Sherry Jacobsen, BSDH, Registered AOMT-C® · Peoria, AZ 85383

Breathe, rest, and function the way your body intended.

Orofacial myofunctional therapy retrains the muscles of the tongue, lips, and face — for children and adults living with tongue thrust, mouth breathing, tongue-tie, snoring, and jaw tension.

Book an evaluation 623-252-0529

What is an OMD?

An orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) is characterized by an abnormal lip, jaw, or tongue position during rest or the oral phase of swallowing. It can also include abnormal oral habits.

Common symptoms

Tongue posture and resting position, chronic open-mouth positioning, and dental abnormalities such as overjet and open bite.

How treatment works

Treatment is individualized and focuses on tongue and facial resting postures, the oral phase of swallowing, and coordinated muscle function. The best outcomes are achieved when prescribed exercises are practiced every day.

Signs of an orofacial myofunctional disorder

Tongue Thrust

Tongue thrusting is the habit of pushing the tongue forward between the upper and lower front teeth during the oral phase of swallowing. The proper position for the tip of the tongue is to push against the gum above the back of the upper front teeth, rather than between the upper and lower teeth.

Open Bite

A variety of causes are responsible for the compulsion to continually push one's tongue forward; discerning which it is depends on the person. If a young child sucks a thumb at an early age — and does not stop the habit by the age of four, warns the American Dental Association — the upper and lower teeth can become altered in a way that creates a dental condition called open bite.

Open Mouth Breathing

Along with a tongue thrust, the identification and treatment of an open-mouth breathing posture and weak lip seal is extremely important. Mouth breathing may be habitual or due to an obstruction.

Signs and symptoms can also include

Tongue-Tie
Jaw Pain
Snoring
Chronic Headaches
Grinding
Oral-phase swallowing difficulty
Poor Posture
Sleep Apnea
Tongue posture & oral habits
Digestive Issues
Orthodontic Relapse
Chronic Tension
Mood Disorders

The evidence

Most recent scientific literature has shown that treatment for orofacial myofunctional disorders can be 80–90% effective in correcting oral-phase swallowing and rest posture functions.

It also shows these corrections are retained years after successful completion of treatment (Hahn & Hahn, 1992). Patients are individually evaluated to discover all of the factors that may be involved — especially important where there are dental, medical, or airway concerns. A multidisciplinary professional approach is vital to successful treatment and includes dentists, orthodontists, allergists, and physicians.

How therapy works Read the research

From the store

Products used and recommended in practice.

All products

CloSYS Mouthrinse

Gentle, alcohol-free rinse that neutralizes odor-causing bacteria without burning.

$22.99

CloSYS Toothpaste

Low-abrasion fluoride toothpaste with a mild, sulfate-free formula.

$13.99

HYDRO FLOSS Oral Irrigator

Magnetic hydro-therapy irrigator that reduces plaque and tartar buildup.

$169.99

What people are saying

Reviews from Google and Yelp, in patients' own words.

Google reviews

Leave a Google review

Sherry has been fantastic to work with! She has really helped my son with his tongue placement and pre/post to tongue tie release therapy. We have seen results like less congestion in the morning upon waking, his tongue is in the correct placement, mouth closed (most) nights. She's always available to help, patient and very responsive. Doing it virtually has been great to fit our busy schedule. Definitely recommend.
Jake Strong
We reached out to Sherry for help with our daughter due to open mouth breathing while sleeping, snoring, and restlessness. Sherry worked alongside her dentist during palate expansion, helping our daughter with eating, breathing, posture, attention, and sleeping better. Highly recommend her services — we really saw a difference in our daughter's before and after pictures. Sherry was always quick to reply and available whenever needed!
Caitlin Werly
Arrowhead Myo has been a true lifesaver. The evaluation was extremely thorough, and she took the time to understand my breathing issues and create a plan that actually worked. Her support after my surgery was incredible — without her guidance, my recovery would've been long and overwhelming. Highly recommend to anyone looking for real results and compassionate care!
C. Anonymous
Sherry is phenomenal at what she does! She has helped connect the dots to so many life-long issues I have been dealing with. Her exam was so thorough and her recommendations were so helpful. My 8 year old daughter started seeing her for care as well. Sherry has been by our side for procedures and referrals, and we are so thankful for her knowledge. Working with her has been the best decision.
Marina Moreno
I've been very pleased with Sherry and her work with my kids. She is diligent and willing to work alongside our dentist and orthodontist to ensure the best outcome. After just a few months, my daughter learned to use her tongue properly, breathe better, and sleep better. Her allergies and constant nose drippings went away, the dark circles under her eyes went away, and she's able to focus better at school. I am forever grateful and highly recommend her!
Marillyn Beard
Sherry has been fantastic to work with! She has really helped my son with his tongue placement and pre/post to tongue tie release therapy. We have seen results like less congestion in the morning upon waking, his tongue is in the correct placement, mouth closed (most) nights. She's always available to help, patient and very responsive. Doing it virtually has been great to fit our busy schedule. Definitely recommend.
Jake Strong
We reached out to Sherry for help with our daughter due to open mouth breathing while sleeping, snoring, and restlessness. Sherry worked alongside her dentist during palate expansion, helping our daughter with eating, breathing, posture, attention, and sleeping better. Highly recommend her services — we really saw a difference in our daughter's before and after pictures. Sherry was always quick to reply and available whenever needed!
Caitlin Werly
Arrowhead Myo has been a true lifesaver. The evaluation was extremely thorough, and she took the time to understand my breathing issues and create a plan that actually worked. Her support after my surgery was incredible — without her guidance, my recovery would've been long and overwhelming. Highly recommend to anyone looking for real results and compassionate care!
C. Anonymous
Sherry is phenomenal at what she does! She has helped connect the dots to so many life-long issues I have been dealing with. Her exam was so thorough and her recommendations were so helpful. My 8 year old daughter started seeing her for care as well. Sherry has been by our side for procedures and referrals, and we are so thankful for her knowledge. Working with her has been the best decision.
Marina Moreno
I've been very pleased with Sherry and her work with my kids. She is diligent and willing to work alongside our dentist and orthodontist to ensure the best outcome. After just a few months, my daughter learned to use her tongue properly, breathe better, and sleep better. Her allergies and constant nose drippings went away, the dark circles under her eyes went away, and she's able to focus better at school. I am forever grateful and highly recommend her!
Marillyn Beard

