Keeping your tongue properly positioned inside your mouth is key for good oral posture, which involves the tongue resting gently on the roof of the mouth. This isn't about preventing the tongue from leaving the mouth, but rather maintaining its correct, healthy resting place within the mouth.
Understanding Proper Tongue Resting Position
The correct resting position for the tongue, often referred to as proper oral posture, involves specific placement within the oral cavity when you are not actively speaking or eating.
Based on common understanding and the provided information:
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.
This position is often referred to as the 'Mewing' position or simply proper tongue posture. It means the entire tongue, including the back, should be resting against the hard palate (the roof of the mouth).
Here's a breakdown of the key components:
| Mouth Component | Proper Resting State |
|---|---|
| Tongue | Gently on the roof of the mouth |
| Tongue Tip | Resting just behind the front teeth, but not touching them |
| Tongue Body | Elevated and resting against the palate |
| Teeth | Slightly apart or lightly touching |
| Lips | Gently closed |
Maintaining this position allows for natural nasal breathing and contributes to overall oral and facial structure support.
Why Proper Tongue Position Matters
While this answer focuses on how to achieve the position, understanding why it's important can be motivating. Proper tongue posture is often associated with:
- Supporting healthy facial development
- Promoting nasal breathing
- Aiding proper swallowing
- Contributing to good overall posture
However, the primary goal here is to describe the position itself.
How to Practice and Maintain This Position
Achieving and maintaining this position is often a matter of awareness and gentle practice.
- Become Aware: Pay attention to where your tongue naturally rests throughout the day. Many people have a habit of letting it rest on the bottom of the mouth or pressing against the front teeth.
- Find the Spot: Gently close your mouth. Try making an "N" sound and hold the position your tongue is in just after the sound finishes. This is often where the tip should rest (just behind the front teeth, on the bumpy ridge).
- Lift the Rest: From the tip's position, try to gently lift the entire body of your tongue so it rests against the roof of your mouth. Imagine suctioning it upwards.
- Maintain Gentle Contact: The goal is gentle resting, not forceful pressing. Your lips should be closed, and your teeth slightly apart.
- Practice: Consciously reset your tongue to this position whenever you notice it's not there, especially during periods of rest (reading, working on a computer, watching TV).
Over time, with consistent practice, maintaining this proper tongue position can become a natural, unconscious habit.
When to Seek Professional Advice
If you find it difficult to maintain this position, or if you have concerns about breathing, swallowing, or speech related to tongue posture, consider consulting a healthcare professional. This could include:
- A dentist or orthodontist
- A speech-language pathologist (SLP)
- An orofacial myofunctional therapist
They can assess your specific situation and provide targeted guidance or therapy.
By understanding the components of proper tongue positioning – tongue on the roof, lips closed, teeth slightly parted – and practicing awareness, you can work towards keeping your tongue in its optimal resting place within your mouth.
