There’s Something Wrong with My Tongue

Monday, December 12, 2022

Some people say their tongue moves around a lot in their mouth and doesn’t really know where it belongs. It is not unusual for a tongue to be so wide that if the teeth and lips are closed, then the tongue is squished inside and before long, that wide tongue has forced the teeth apart and the mouth open.

Some people’s tongue rests on the bottom of their mouth and others say it stays up on the roof of the mouth. Which is correct?

Up on the roof!

The practice of keeping the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth helps you focus while washing clothes, driving, chopping vegetables, etc., keeping you calm and centered. This is a practice taught in martial arts, yoga, meditation, etc. You can find a comfortable spot for your tongue about ½ inch behind your upper teeth. It is the same spot that your tongue goes to when you make the “D” sound, as in “DOG.”

Whenever you are not eating, drinking, singing, laughing, or talking, keep your tongue tip at the roof of your mouth.

Here’s an activity

Go to the mirror right now and stick out your tongue, letting it hang out and relax. Now, look at the sides of your tongue. Do you see any indentations on it? They are called scalloped edges and were formed when your tongue was squished in your mouth. Your teeth left marks on your tongue.

Are you aware that your tongue is made up of many different muscles? If some of these muscles are weak, they could cause your tongue to flop around in your mouth, blocking your airway while sleeping.

If your tongue doesn’t know where to “rest” in your mouth when you start sleeping, there’s a good chance that it could block your airway, cutting off your air supply, and causing you to gasp and choke for air.

The IJustWantTo Correct My Tongue Thrust program trains your tongue to “live” on the roof of your mouth so it cannot fall down and block your airway. Try it out today and get 10% off the program with code “10off”.

Written by: Janet M. Bennett

Janet Bennett, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, is a Speech Pathologist in private practice in Asheville, NC, since 1977. She specializes in treating tongue thrust, a swallowing disorder that can result in buckteeth, an open bite, a lisp, snoring, and other problems that have not yet been made known to most people.