Myofunctional Therapy Tongue Ties and Lip Ties
Healthy Function Creates Healthy Development
Flexible Financing
No insurance required
Free virtual consult
Same-week appointments
Myofunctional Therapy, Tongue Ties & Lip Ties
Healthy Function Creates Healthy Development
Breathing. Swallowing. Feeding. Speaking. Chewing. Sleeping.
All of these everyday activities rely on your tongue, lips, jaw, and facial muscles working together in total harmony.
When a tongue tie or lip tie restricts normal movement, kids end up picking up muscle compensations. And those bad habits can mess with feeding, speech, jaw growth, airway health, and even how straight their teeth grow.
At Forever Smiles, we know that snipping the tight tissue is only half the battle. Restoring actual, healthy movement is what really matters.
What Is Myofunctional Therapy?
Think of myofunctional therapy as physical therapy for your mouth and face.
Through simple, daily exercises, patients retrain their tongue, lips, cheeks, and jaw to improve:
Proper tongue posture
Clean swallowing habits
Chewing efficiency
Clear speech
Natural nasal breathing
Facial muscle strength
Healthy oral resting posture
These simple routines help retrain muscles that have been moving the wrong way for months or even years.
Understanding Tongue and Lip Ties
A tongue or lip tie happens when a small band of tissue—the frenum—holds back normal movement.
Depending on how tight it is, that restriction can trigger:
Tough breastfeeding or bottle-feeding sessions
Poor latching
Trouble swallowing milk
Speech delays or struggles
Constant mouth breathing
Incorrect swallowing patterns
Misaligned teeth and narrow arches
Sleep-disordered breathing
Limited tongue movement
But not every tie needs to be cut. We look way past what the tissue looks like on the surface—we evaluate how well your tongue actually moves and functions.
Why Myofunctional Therapy Matters
Releasing the tissue does not magically teach your tongue how to move properly.
Most patients spent years compensating with other facial muscles before getting treatment.
Without retraining, the tongue naturally falls right back into its old, bad habits, and the healing tissue carries a much higher risk of snapping right back shut.
And that is why myofunctional therapy serves as the backbone of a successful recovery.
Why Function Comes Before Form
At Forever Smiles, we know that healthy movement drives healthy growth.
The tongue acts as a natural guide for your growing jaw, airway, and bite. When it rests comfortably against the roof of the mouth and moves properly during speech and swallowing, it naturally shapes a strong face and a wide, stable bite.
We are not just here to do a quick procedure.
And our true goal is restoring real, healthy function that serves your child for the rest of their life.
Our Three-Step Treatment Philosophy
1
Pre-Treatment Therapy
Whenever possible, exercises start before we ever release the tie.
This helps:
- Speed up your post-op recovery
- Build up muscle awareness
- Increase tongue flexibility
- Strengthen oral muscles
- Prepare tissue for smooth healing
Learning the moves before surgery also makes them infinitely easier to perform while healing.
2
Laser Frenectomy
If a release makes sense, we perform a precise laser frenectomy to free the trapped tissue.
Using a dental laser gives us:
- Extreme precision
- Virtually zero bleeding
- Super comfortable healing
- Minimal post-op soreness
- A quick, easy in-office visit
The procedure restores physical movement—but the muscle rehab afterward restores true function.
3
Post-Treatment Therapy
After surgery, your mouth muscles have to learn entirely new movement patterns.
Post-op exercises help:
- Prevent the tissue from reattaching
- Boost tongue mobility
- Teach the tongue to rest on the roof of the mouth
- Train proper swallowing
- Clear up speech articulation
- Encourage healthy breathing through the nose
- Break long-standing muscle compensations
Sticking to these exercises guarantees long-term success.
Start Today with a free video consult
Quick, easy, and completely commitment-free — from the comfort of your home.
A Team-Based Approach
Getting the absolute best result takes a team effort.
Depending on what your child needs, we often team up with:
- Dedicated myofunctional therapists
- Lactation consultants
- Speech-language pathologists
- Pediatricians
- ENT specialists
- Orthodontists
Working together helps your child build healthy oral habits that support a lifetime of proper growth.
