Stephanie Zimola
Registered Dental Hygienist & Myofunctional Therapist
As a Registered Dental Hygienist, Steph has spent twenty years looking inside people’s mouths. After completing a continuing education course in myofunctional therapy, everything shifted. Suddenly the patterns she had observed for years had a name, a cause, and most importantly, a solution. She hasn’t looked back since.
Myofunctional therapy addresses the function of the tongue, lips, and facial muscles and the way those functions shape everything from breathing and sleep to jaw development and posture. Steph loves to share a foundational truth most people have never been told: your tongue is supposed to rest lightly suctioned to the roof of your mouth with your lips closed. That roof of your mouth is also the floor of your nasal cavity, meaning where your tongue rests, how you breathe, and how your face develops are all deeply connected. When those patterns go off course early in life, the effects ripple outward in ways that can take years to fully surface.
Steph works with clients 3-4 years and up navigating mouth breathing, tongue tie, low tongue posture, tongue thrusting, snoring, and sleep apnea. For kids, sessions are built around encouragement and movement making the exercises feel like a game rather than homework. For adults, many of whom arrive having already tried everything else, meaningful change often begins showing up after just the first session.
With her background bridging dental hygiene and myofunctional therapy, Steph brings a rare depth of knowledge to a field that sits at the intersection of breathing, sleep, oral health, and whole-body function. She collaborates closely with orthodontists, ENTs, dentists, and manual therapists because she knows this work rarely travels alone.
Who is Stephanie outside of the clinic?
Steph’s life is as active as her practice. Born in Newfoundland and raised in Thompson, she spent a year teaching English in Taiwan before settling into her busy life here in Winnipeg. Along with her husband, John, and their two boys, Jude and Grady, she is usually found at an arena, a soccer pitch, or a basketball court. In the winter, the boys are usually trying to beat her in a game of pond ringette, and in the summer, she hits the trails for outdoor runs. At home, she’s supported by her two rescue dogs, Stevie and Bruce, and is usually mid-way through a book or listening to a good podcast.
Why work with Stephanie?
If you or your child struggle with disrupted sleep, chronic mouth breathing, or have been told a tongue tie may be a factor. Steph is one of very few practitioners who can meet you at that crossroads and help you navigate the full journey.
Tiffanie's Services
Manual Osteopathy
A gentle non-invasive approach that supports your body’s natural ability to heal.