If your child has been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and their doctor has recommended tonsil and adenoid removal (T&A surgery), you might think that surgery alone will solve the problem. But research shows that without additional treatment, sleep apnea often comes back. That’s because while surgery  removes physical blockages in the airway, it doesn’t address how your child breathes and uses their mouth, tongue, and throat muscles—which plays a major role in sleep apnea.

This is where myofunctional therapy (MFTOMT) comes in. Studies show that when children combine T&A surgery with myofunctional therapy, they are much more likely to experience long-term success and avoid future breathing issues.

Dr. Christian Guilleminault, one of the world’s leading sleep researchers, found that children who continued mouth breathing and had poor tongue posture after surgery were much more likely to see their sleep apnea return. His 2015 study, Mouth breathing, nasal disuse, and pediatric sleep-disordered breathing 1, highlighted that:

✅ Mouth breathing persists even after surgery in many children, leading to airway collapse during sleep.
✅ Poor tongue and orofacial muscle tone can keep the airway from staying open at night.
✅ Without muscle training, the benefits of T&A surgery are often temporary.

Without fixing these functional issues, sleep apnea symptoms can return (or never even leave)—sometimes just a few years after surgery.

How Myofunctional Therapy Helps

Myofunctional therapy trains the tongue, lips, and throat muscles to work properly. It helps children:

✔️ Switch to nasal breathing – This reduces airway inflammation and improves oxygen levels.
✔️ Strengthen airway muscles – A stronger airway stays open during sleep.
✔️ Improve tongue posture – Keeping the tongue in the right place prevents airway collapse.
✔️ Support proper facial and jaw growth – This can help prevent future breathing and orthodontic issues.

What the Research Says

Studies show that when myofunctional therapy is added to T&A surgery:

📌 Children maintain better breathing long-term. One study found that kids who did myofunctional therapy after surgery had almost no sleep apnea four years later. Those who didn’t had their symptoms return. 2

📌 MFT helps shape healthy facial growth. Research found that kids who did myofunctional therapy after surgery had better facial development, which also improved their breathing. 3

By treating both the structure and function, we give children the best chance at long-term, healthy sleep.

 If your child is (or you are) scheduled for tonsil and adenoid removal, adding myofunctional therapy before and after surgery can make a huge difference in their sleep and overall health.

At Functional Face, we specialize in helping young and old breathe, sleep, and thrive with myofunctional therapy. Let’s make sure your child's (or yours) surgery leads to lasting success!

 Schedule a Free Consultation Today and learn how we can support your sleep, breathing, and health.

1. Lee, S. Y., Guilleminault, C., Chiu, H. Y., & Sullivan, S. S. (2015). Mouth breathing, "nasal disuse," and pediatric sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung, 19(4), 1257–1264. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-015-1154-6
2. Koka, V., De Vito, A., Roisman, G., Petitjean, M., Filograna Pignatelli, G. R., Padovani, D., & Randerath, W. (2021). Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Pathophysiological Perspective. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 57(4), 323. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57040323
3. Shan, H. Q., Wang, Y. H., Yu, L. M., Li, X. Y., & Liu, Y. H. (2021). Shanghai kou qiang yi xue = Shanghai journal of stomatology, 30(4), 389–393.