issues — have an overlooked root cause: how your child breathes.
Children who breathe through their mouth or have restricted tongue function may show signs including:
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Snoring or noisy breathing during sleep
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Restless sleep, frequent waking, or bedwetting
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Chronic mouth breathing — lips apart at rest
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Tongue tie (ankyloglossia) — diagnosed or suspected
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Jaw pain, teeth grinding, or clenching
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Crowded teeth or narrow palate
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Hyperactivity, inattention, or difficulty focusing
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Chronic congestion or frequent ear infections
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Speech delays or articulation concerns
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Fatigue or difficulty waking in the morning
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Dark circles under the eyes
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Slouched posture or forward head position
If your child has several of these signs, a myofunctional evaluation can help identify whether breathing and oral function are contributing factors.
What is Pediatric Myofunctional Therapy?
Pediatric myofunctional therapy is an exercise-based program designed to retrain the muscles of the tongue, lips, and face — helping children establish nasal breathing, correct tongue posture, and develop proper swallowing patterns.
Think of it like physical therapy, but for the mouth and airway.
When children breathe through their nose with the tongue resting on the roof of the mouth and lips gently closed, the jaw and face develop properly. When they don't — due to mouth breathing, tongue tie, or poor oral habits — the effects can ripple through their sleep, behavior, dental development, and overall health.
Myofunctional therapy addresses the root cause, not just the symptoms.
What We Treat in Children
We work with children ages 4 and up for:
Mouth Breathing Chronic mouth breathing affects facial development, sleep quality, and dental health. We help children retrain nasal breathing patterns through targeted exercises and habit correction.
Tongue Tie (Ankyloglossia) We provide pre- and post-frenectomy myofunctional therapy to prepare the tongue for release and retrain proper function afterward. Therapy before and after a tongue tie release significantly improves outcomes.
Snoring & Sleep-Disordered Breathing Children who snore are often not getting restful sleep — which affects behavior, attention, and growth. Myofunctional therapy strengthens the airway muscles that collapse during sleep, reducing snoring and improving sleep quality.
Tongue Thrust & Atypical Swallowing An atypical swallowing pattern pushes the tongue against or between the teeth, contributing to open bite, speech issues, and orthodontic relapse. We correct the pattern at the source.
Orthodontic Support Myofunctional therapy before and after orthodontic treatment addresses the muscle patterns that cause relapse — helping your child's results last.
Oral Habits Thumb sucking, pacifier use, and nail biting can affect dental development and oral posture. We help children break these habits gently and effectively.
What to Expect
The Evaluation (60–90 minutes) Your child's first visit is a comprehensive evaluation — not just a symptom checklist. We assess tongue mobility and posture, lip seal, breathing patterns at rest, swallowing function, frenulum function, sleep history, and dental and medical history. We take time to explain everything we find and answer your questions before recommending next steps.
The Therapy Program If therapy is recommended, your child will meet with us every other week — in person in Oklahoma City or virtually throughout Oklahoma. Sessions are hands-on, engaging, and designed to feel approachable for kids. Most pediatric programs include 12–14 sessions.
Daily Exercises Your child will practice simple exercises at home — just 5 minutes, twice a day. We make these fun and age-appropriate, and we coach parents on how to support their child between sessions. Consistency is what drives results.
Why Parents Choose OMT of Oklahoma
Jennifer DeJonge, RDH, OMT brings over 22 years of clinical dental experience and specialized myofunctional therapy training to every pediatric evaluation. As a mother of twins who struggled with snoring, grinding, and sleep issues that were dismissed as "normal," Jennifer understands firsthand what it feels like to search for real answers for your child.
She is warm, patient, and genuinely skilled at connecting with kids — making sessions feel encouraging rather than clinical.
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Ages 4 and up
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In-person in Oklahoma City and virtually throughout Oklahoma
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Collaborative care with your child's dentist, orthodontist, ENT, or pediatrician
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Written evaluation summaries available for referring providers
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MyoMentor-trained with 22+ years of clinical dental experience
What Parents Are Saying
"Myofunctional therapy has helped my son so much with his sleep and behavior. Jennifer made the sessions fun for him while helping make his future better. Could not recommend her enough." — Oklahoma City Mom, Pediatric Sleep & Behavior
"My son struggled with mouth breathing for years and we had no idea it could be related to his tongue posture and airway. Within weeks we noticed he was sleeping better and keeping his mouth closed during the day." — Oklahoma City Mom, Pediatric Mouth Breathing & Sleep
"She is absolutely amazing with my daughter. She knows how to connect with her, keep her engaged, and make the sessions feel positive and encouraging instead of stressful." — Oklahoma City Mom
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age can my child start myofunctional therapy? We see children ages 4 and up. Earlier intervention often produces faster, more lasting results — the younger the child, the more adaptable the neuromuscular system.
How do I know if my child needs an evaluation? If your child snores, breathes through their mouth, has been flagged for a tongue tie, or is showing signs of poor sleep quality — an evaluation is worth having. Many parents come to us after noticing signs for years and being told it was "normal." It isn't always.
Will my child actually cooperate with the exercises? Yes — most children do surprisingly well. We design exercises to be age-appropriate and engaging, and we coach you as the parent on how to make practice part of your daily routine. Children respond to consistency and encouragement, and we set both you and your child up for success.
Do you work with our dentist or orthodontist? Absolutely. We communicate directly with referring providers and coordinate care with your child's dental and medical team throughout therapy.
Is therapy available virtually? Yes. We offer virtual sessions throughout Oklahoma for families outside the Oklahoma City area.