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Laying Low: The Surprising Risks of a Low Tongue Posture

  • Writer: Ashley Roberts
    Ashley Roberts
  • Oct 12, 2024
  • 2 min read

Explore how an overlooked tongue position can affect your health and well-being.

By Ashley Roberts, RDH, OMT 



Result of a low laying tongue, narrow jaw, crowding and tipping of teeth.


A low resting tongue posture can lead to several potential risks and issues, including:

  1. Mouth Breathing: A low tongue posture often encourages mouth breathing, which can result in dry mouth, bad breath, and an increased risk of dental issues such as cavities and gum disease.


  1. Dental Malocclusion: Improper tongue posture can contribute to misalignment of the teeth and jaws, leading to malocclusion (bite problems). This may require orthodontic intervention to correct. It will also cause "scalloping" on the sides of your tongue due to a lack of space.



  1. Facial Development Issues: In children and adolescents, a low resting tongue can negatively impact the development of the jaw and facial structure, potentially leading to a long, narrow face or other aesthetic concerns.


  1. Difficulty Swallowing: A low tongue posture can hinder the natural swallowing process, making it less efficient and increasing the risk of aspiration, where food or liquid enters the airway.


  1. Speech Issues: Tongue posture plays a role in speech production. A low resting tongue may contribute to articulation difficulties or other speech-related issues. Myofunctional therapy does not treat speech issues so a referral to an SLP will be conducted and used alongside myofunctional therapy sessions.


  1. Sleep Problems: Poor tongue posture can contribute to sleep-disordered breathing, such as snoring or obstructive sleep apnea, affecting overall sleep quality and health conditions such as high blood pressure and increase cortisol.


  1. Reduced Airflow: A low tongue position can restrict the airway, leading to decreased airflow and reduced oxygen intake, especially during physical activity.


Maintaining a proper tongue posture can help mitigate these risks and support better oral and overall health. If you're concerned about tongue posture, reach out to Ashley at Funny Face OMT so we can complete a comprehensive assessment.




 
 
 

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