Your tongue plays a bigger role in your dental health than you might think. Poor tongue posture can affect how your teeth align, impact jaw development, and even change your facial structure over time. If your tongue rests in the wrong position, it may be pushing against your teeth, leading to misalignment and bite issues.

What Is Proper Tongue Posture?

Your tongue should rest against the roof of your mouth, just behind your front teeth. It should not press against your teeth or rest at the bottom of your mouth. This position helps maintain a healthy bite, supports jaw alignment, and promotes better breathing.

Signs of Poor Tongue Posture

• Your tongue rests against or pushes on your front teeth.
• Your mouth stays open when you are at rest.
• You breathe through your mouth instead of your nose.
• You experience frequent jaw tension or discomfort.
• Your teeth are shifting, even after orthodontic treatment.

How Poor Tongue Posture Affects Your Smile

1. Causes Teeth Misalignment

If your tongue presses against your front teeth or rests too low, it can push your teeth out of place over time. This may lead to gaps, crowding, or bite problems.

2. Affects Jaw Development

Tongue posture plays a role in how your jaw develops, especially in children and teenagers. Poor posture can contribute to an underdeveloped or misaligned jaw, affecting facial symmetry.

3. Leads to Mouth Breathing

If your tongue rests low in your mouth, you may breathe through your mouth instead of your nose. This can cause dry mouth, increasing the risk of cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.

4. Contributes to Speech Issues

The position of your tongue affects how you form sounds. Poor tongue posture can lead to speech difficulties, such as lisps or unclear pronunciation.

How to Improve Your Tongue Posture

Keep your tongue on the roof of your mouth – Your tongue should rest gently behind your front teeth without pressing against them.

Breathe through your nose – This helps train your tongue to stay in the correct position.

Practice swallowing correctly – Avoid pressing your tongue against your teeth when swallowing. Instead, let your tongue press against the roof of your mouth.

Consider Myofunctional Therapy – This therapy strengthens the tongue and teaches proper posture for long-term benefits.

Get an Orthodontic Evaluation – If poor tongue posture has affected your teeth alignment, orthodontic treatment may be needed to correct the changes.

If you’re noticing teeth shifting, bite problems, or jaw discomfort, our multi-award-winning dental clinic in Toronto can assess your oral health and provide expert guidance.

Call us today at (416) 321-3268 or click here to book an appointment online.