Yelp reviews

Leave a Yelp review

If you're considering Arrowhead Myo -- do it! From day one, the evaluation was detailed and personalized. She's not only knowledgeable but genuinely cares about her patients and makes everything easy to understand and follow. She helped me tremendously with breathing issues, and her support after surgery was beyond what I expected. I honestly don't know how I would've recovered without her guidance. What could've been a drawn-out healing process was made smooth and manageable. Fantastic experience all around. Highly recommend!
Celeste D.
I found Sherry in desperation after having to have multiple teeth extracted which I know my TMJ/clenching was playing a role in. She was so incredibly thorough with her exam and created a plan for me that helped connect SO many root cause "dots" that I had been struggling with for as long as I can remember! I ended up also having my 8 year old start seeing her as well for a plethora of issues and it has been amazing. Being able to do our sessions virtually is such a time-saver for us. Sherry has been by our side helping us with referrals, procedures etc. We are both making so much progress and are excited to see even more as we continue our care. I can't recommend her enough! I sing the praises of myofunctional therapy to anyone who listens now!
Marina M.
I met with Sherry to discuss anything that would help me with my sleep disorder. She performed the most through exam, and gathered as much information about my total health as possible to serve me in the best possible way. We set off on a journey for me to be able to breathe properly. That's it, it's the most simple thing that most of us do not even think about. Because we are not focused on it, we could be harming ourselves. Sherry trained me on how to slow down my breath for not only my overall health, but for stress reduction and a better night's sleep. If you are looking for the most holistic approach to healthy living, start by contacting Sherry to learn how to breathe better.
Leslie T.
If you're considering Arrowhead Myo -- do it! From day one, the evaluation was detailed and personalized. She's not only knowledgeable but genuinely cares about her patients and makes everything easy to understand and follow. She helped me tremendously with breathing issues, and her support after surgery was beyond what I expected. I honestly don't know how I would've recovered without her guidance. What could've been a drawn-out healing process was made smooth and manageable. Fantastic experience all around. Highly recommend!
Celeste D.
I found Sherry in desperation after having to have multiple teeth extracted which I know my TMJ/clenching was playing a role in. She was so incredibly thorough with her exam and created a plan for me that helped connect SO many root cause "dots" that I had been struggling with for as long as I can remember! I ended up also having my 8 year old start seeing her as well for a plethora of issues and it has been amazing. Being able to do our sessions virtually is such a time-saver for us. Sherry has been by our side helping us with referrals, procedures etc. We are both making so much progress and are excited to see even more as we continue our care. I can't recommend her enough! I sing the praises of myofunctional therapy to anyone who listens now!
Marina M.
I met with Sherry to discuss anything that would help me with my sleep disorder. She performed the most through exam, and gathered as much information about my total health as possible to serve me in the best possible way. We set off on a journey for me to be able to breathe properly. That's it, it's the most simple thing that most of us do not even think about. Because we are not focused on it, we could be harming ourselves. Sherry trained me on how to slow down my breath for not only my overall health, but for stress reduction and a better night's sleep. If you are looking for the most holistic approach to healthy living, start by contacting Sherry to learn how to breathe better.
Leslie T.

Training & certifications