Tongue Posture - why does it matter where your tongue is resting?
When we think about our posture, we usually think about sitting up straight and keeping our shoulders back. But have you ever thought about the posture of your tongue?
Your tongue is one of the strongest muscles in your body, and it rests somewhere in your mouth all day, every day.
Where is your tongue resting right now? Take a moment to notice. Most people have never thought about their tongue's resting position before.
While it might seem like a small detail, where your tongue rests can have a surprisingly big impact on breathing, facial growth, swallowing, speech, sleep, and overall oral development.
So, where should the tongue rest?
When you are not eating, drinking or talking, your tongue should be lightly suctioned to the roof of your mouth, also known as the palate.
When the tongue rests against the palate, it provides gentle, consistent pressure that helps support normal growth and development of the upper jaw, especially during childhood.
What causes the tongue to rest low and what can happen over time if it does?
There isn’t always a single reason as to why your tongue may rest low in your mouth, however, it could be due to any combination of following:
chronic colds/flus or recurrent respiratory illness
allergies (seasonal or persistent)
enlarged tonsils/adenoids
any form of nasal obstruction
prolonged periods of open-mouth breathing
tethered oral tissues (tongue and lip ties)
habitual behaviours such as thumb sucking, extended dummy use, lip licking or nail biting
structural issues such as a narrow palate or reduced nasal airway space
poor oral rest posture becoming a learned habit over time
Over time, these things can contribute to new default patterns, where the lower jaw may rest in a more open position, the tongue drops low or forwards to make room for breathing through the mouth, and the lips no longer close passively at rest.
As these changes continue, swallowing patterns may become less efficient as other muscles jump into ‘help’, acting in ways they shouldn’t (this is known as compensations). Facial growth and dental development may also be affected. This can contribute to changes such as a narrower palate, recessed upper or lower jaw, a longer and narrower facial appearance, altered dentition, and changes to speech and feeding skills.
Wondering if your resting tongue posture is correct?
Before you read any further, now that you know a little bit more, take another moment to notice where your tongue is resting.
Is it resting against the roof of your mouth? Is it pressing against your front teeth? Or is it lying low on the floor of your mouth?
Many people do not realise they have a low tongue posture until it's identified during an assessment. Even more people do not realise that symptoms such as poor sleep, mouth breathing, jaw tension or orthodontic concerns may be linked to an incorrect oral rest posture.
How can low tongue posture be corrected?
Orofacial myofunctional therapy focuses on improving the strength, coordination, and resting posture of the muscles of the face, lips, tongue, and jaw.
Before starting therapy, it's important to understand why the tongue is resting low. For example, if someone cannot breathe comfortably through their nose due to enlarged adenoids, tonsils or a nasal obstruction, asking them to ‘just keep their mouth closed’ isn't realistic. Likewise, if a tongue-tie is significantly restricting movement, the tongue may not be physically able to reach the palate in the first place.
In these situations, progress may be limited if underlying structural or airway concerns are not addressed first. This is why treatment often involves collaboration with other health professionals, such as ENTs, dentists, orthodontists, and other relevant practitioners.
If you're concerned about your own tongue posture or your child's oral development, an orofacial myofunctional assessment can help identify whether the tongue, lips, and jaw are working together efficiently and whether correct oral rest posture is being achieved without compensations.
If you’d like to learn more about OMT and how it supports breathing, swallowing, oral rest posture and overall oral function, you can read more in our blog “What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?”.