Tongue rehabilitation: assessment, exercises and appliances
Tongue rehabilitation focuses on a tongue function, such as resting posture or movement during swallowing. It starts with an assessment and may involve exercises or an appliance. This guide explains the different steps and helps you find the article that addresses your question.
What function needs attention?
First, identify the difficulty: resting posture, movement during swallowing or another functional concern. A tongue touching the palate is not enough to conclude that everything is working well, just as a gap between the teeth does not establish a tongue disorder. The relationship between oral function and tooth position is complex. Proffit, 1978.
Start with our guides to tongue resting posture and the tongue and tooth movement in adults.
Adults and children need an individual assessment
For a child, the dentition, growth and habits all matter. For an adult, dental health and any ongoing treatment also count. There is no universal program to copy from a video. Systematic reviews describe limited evidence for myofunctional therapy as an addition to orthodontic treatment. Homem et al., 2014; Koletsi et al., 2018.
- Tongue rehabilitation for adults
- Tongue rehabilitation for children
- Physical therapists and speech-language pathologists: understanding their roles in the French care pathway
Exercises: learning a movement that fits your needs
The program depends on the function assessed and the planned follow-up. A strengthening exercise does not necessarily address a coordination difficulty. Frequency, duration and criteria for progression are agreed with the professional: extra sets do not guarantee a better result.
Our guides explain how exercises are selected, duration and follow-up, and the difference between strengthening and rehabilitating the tongue.
Where does an appliance fit in?
The Myoforce appliance is a prefabricated molded device. MyoTrain is used for tongue exercises. Their shapes and uses differ; neither replaces an assessment. Check the instructions, size and wearing guidance before use.
See our guide to tongue-positioning appliances to compare the different types.
What cannot be promised
Rehabilitation does not guarantee straight teeth, avoidance of orthodontic treatment or a change in facial appearance. None of the studies in our scientific evidence file establishes these outcomes for Myoforce. Findings must be interpreted in light of the population studied, accompanying treatment and quality of the evidence.