Airway Health, Breathing & Sleep

Breathing and sleep play an important role in health, function and quality of life.

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What does an OMT actually have to do with my breathing and sleep?

Breathing and sleep are important to energy, mood, concentration and daily function. When breathing is inefficient or sleep is disrupted, the body may not receive the restorative benefits of healthy sleep and breathing.

Mouth breathing, snoring and other changes in nighttime breathing can be associated with sleep-disordered breathing and may warrant further assessment.

Airway anatomy and function can influence breathing patterns, and factors such as nasal obstruction, oral rest posture, craniofacial structure and neuromuscular function may contribute to mouth breathing or sleep-related breathing concerns.

Craniofacial structure, dental arch development, oral posture and airway function can interact in complex ways. Some individuals may develop compensatory patterns involving the jaw, neck and facial muscles, including clenching or muscle tension.

How Important Is an Open Airway?

An unobstructed and efficiently functioning airway is important for comfortable breathing and healthy sleep. When breathing or sleep is disrupted, identifying and addressing contributing factors may help support better sleep quality and daytime function.

Nasal breathing is an important component of healthy respiratory function. Persistent mouth breathing may have a number of contributing factors, so understanding why the pattern is present is an important part of appropriate assessment.

As an airway-focused Registered Dental Hygienist and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist, I assess orofacial functional patterns that may be relevant to breathing and sleep. When additional assessment or treatment is appropriate, I work collaboratively with other dental and healthcare professionals as part of a comprehensive approach to care.


Signs That Breathing or Sleep May Need Further Assessment

Breathing and sleep concerns can present differently from person to person. Some signs that may warrant further assessment include:

  • Persistent mouth breathing during the day or while sleeping

  • Difficulty maintaining a comfortable lip seal at rest

  • Chronic nasal congestion or difficulty breathing through the nose

  • Snoring or noisy breathing during sleep

  • Restless or disrupted sleep

  • Frequent changes in sleeping position

  • Dry mouth upon waking

  • Morning headaches

  • Daytime fatigue or difficulty maintaining attention

  • Teeth grinding or clenching

  • A low or altered resting tongue posture

  • Difficulty with nasal breathing during exercise

These signs do not necessarily indicate a specific airway or sleep disorder. They may have many possible causes and should be considered as part of an individual's overall health history and assessment.

How Can Myofunctional Therapy Support Airway Health?

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy focuses on the function and coordination of the tongue, lips, jaw and other orofacial muscles. When these functional patterns are relevant to breathing or sleep concerns, individualized therapy may help support healthier oral resting posture and breathing habits.

An OMT assessment may look at:

  • Resting tongue posture

  • Lip posture and lip seal

  • Nasal versus oral breathing patterns

  • Tongue mobility and coordination

  • Swallowing function

  • Jaw and oral muscle patterns

  • Oral habits that may influence function

  • Compensatory patterns involving the jaw, lips and facial muscles

The goal is not to diagnose or treat an airway disorder. Instead, an OMT assessment helps identify whether orofacial functional patterns may be relevant and whether myofunctional therapy may be appropriate as part of a broader plan of care.

Airway Health Requires a Collaborative Approach

Breathing and sleep concerns can involve many different factors, including nasal obstruction, allergies, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, airway anatomy, dental and craniofacial development, sleep-related breathing disorders and orofacial muscle function.

For this reason, OMT is often most effective when it is part of a collaborative approach. Depending on the individual's needs, care may involve a dentist, orthodontist, physician, ENT, sleep professional, speech-language pathologist, physiotherapist or other qualified healthcare provider.

When appropriate, Back To Your Roots works alongside the professionals involved in a patient's care to help address the orofacial functional component of their overall treatment plan.