My Tongue Should Rest Where?!
Many of us go about our day to day life and routine without ever giving a second thought about how we’re breathing, what our mouth is doing or where our tongue is resting.
For instance, when is the last time you thought to yourself “where is my tongue resting?” or asked a friend about how their mouth rests? I’m going to guess your answer is “never!” And, that’s okay. Most of us have never even heard that there is a right and wrong place for our tongue to rest.
What is the ideal way to posture our mouth and tongue when at rest?
The way we position our lips, tongue and jaws when we are not eating and not speaking is termed “Oral Rest Posture,” and believe it or not, there is a correct way to achieve this! Proper Oral Rest Posture involves having the whole tongue resting against the roof of the mouth, lips sealed together and our teeth resting slightly apart, with no more than 2-3mm of space between the teeth. This ideal oral posture provides harmony and balance to the orofacial complex, paving the way for good dental, facial and airway development.
What can change the Oral Rest Posture?
There are many factors that can influence a disturb the ideal oral rest posture or lead to the development of incorrect muscle patterns, but it really comes down to three main things: Chronic mouth breathing, untreated tongue tie and prolonged sucking habits. All of these things cause the tongue, lips and jaws to rest incorrectly, leading to a number of different problems.
What are some signs of incorrect Oral Rest Posture?
The most common signs that can be observed with incorrect oral posture are narrowing of the jaws, changes in facial growth, poor head and neck posture and crooked teeth.
image credit: The Breathe Institute
Other complaints or symptoms that may be associated with Incorrect Oral Posture may include:
Speech Concerns
Headaches
Chronic Fatigue
Orthodontic Relapse/ Bite changes
Poor Concentration/Behaviour Concerns
How can I improve my Oral Rest Posture?
Keeping your lips together with your tongue contacting the roof of your mouth may seem like an easy thing to do, but for adults and children who have developed an incorrect oral rest posture, this is not a simple thing to learn on your own.
The best place to start is with a visit to an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist(OMT). An OMT will typically be a Registered Dental Hygienist or Speech Pathologist who has received additional training in the field of Orofacial Myology and is skilled at coaching patients to achieve proper Oral Rest Posture.
An OMT will provide customized therapy for each patient that often includes teaching neuromuscular exercises to retrain the facial muscles, lips and tongue to rest in the ideal place. An Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist may also be skilled at helping patients to eliminate an oral habit, such as thumb or finger sucking, prolonged pacifier use or nail biting.
An Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist will also search to detect any underlying causes that are interfering with your ability to achieve proper Oral Rest Posture and will help connect you with an appropriate referral if needed.
So, have you been thinking about where your tongue rests? Want to learn more about how proper Oral Rest Posture can benefit you or your child? See an OMT or contact us today!
Kim Kung, RDH, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist