Services · Louisville, Kentucky
Breathing Retraining.
A focused therapy program to make nasal breathing the default at rest, during sleep, and during light activity. Addresses the muscle and habit patterns behind chronic mouth breathing — and the downstream effects on sleep quality, facial development, and airway health.
Reviewed by Gina Sabbak, RDH. Last reviewed .
Who it's for
This service is designed for:
Children or adults who breathe through their mouth during the day or during sleep
Patients with snoring, sleep-disordered breathing, or mild sleep apnea who want to address the muscle side
Patients whose ENT, allergist, or dentist has identified nasal obstruction that has been addressed (or is being addressed) but the mouth breathing habit persists
How it works
What to expect.
Why nasal breathing matters
Nasal breathing filters, humidifies, and warms air before it reaches the lungs. It also produces nitric oxide, which supports immune function and oxygen uptake. Mouth breathing skips all of these benefits and changes the resting posture of the tongue, jaw, and face over time.
How the program works
Targeted exercises to retrain the resting posture of the tongue and lips, plus habit cues to recognize when the mouth has fallen open. Most patients see improvement within the first 4–6 weeks of consistent practice.
When nasal breathing needs medical support
If the nose is physically obstructed (deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, chronic congestion), breathing retraining works best after medical or surgical treatment. We coordinate with ENTs and allergists as needed.
What improvement looks like
Most patients report better sleep quality, less snoring, fewer headaches on waking, and improved exercise tolerance. These changes are typically noticed within 6–12 weeks of consistent practice.
Related reading
This service is commonly used for
- Mouth breathing
How this condition typically presents and the patterns we address.
→ Related article: Mouth breathing in children: why it matters - Snoring
How this condition typically presents and the patterns we address.
→ Related article: Snoring vs sleep apnea: what the difference is - Sleep-disordered breathing
How this condition typically presents and the patterns we address.
→ Related article: Snoring vs sleep apnea: what the difference is - All services
The complete set of myofunctional therapy services we offer.
- Book an evaluation
60-minute in-person assessment of oral posture, swallow, and breathing.
Common questions about breathing retraining
- My nose is always stuffy. Can I still do this program?
- It depends on why. If your stuffiness is from allergies, we coordinate with your allergist. If it's structural, we coordinate with your ENT. The breathing program works best when the nose is functional.
- How long until I see results?
- Most patients notice changes within 4–6 weeks of consistent practice. Full habit change typically takes 3–6 months.
- Will this help my snoring?
- Often yes — for snoring caused by mouth breathing and tongue posture. For snoring caused by other factors (enlarged tonsils, sleep position, alcohol), we coordinate with your sleep medicine provider.
- Does this help with sleep apnea?
- Myofunctional therapy is an evidence-supported adjunct treatment for mild to moderate sleep apnea. It does not replace CPAP or other primary treatments, but it can reduce severity over time and improve response to other therapies.
What patients say
Real reviews from patients of 502 MYO, moderated by Gina personally.
Gina is amazing! I stopped snoring and sleep more every night!
Ready to begin?
The first visit is 60 minutes. Call (502) 901-8089 or request an appointment online.
Book an evaluation