Why we as SLPs and Myofunctional Therapists Care about your Tongue Resting Posture
(And why you should too).
One of the main goals of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is establishing correct lingual resting posture.
From a young age, children can lay the foundation for lifelong benefits of proper tongue resting posture.
While most of us don't walk around thinking about where our tongue is in our mouth...you'd be surprised to learn how many of us would benefit from it if we did!
Why Tongue Resting Posture Matters
Proper tongue rest posture greatly impacts oral and facial development, articulation, and swallow function. Ideal tongue resting posture helps to naturally expand the palate, stabilize the jaw, and promotes optimal dental alignment.
Down the road, having established proper tongue resting posture from a young age can really pay off! Proper tongue resting posture can help eliminate the need for possible interventions like braces, teeth pulling, surgical correction of a deviated septum, and more!
Improper Tongue Posture = Big Risk
Habitual improper tongue resting position is associated with a higher risk for dental crowding/malocclusion, mouth breathing, sleep disordered breathing, imprecise articulation and impaired oral phase of the swallow.
Stay tuned for an upcoming post all about what *is* proper tongue resting posture.