Myofunctional Tips for Managing Stress

We often think of stress as something that just lives in our minds, but it shows up in our bodies—especially in the muscles of the face, jaw, and mouth. In this edition, we're highlighting how chronic stress can lead to clenching, grinding, poor tongue posture, disrupted breathing, and even swallowing dysfunction. These patterns don’t just cause discomfort—they can interfere with sleep, speech, and overall orofacial development.

Tips for Managing Stress

✅ Nasal breathing check-ins — Place your tongue to the roof of your mouth and take deep breaths through your nose throughout the day.

✅ Body scans — Notice if you're holding tension in your jaw, shoulders, or tongue. Relax and reset.

✅ Screen breaks — Prolonged screen time can worsen posture and tension. Build in stretch breaks.

✅ Breathwork or mindfulness — Try simple exercises like box breathing or child-friendly breathing games.

✅ Hydration & soft tissue health — Staying hydrated keeps your muscles and fascia working properly.

✅ Therapy support — Myofunctional therapy helps retrain the muscles, restore proper function, and reduce the impact of stress on oral habits.

Stress may be part of life, but it doesn’t have to take a toll on your oral and facial health. Whether you're an adult struggling with jaw tension or a parent noticing changes in your child’s breathing or sleep, we’re here to help.

Let’s work together to bring awareness, balance, and healthy function back to your face and body—one breath at a time.

Want to learn more? Schedule a consultation to see how myofunctional therapy can help!