Experience Better Breathing and Oral Health with Myofunctional Therapy in Harris, NY
The health of your smile is about more than just your teeth. The way you breathe, swallow, and use your oral muscles plays a major role in your overall well-being. At Cohen Dentistry, our dentist in Harris, NY, Dr. Ari Cohen offers myofunctional therapy as a non-invasive treatment that retrains the muscles of the tongue, face, and mouth to work properly. This therapy not only supports better oral health but also promotes improved sleep and breathing.
Patients from Liberty, Monticello, Livingston Manor, and the surrounding areas turn to Cohen Dentistry for specialized treatments like myofunctional therapy that go beyond routine dental care. If you’re interested in learning more about how myofunctional therapy can improve your sleep, contact our Harris dental office by calling (845) 794-4545.
Trusted Care from a Top Harris Dentist
When choosing a dentist, skill matters. At Cohen Dentistry, Dr. Cohen is passionate about helping patients improve not only their smiles but their quality of life. Dr. Ari has completed hundreds of hours of CE credits in craniofacial sleep medicine, giving him advanced knowledge in treating breathing and airway disorders. His extensive training makes him one of the most trusted providers of myofunctional therapy near Sullivan County and surrounding areas.
Patients choose Cohen Dentistry because they know they’ll receive personalized, compassionate, and evidence-based care.
What Is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is a series of personalized exercises designed to correct improper oral habits and strengthen the muscles of the mouth, tongue, and airway. Many people don’t realize how much these habits can impact daily life. Poor tongue posture, mouth breathing, and improper swallowing patterns can lead to a range of issues, including:
- Sleep-disordered breathing and snoring
- TMJ discomfort and jaw pain
- Orthodontic relapse after braces or Invisalign®
- Teeth grinding and clenching
- Speech difficulties
- Oral habits like thumb-sucking or nail biting
By focusing on proper muscle function, myofunctional therapy addresses the root cause of these problems rather than just treating symptoms.
Benefits of Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy provides a wide range of health and dental benefits, including:
- Improved Breathing – Encourages nasal breathing, which filters and humidifies the air you breathe, reducing strain on the body.
- Better Sleep Quality – Helps reduce snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, leading to deeper, more restful sleep.
- Enhanced Oral Health – Proper tongue posture reduces stress on teeth and gums, lowering the risk of gum disease, misalignment, and tooth wear.
- Jaw and Facial Balance – Supports optimal growth in children and reduces tension-related discomfort in adults.
- Orthodontic Success – Helps maintain results from braces, aligners, and other orthodontic treatments.
Who Can Benefit from Myofunctional Therapy?
This therapy is not limited to one age group—it benefits both children and adults:
- Children – Kids who mouth-breathe, snore at night, or struggle with thumb-sucking can gain long-term improvements from early intervention. Addressing these concerns early supports proper jaw growth, speech development, and orthodontic success.
- Teens and Adults – Patients dealing with TMJ pain, teeth grinding, or sleep issues often see life-changing improvements after therapy. Adults who had orthodontic treatment but noticed teeth shifting back can also stabilize results with myofunctional therapy.
- Sleep Apnea Patients – For those with mild sleep apnea, therapy can be used alongside CPAP or oral appliance therapy to improve outcomes.
Schedule a consultation with our Harris dental team by calling (845) 794-4545 to determine if myofunctional therapy is right for you.
How Myofunctional Therapy Works
Myofunctional therapy is a structured program that teaches your mouth, tongue, and facial muscles to function correctly. At Cohen Dentistry, our Harris dentist creates a personalized plan based on your unique needs. Here’s what the process typically involves:
- Comprehensive Evaluation – Dr. Cohen begins with an in-depth assessment of your oral posture, breathing patterns, and muscle function. This helps identify problem areas such as tongue thrust, mouth breathing, or weak muscle tone.
- Customized Exercises – You’ll be guided through a series of gentle exercises that retrain the tongue and facial muscles. These may include movements to improve tongue posture, strengthen lips, and encourage nasal breathing.
- Consistency and Practice – Most exercises take just a few minutes a day, but consistency is key. Patients practice at home between visits to reinforce progress.
- Ongoing Monitoring – Follow-up appointments allow Dr. Cohen to track improvement, adjust exercises, and ensure you’re building healthy, lasting habits.
Through this step-by-step approach, patients can see meaningful improvements in breathing, sleep, and oral health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, children often see the most dramatic improvements because therapy supports healthy facial development and prevents problems before they worsen. Early treatment can reduce the need for extensive orthodontics later in life.
Yes. By improving muscle tone in the tongue and airway, myofunctional therapy helps prevent airway collapse during sleep. While it may not replace CPAP for severe cases, it is very effective for mild sleep apnea and snoring.
Treatment length varies depending on the patient’s age, goals, and the severity of oral habits. On average, most programs last 6 to 12 months and include short weekly or bi-weekly sessions with Dr. Cohen. Patients are also given simple at-home exercises to complete daily, which usually take less than 15 minutes. The combination of professional guidance and consistent practice helps ensure lasting results.
Not at all. Myofunctional therapy is completely non-invasive and uses gentle, targeted exercises to strengthen oral muscles. There are no drills, shots, or surgical procedures involved. Most patients describe the process as comfortable, and many even enjoy seeing their progress over time. Since the exercises can be done at home in just a few minutes each day, therapy easily fits into most routines without causing stress or discomfort.
Improve Your Sleep with Quality Care at Our Harris Dental Office!
Myofunctional therapy is a pathway to better breathing, improved sleep, and lifelong oral health. If you’re searching for myofunctional therapy near you, trust the experience and dedication of Dr. Ari Cohen at Cohen Dentistry.
With advanced training in craniofacial sleep medicine and a compassionate, patient-first approach, Dr. Cohen helps both children and adults achieve healthier habits and lasting results.
Don’t wait to take the next step toward better health, contact our Harris dentist today by calling (845) 794-4545 to schedule your consultation and experience the benefits of myofunctional therapy for you or your loved one.