Part 4- My Favourite Myofunctional Therapy exercises (so far) as a tongue tied singer.
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Hi everybody! My name is Gemma Milburn, and I'm a vocal coach and professional singer. In July 2023, at the age of 38, I discovered that I have a tongue tie. This was something that had never occurred to me before, but it explained quite a few things I've experienced all my life and pointed out some issues I had been completely oblivious to. If you want to know more about those, I’ve made a video on those topics, so please check out the playlist about tongue tie stuff on my channel.
Today, I’m going to share some of the myofunctional therapy exercises I’ve been working on with my myofunctional therapist. I’m currently on week eight, with my surgery coming up soon, and everything is going really well. It’s been fun and interesting. Before I show you the exercises, I want to be clear that I’m showing them for entertainment and curiosity purposes. I’m not qualified to teach these exercises, and I can’t guarantee any specific results. Also, bear in mind that I still have a tongue tie and am still in the treatment process, so I might not be doing these exercises perfectly. Please don’t copy me—contact a professional who can assess your unique situation and assign you appropriate exercises.
When I went for my tongue tie assessment, my myofunctional therapist did a thorough evaluation of my needs and the issues my tongue tie has caused. She then put together a personalised exercise program for me. These exercises might not be appropriate for you and your situation, so I’m just showing them for fun. If you want to see some interesting exercises, you’ve come to the right place.
One thing I’ve learned is that myofunctional therapy is not just about the tongue. Some exercises are for the lips, face, and jaw. For example, many tongue-tied people mouth breathe because their tongues rest on the bottom of the mouth rather than the roof, leading to a weak mouth seal. This means some exercises target strengthening the lip and face muscles. My jaw was also quite restricted from compensating for my tongue, but it has improved. Now, let’s get into the exercises.
Button Pops
For this exercise, you put a button in your mouth, create resistance by tugging it gently with your lips, and pull it out to make a popping noise. When I first started, I couldn’t always make the pop sound, but now I can. It’s a fun and surprisingly tiring exercise that strengthens the facial muscles.
Tongue Weightlifting
For this, I use a piece of string with a weight tied to the end. I gather the string in the middle of my tongue and lift the weight. This strengthens my tongue and also engages the face and jaw muscles. It’s challenging but effective.
Tongue Side-to-Side
This exercise involves sticking your tongue out horizontally and moving it side to side and then up without letting the jaw follow. It has been impactful for me, making my tongue stronger and more flexible, which is great for singing.
The Cave
The cave exercise involves lifting the tongue tip behind the front teeth and then suctioning the body of the tongue up to create two caves down the sides. It strengthens the tongue and has progressed each week with more complexity. It’s a crucial part of my therapy.
Wafer Slide
This exercise is about improving jaw range of motion. I slide a wafer between my teeth to move my jaw forwards and back. It was essential for my restricted jaw and has shown significant improvement over time.
Myo Munchie
The Myo Munchie is a silicone tool that helps position the tongue on the roof of the mouth and strengthens chewing muscles. I use it to practice static holds and chewing, which has been surprisingly difficult and rewarding.
These are just some of my top fun myo exercises. My program progresses each week, and I’m now focusing on swallowing and chewing, which I’ve done incorrectly my whole life. This therapy has not only helped my singing by allowing me to open my mouth more but also improved my sleep significantly.
I recommend myofunctional therapy for anyone considering it, but be aware that it’s a big commitment. If you’d like to see more exercises or have specific questions, let me know. I’m happy to share my journey and help others understand the benefits of this therapy. Thanks for watching, and I’ll speak to you soon!
You can access the rest of this series here:
Curious how tongue tie affects your singing? Let’s chat about it in a free discovery call. Book yours today to explore how I can help.
