Smile Tone

Smile Tone Restoring orofacial function through myofunctional therapy for ages 3+ in Brisbane and Online. Creating better orofacial habits for all ages.

08/06/2026

🧠😴 ADHD and sleep: a connection worth understanding

Children who aren’t sleeping well don’t always look tired.

In fact, poor sleep can sometimes show up as:
• hyperactivity
• difficulty concentrating
• impulsivity
• emotional dysregulation
• behavioural challenges

Research has identified a relationship between sleep quality and attention, learning, memory, and behaviour.

Many children diagnosed with ADHD also experience sleep difficulties, including:
• snoring
• mouth breathing
• restless sleep
• sleep-disordered breathing

This doesn’t mean sleep causes ADHD.

But it does mean sleep deserves attention.

When assessing a child’s wellbeing, it’s important to consider the whole picture — including how they’re breathing and sleeping.

Because healthy sleep supports healthy development.





07/06/2026

👅✨ What does good tongue movement actually look like?

A healthy tongue should do much more than just “stick out.”

Good tongue function includes the ability to:
✔ lift to the palate comfortably
✔ move side to side
✔ elevate without the jaw excessively compensating
✔ maintain suction to the palate
✔ coordinate during chewing and swallowing
✔ move with precision — not just force

At rest, the tongue should also sit gently against the palate with the lips comfortably closed and breathing occurring through the nose.

(Pause)

Some signs tongue movement may not be functioning optimally can include:
• difficulty lifting the tongue
• excessive jaw movement during tongue tasks
• tongue thrusting
• messy chewing
• low tongue posture
• mouth breathing
• speech compensation patterns

The tongue is part of a much bigger system involving breathing, posture, swallowing and airway function.

So when we assess the tongue…

we’re not just asking:
👉 “Can it move?”

We’re asking:
👉 “How well does it function within the whole system?”

👅 Mobility matters.
🧠 Coordination matters more.





31/05/2026

👅😮 Signs enlarged tonsils may be affecting orofacial function

Enlarged tonsils don’t always present as repeated infections or sore throats.

Sometimes the impact is more functional.

Because large tonsils can influence how a child:
• breathes
• chews
• swallows
• rests their tongue
• and holds their mouth posture.

Some common signs may include:
• open-mouth posture
• snoring or restless sleep
• difficulty nasal breathing
• low tongue posture
• messy chewing
• drooling
• speech differences
• forward head posture

Children often adapt remarkably well…

which means these patterns can become “normal” for them over time.

Assessment is about understanding how the airway and orofacial system are functioning together.

👃 Airway influences function.
👅 Function influences growth.





25/05/2026

A large portion of craniofacial growth occurs in early childhood.

This is why breathing patterns, tongue posture and oral function may play an important role in how the jaws and airway develop.

Early years matter.

Small functional habits can have a long-term influence on growth and development.





16/05/2026

😴💨 Don’t let the thought of CPAP stop you from getting a sleep test

One of the most common things we hear is:

“I don’t want a sleep study because I don’t want to end up on CPAP.”

But here’s the thing —

having a sleep test doesn’t automatically mean CPAP is your only option.

A sleep assessment is simply about gathering information and understanding what’s happening with your breathing and sleep quality.

And depending on the individual, management options may include:
• lifestyle and sleep habit changes
• nasal breathing support
• positional strategies
• mandibular advancement splints
• airway-focused dental or ENT management
• myofunctional therapy
• or CPAP where appropriate

For some people, CPAP can be life-changing and incredibly important.

For others, a combination of approaches may be recommended.

The key is understanding what’s contributing to the problem first.

Because untreated sleep-disordered breathing can affect far more than just feeling tired.

😴 Better information = better decisions.





05/05/2026

👃✨ Nasal hygiene matters more than most people realise

We talk a lot about oral hygiene…
but healthy breathing starts with the nose.

The nose does far more than just move air.

It helps:
• filter particles and irritants
• warm and humidify air
• support nitric oxide production
• and create the ideal environment for healthy nasal breathing.

And yes — the nose has its own microbiome too.

When the nose is congested, irritated or inflamed, the body often compensates with mouth breathing.

Over time, this may influence:
😴 sleep quality
👅 tongue posture
💨 breathing patterns
😮 dry mouth
🦷 oral health
and overall airway function.

Simple ways to support nasal hygiene may include:
✔ saline sprays or rinses
✔ staying hydrated
✔ reducing environmental irritants
✔ humidification in dry environments
✔ addressing persistent congestion rather than ignoring it

And a fascinating one…

🎵 Humming may help support sinus ventilation and nitric oxide production.

Healthy breathing doesn’t just happen automatically.

Sometimes we need to support the system first.

👃 Healthy nose.
🫁 Better breathing.
🧠 Better function





05/05/2026

👅🫁 What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT)?

A simple way to think about OMT is:

👉 it’s a bit like a cross between
exercise physiology and physiotherapy… but for the mouth, face, tongue and airway.

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy focuses on improving how the muscles of the face and mouth function together.

This may include:
• breathing patterns
• tongue posture
• chewing
• swallowing
• lip function
• jaw stability
• oral habits
• and muscle coordination.

OMT is function-focused.

It’s not just about strengthening muscles — it’s about retraining patterns, improving coordination, and supporting more efficient function within the whole body system.

Because the tongue, airway, posture and nervous system are more connected than most people realise.

OMT is often used as part of a collaborative approach alongside other health professionals including dentists, ENTs, orthodontists, speech pathologists, osteopaths and medical practitioners.

👅 Small muscles.
🧠 Big influence.
🫁 Whole-body connections.





29/04/2026

Mastication does more than prepare food for digestion.

Chewing stimulates trigeminal sensory pathways, may support alertness and cerebral activity, and helps engage the parasympathetic “rest and digest” state.

And yes — feeling safe and regulated around meals matters too.

Chew slowly.
Chew well.
Chew with intention.

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27/04/2026

Poor sleep in perimenopause is often framed purely as a hormonal issue — but the story may be broader.

Hormonal shifts may influence breathing stability, airway muscle tone, clenching, nervous system regulation and sleep architecture.

An emerging conversation is whether some symptoms reflect not just hormones, but changes in function being unmasked.

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can be part of the solution to improving sleep.





24/04/2026

👅📏 Assessment matters

Not all tongue ties present the same way, and not all require the same approach.

At Smile Tone, we use tools such as MyoMate alongside clinical assessment to evaluate tongue function — including range of movement, coordination, and how the tongue works within the broader orofacial system.

Assessment focuses on function, not just appearance.

Where a restriction is identified and considered clinically relevant, we work collaboratively with referring practitioners to support a functionally informed, manual therapy–guided approach to care, including preparation and follow-up where appropriate.

This may involve:
• supporting oral muscle function
• addressing surrounding tissue tension
• guiding pre- and post-procedure exercises
• coordinating care within a multidisciplinary team

Management decisions are individualised and based on clinical findings and patient needs.

👅 Function-focused
📏 Individualised assessment
🤝 Collaborative care





Address

86 Brookes Street, Fortitude Valley
Brisbane, QLD
4006

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 2pm

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