The Benefits of Combined Treatment
Pairing a precise tie release with myofunctional therapy can deliver huge upgrades in:
- Infant feeding and latching
- Breastfeeding comfort for mom
- Clear speech development
- Chewing ease
- Proper swallowing
- Overall tongue movement
- Resting tongue position
- Deep nasal breathing
- Airway health
- Restful sleep
- Stable orthodontic results
Every mouth is built differently, so we customize every single recommendation around your child.
Helping Children Thrive
Whether your child struggles with nursing, talking, breathing, or moving their tongue, we are here to get to the root cause and fix it for good.
At Forever Smiles, we want to help every child breathe easier, eat better, speak clearly, and build the healthy foundation they need for a lifetime of confident smiles.
Benefits of Myofunctional Therapy Tongue Ties and Lip Ties
Precise laser frenectomy
Three-step treatment approach
Myofunctional therapy included
Team-based collaborative care
Improves feeding and speech
Supports airway health
Patient Testimonials
Our patients’ stories are the best advertisement we have. These video testimonials were recorded by real Forever Smiles patients — no scripts, no actors, no incentives.
Randy
New Teeth in One Day
“My pain was so bad, I flinched every time I took a bite. I was going to a pain clinic, and the guy took one look at me and said, ‘It’s your teeth.’
John
Full dental restoration with implants and crowns
“I want to thank Dr. Knorr, all your assistants, everyone. It’s the best thing I ever did. I would do it again, and I would come to this place again. As a matter of fact, it’s the only place I’m coming to.”
Marion
Full dental restoration
“You know, trying to not smile all the time to all of a sudden a big smile now. It still brings tears to my eyes—from no confidence to what I am right now—it’s amazing. Come see Forever Smiles, the best place I have ever been to. Definitely the place to go.”
Linda
Dental implant and crown
“I’ve been a patient of Dr. Knorr’s since he started his practice in Glencoe. I’ve stuck with him and the group just because they’re great people.
Keith
Chrome denture
“I was having a lot of issues with my teeth—a lot of pain. At Forever Smiles, we got a game plan moving forward. I don’t have pain anymore and haven’t had dental pain in a long, long time.”
Richard
New Teeth in One Day
“I get a lot of compliments from people who knew I had bad teeth, and they say, ‘Man, your teeth look great!’ Dr. Knorr’s a great guy, and they make you feel comfortable here!”
Trudy
Crowns and gum contouring
“I was told I could go anywhere and get nice teeth, but if I came to see Dr. Knorr, he’d give me a beautiful smile.”
Take the First Step To a Healthy Smile
Our team is here to listen, guide, and care for you — whether it’s been years since your last visit or you’re ready for a fresh start. At Forever Smiles, you’ll be treated with respect.
Flexible payment options
No insurance required
Free virtual consult available
Same-week appointments
Before & After Gallery
See the Real-Life Transformations Our Team Creates
Actual patients from our Glencoe practice. Unretouched photos. Results vary by patient.
Flexible Dental Financing & Payment Options
Solutions Designed to Help Make Treatment More Manageable
At Forever Smiles, we require payment at the time of service via cash, check, debit, or credit card. For patients who prefer to explore payment plans, we offer access to third-party financing options such as CareCredit®, Proceed Finance, and Cherry Finance. Some plans may offer promotional financing, including 0% options for those who qualify. Approval and terms are determined by each financing provider.
As a service to our patients, we also handle dental insurance claims on your behalf. Our team works closely with you to help maximize your benefits and ensure claims are submitted accurately and in a timely manner.
Whether it’s your first visit or you’re planning more comprehensive treatment, we’re here to help you understand your options and feel confident in your care. Our goal is to make the entire process as simple, transparent, and stress-free as possible.
Not sure where to start or what your insurance covers?
Myofunctional Therapy Tongue Ties and Lip Ties at Forever Smiles – Find Your Location
Forever Smiles operates three dental office locations across Minnesota, each offering the same quality of care.
Book Your Dental Appointment Today
If you’ve been putting off dental care or are ready to take the next step, our team is here to make it easy and comfortable from day one.