Photo: Joseph Yu

Where should your tongue rest when sleeping?

Simply put, proper tongue positioning occurs when someone gently rests their tongue on the roof of the mouth and away from the teeth. During rest, the lips should also be closed, and the teeth slightly parted.

ismileva.com - Proper Resting Tongue Position: Yes, That's a Thing - iSmile Dental Care

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Have you ever bitten your tongue and then thought to yourself, “How did that happen? Am I resting my tongue in the wrong place?” The truth is, about 50% of Americans have something called improper tongue posture or positioning. That’s right, there is, in fact, a correct place to rest your tongue. But where exactly should the tongue rest? Should it relax at the bottom of your mouth? Or the top? Maybe it’s between the teeth. Let’s check in with your dentist in Herndon to find out.

What is Tongue Positioning?

Tongue positioning and tongue posture are interchangeable terms used to describe the positioning of our tongues while at rest. Even though this may sound silly, there is such a thing as good tongue positioning and bad tongue positioning, and the truth is, bad tongue positioning can affect oral health as well as other parts of the body.

Why is Bad Tongue Positioning Bad?

Do you remember the song that goes, “the leg bone is connected to the knee bone?” Well, our tongues are kind of like that. You see, tongues are super strong muscles that impact several areas of our bodies, including our mouths, eyes, noses, heads, necks, and shoulders. Knowing this, it probably comes as no surprise that if we don’t have proper tongue positioning, it can cause trouble in these other areas of our bodies. Improper tongue posture can contribute or lead to:

Sleep Apnea

TMJ

Problems with Vision

Bad Body Posture

Tooth Damage

What is Proper Tongue Positioning?

So, what exactly is proper tongue positioning? Simply put, proper tongue positioning occurs when someone gently rests their tongue on the roof of the mouth and away from the teeth. During rest, the lips should also be closed, and the teeth slightly parted. Practicing proper tongue positioning can help protect teeth from shifting and can improve sleep, decrease neck and jaw pain, and reduce the number or intensity of headaches.

What is Bad Tongue Positioning?

Your dentist in Herndon will tell you that if you rest your tongue on the bottom of your mouth or up against your teeth that you have bad tongue positioning. Besides the concerns listed above, putting repeated pressure on the back of teeth can cause them to shift, become crowded, or even result in tooth grinding and decay. Additionally, resting your tongue on the bottom of your mouth can cause increased neck pain, jaw pain, and even change the way someone looks. Go ahead and try something for us. Rest your tongue up on the roof of your mouth, then move it down to the bottom of the mouth. You should notice an obvious shift in your chin, neck, and head. Now, if the tongue is rested on the lower mouth over several years, it can create a longer, flatter face shape or cause the chin or forehead to jut forward permanently.

How to Fix Bad Tongue Positioning

The good news is you can work to improve your resting tongue positioning by first becoming more aware of where your tongue falls at rest. If you notice that your tongue is falling to the bottom of the mouth or is pushing up against your teeth, focus on consciously changing its position. Keep in mind, permanently changing your tongue positioning can take time and practice, so be patient. Of course, if you have concerns about your tongue positioning and how it may be affecting your oral and overall health, talk with your dentist in Herndon. iSmile Dental Care has five dental offices throughout Northern Virginia, including in Manassas, Reston, Gainesville, Fairfax, and Herndon.

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Step 1: Close your mouth and slowly push your jaw forward. Step 2: Lift up your low lip and push up until you feel the muscles in your chin and jawline stretch. Step 3: Stay in this position for about 10 seconds before repeating the exercise. The tongue twister targets muscles below the chin to tone the jawline.

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As people age, the shape of their face begins to change. As fat builds in the neck, skin begins to sag and the jaw muscles begin to shrink. This may cause your jawline to become less defined. While changes to the face due to genetics or aging are perfectly natural, there are some exercises you can do to help define your jawline. Exercising the neck, chin, jaw, and other facial muscles can lead to subtle changes in your face, including sharper cheekbones and a more prominent jawline. One study found that performing regular facial exercises over the course of 20 weeks led to fuller cheeks and a more youthful appearance. These exercises can do more than give your face a more defined or a younger look—they can also prevent pain in the neck, head, and jaw. Studies have shown that jawline exercises may help reduce the effects of temporomandibular disorders, or chronic pain in the jaw muscles, bones, and nerves.

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