Where is Your Tongue

Have you ever really given much thought about your tongue? What is its function? Or where the tongue is resting in your mouth at any given moment? In this episode, we will talk about the tongue and the importance of ensuring it is correctly postured. Although it seems like a small thing, the position of your tongue at rest really does matter. When it’s not in the ideal position, it can lead to minor issues as well as other more serious health concerns. Awareness is key. Try to get a better sense of your oral posture throughout the day. Where is your tongue usually situated? Is it pressing against your front teeth or lying passively on the floor of your mouth? While monitoring your tongue’s position, also take note of your breathing. Are your lips frequently open? If so, you’re probably breathing through your mouth, and this is often a sign of poor tongue posture. There are also simple exercises you can do to get into better habits and “train” your tongue to sit in the right place, and these may be enough. Just make sure not to ignore it, because it can cause problems over time. If your tongue or your child’s tongue is resting down, you can not touch the roof of your mouth with your tongue when opened as wide as you can or you have any symptoms or concerns about open mouth posture or mouth breathing, give us a call at 815-922-1288. Key Takeaways: -The tongue is not just one muscle, it’s a conglomeration of eight separate muscles-What Orofacial Myology is-Why tongue position matters and what to do about it-The risks of bad tongue posture-Correcting a poorly postured tongue