Have you ever thought about where your tongue is resting in your mouth? For some people it naturally rests in the correct spot. For others, like us ( read Hannah’s story here ), some factor in life resulted in their tongue resting in the incorrect spot. Incorrect tongue rest posture can be associated with poor facial growth and development, inadequate airway space, mouth breathing , snoring, tongue tie , sleep apnea, TMJ pain, sleep issues, crowded teeth, headaches, neck/shoulder tension, and more. An incorrect tongue rest posture and function is sometimes referred to as a “tongue thrust.” First, lets look at the correct tongue rest posture (day and night when not eating, drinking, or talking). The tip of the tongue should sit on the bumpy tissue of the hard palate directly behind the top front two teeth (the oval shape on the picture below). It should not be touching the teeth. The rest of the tongue should be completely pressed against the palate from front to back (the two circles on the picture below). The tongue should not be pressing against the teeth in front or on the sides. There should be no air or space between any part of the palate or tongue. If you’re like us when we first learned this–you just realized your tongue does NOT rest in this spot. (For some people you may have to think about this for the next couple days to realize if it is in the correct spot or not). There are a variety of reasons a person’s tongue may not rest in the correct spot. Part of a myofunctional therapy evaluation is to attempt to uncover all of the possible reasons. Contact us with any questions or to schedule an initial myofunctional therapy evaluation . Reasons for improper tongue rest posture may include past or current : large tonsils and/or adenoids deviated septum chronic congestion

non nutritive sucking habit learned behavior Some of the above reasons lead to a low tongue rest posture because they cause mouth breathing instead of nasal breathing. When mouth breathing the tongue rests low. Read more about nasal breathing vs mouth breathing . Some of the above reasons are physical meaning the tongue physically can’t get to the roof of the mouth. This would be from a tongue tie , high/narrow palate, or sucking habit where an object is preventing the tongue from resting in the correct spot. It is important to note that even if any of the above reasons are treated, the tongue will likely still sit low in the mouth until retrained to be in the correct spot. For example : Someone who used to suck their thumb, had allergies as a child, or had a tongue tie released may still have a low tongue rest posture. Just because the cause is eliminated does not mean the tongue rests correctly. More than likely, myofunctional therapy is needed to retrain the tongue to rest in the correct spot. A myofunctional therapist not only helps retrain the tongue to rest in the correct spot but will help guide you to the specialists you need in order to achieve the desired goals of myofunctional therapy. Why is tongue rest posture important? If the tongue rests completely in the roof of the mouth it means one is nasal breathing –which has many health benefits! When growing and developing, the tongue resting in the correct spot can promote the growth of wider/larger jaws. The face tends to grow more out and forward with proper tongue placement (which is a good thing!). The nasal cavity sits above the upper jaw. If the upper jaw is wide/broad it can allow for adequate room for the tongue, teeth, and airway space. The tongue resting against the roof of the mouth can also relieve stress and anxiety. On the other hand, if the tongue rests low it can lead to narrow/small jaws and therefore a smaller airway space. There may be inadequate space for the tongue and teeth. Due to the smaller space there may be a higher risk for breathing issues including sleep apnea, congestion, sinus issues, snoring, sleep disordered breathing, and more. The teeth may not have enough space to erupt resulting in crowding and the need for expansion/orthodontics. If the tongue is not resting in the correct spot there is also likely to be an incorrect swallowing pattern .