Your Tongue Posture Is More Important Than You Think

You've likely been told to put your shoulders back, or sit up straight at one point or another. It may feel like whoever is reminding you is nagging, but they have a good point. Having good posture is necessary for the body to maintain good balance. It's important for us personally, and it's also a bonus that the opposite sex finds an aligned pose to be an attractive trait. But surprisingly, it's not just the posture of our shoulders and spines we should be aware of. There is a different type of posture to think about — and it can be found in our mouths.

According to Healthline, tongue posture is the resting position of your tongue in your mouth. Dr. Ron Baise, dentist of 92 Dental in London, explains the optimal position your tongue should be resting in. "Your tongue should be touching the roof of your mouth when resting," he says. Dr. Baise elaborates, "It should not be touching the bottom of your mouth. The front tip of your tongue should be about half an inch higher than your front teeth."

So why is where the tongue rests so important? Colgate explains that improper tongue posture has been linked to a slew of dental and facial abnormalities, as well as issues with speech. In Healthline, Baise describes the possible risks of improper tongue placement. He says, "The potential benefits of good tongue posture include a likelihood to have better aligned teeth, as poor tongue posture can put your tongue in the way of growing teeth. This can negatively affect the way they grow by blocking the space that they grow into." Other potential problems include snoring and tooth grinding.

Luckily, there are treatment options available. Colgate claims that orofacial myofunctional therapy is used to help those who are stuck in the habit of resting their tongue in the wrong position. Braces and other dental hardware has also been used to correct the issue. And in rare cases, dentists have proposed jaw surgery as a treatment option.

If you are extremely aware of where your tongue is placed in your mouth right about now, we can guarantee you — you're not the only one. Consider making it a habit to be more aware of where your tongue is resting every time you correct your slouched shoulders at your desk. And consult with your dentist or doctor if you are concerned your tongue posture is causing other health issues.