Tongue Trouble: What’s Holding Your Resting Posture Back?

Exploring the obstacles to achieving proper tongue posture for better health

By Ashley Roberts, RDH, OMT 

There are several reasons why someone might struggle to achieve proper tongue rest posture:

1. Habitual Mouth Breathing: Chronic mouth breathing can lead to a habit of keeping the tongue low in the mouth. This often occurs due to nasal congestion or allergies.

2. Tongue Tie (Ankyloglossia): A restrictive band of tissue under the tongue can limit its movement and make it difficult to position the tongue properly against the roof of the mouth.

3. Poor Oral Muscle Tone: Weakness in the oral and facial muscles can make it challenging to maintain proper tongue posture, leading to a lower resting position.

4. Incorrect Swallowing Patterns: Some individuals may develop improper swallowing habits (such as tongue thrusting), which can affect how the tongue rests when not in use.

5. Dental Issues: Misaligned teeth or jaw problems can impact tongue positioning. For example, if the teeth are not aligned properly, the tongue may naturally rest lower.

6. Anxiety or Stress: Tension in the jaw and facial muscles can affect tongue posture. Stress may lead to clenching or grinding teeth, which can also alter the position of the tongue.

7. Lack of Awareness: Some people simply may not be aware of what proper tongue posture is or how to achieve it, leading to habitual low tongue positioning. Don’t worry, I was already a dental hygienist for a few years until I understood the proper rest posture! Now that we know, we can do better!

8. Developmental Factors: Childhood habits, such as thumb sucking, lip licking or prolonged pacifier use, can influence tongue posture and oral development.

Addressing these issues will require professional evaluation and intervention. Contact Ashley to set up a consultation to discuss possible factors that are limiting your tongue mobility. Possible referrals before myofunctional therapy may be crucial to ensure we achieve our myo goals. Referrals such as an ENT for allergy testing, therapy from a speech-language pathologist or consultation with a dentist or orthodontist for a tongue release may be our first step.