Tongue Posture Changes Health!

Have you ever had a practitioner ask about your tongue?

Not many, I am guessing, and that s simply because not many (sadly!) know that our tongue has a HUGE amount to do with where our body thinks it s in time and space, and our stress response! 

Wow, huh?! 

The tongue is more than just a tool for speech and taste—it’s a dynamic diaphragmatic structure, intimately connected to our posture, breath, and internal regulation. Much like the diaphragm, pelvis, and thoracic outlet, the tongue plays a balancing and compensatory role within the body’s fascial and energetic architecture—especially in adulthood, when deeper holding patterns emerge.

From an osteopathic and somatic perspective, these diaphragmatic hubs are meant to move in harmony, communicating through breath, pressure, and subtle shifts. When they’re in alignment, we feel more grounded, integrated, and connected. We can heal, rest, digest, enjoy!

When they’re out of sync, tension and dysregulation ripple through the entire system. The tongue, often overlooked, is a powerful key to unlocking a healthy stress response, postural integrity and embodied balance.

Our brain reserves a lot of space for the tongue - nerves 5, 7, 9, 10, and 12 are involved, with their various pieces of information and inner-formation brought to the brainstem, where it is 'de-coded' and depending upon the signal sent to other areas of the brain for memory consolidation and next decision making processes. 

If our tongue is tressed, we are stressed. 

If our tongue posture isn't correct, our tongue is tressed. 
So is our breath!

Proper tongue posture means resting the entire tongue gently against the roof of your mouth (the palate), with the tip just behind—but not touching—your front teeth. Lips should be closed, teeth lightly touching or slightly apart, and breathing should always be through the nose, if possible. A low (on bottom of the mouth) tongue position never guarantees the same breathing quality

Non-optimal tongue posture/behaviour is usually associated with lack of lip seal and with a tendency to mouth breath - which has huge impacts on cognition, energy and digestion, as well as immunity and so much more..

Why Does Tongue Posture Matter?

1. Somatic Awareness & ANS Support

• The tongue is richly innervated and connected to the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Correct posture supports parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) activity, helping regulate stress and promote calm. The other way of saying this is - you will be more stressed if your tongue doesn't sit right!

2. Stress Reduction & Healing Amplification

• Proper tongue posture encourages nasal breathing, which increases nitric oxide and activates the vagus nerve—a HUGE player in stress resilience and healing

3. Fascial Tension & Body Alignment

• The tongue is linked by fascia from head to toe. Poor posture can create tension patterns that ripple through the jaw, neck, spine, and even down to the feet, affecting overall posture and movement

4. Head Position & Brainstem Communication

• The tongue’s position influences head posture. A low tongue posture can cause forward head posture, straining the neck and altering signals through the brainstem, impacting balance and coordination .

5. Facial Structure & Aesthetics

• Consistent upward tongue pressure during growth encourages a broader palate, stronger jawline, and more harmonious facial features. Even in adults, improved posture can subtly enhance facial symmetry and muscle tone.
  
  I like to look at retained primitive reflexes here, also.

  
  
  

  Causes of Improper Tongue Position

• Mouth breathing (often due to allergies or nasal obstruction)

• Tongue-tie or restricted lingual frenulum

• Chronic stress and poor somatic awareness

• Habitual poor posture or forward head position

• Early childhood habits (thumb-sucking, bottle feeding) 

• Retained primitive reflexes
• Cervical injury
• too many soft foods

Results of Improper Tongue Posture

• Mouth breathing, dry mouth, and increased risk of dental issues

• TMJ pain, jaw tension, and headaches

• Forward head posture and neck/shoulder discomfort

• Altered facial growth in children (longer face, recessed chin)

• Less efficient breathing and lower stress resilience
  
  

Benefits of Proper Tongue Posture

• Improved nasal breathing and oxygenation MORE ENRGY

• Reduced jaw and neck tension MORE ENERGY!

• Enhanced postural stability and balance MORE SAFETY!

• Better sleep and reduced snoring MORE ENERGY!

• Reduced sleep apnea MORE ENERGY!

• Improved facial structure and aesthetics MORE SELF-LOVE!

• Greater somatic and emotional awareness MORE SELF-LOVE

•  Support for the autonomic nervous system and stress recovery MORE SELF-LOVE!

Simple Exercises to Improve Tongue Posture

1. Palate Brush: Slide your tongue back and forth along the roof of your mouth. 2 sets of 20 reps daily

2. Cheek Punches: Bite gently on your knuckle, push your tongue into your cheek, hold 5 seconds, switch sides. 10 reps per side, twice daily

3. Tongue Openers: Press tongue to roof of mouth, open and close mouth without tensing face. 10–20 reps, 2–3 times daily

4. Somatic Awareness Practice: Spend a minute several times a day feeling your tongue’s contact with your palate. Breathe deeply and relax your jaw and neck5 .

5. Nasal Breathing Drill: Practice keeping lips closed and breathing slowly through your nose while maintaining tongue posture.

6. Mindful eating!

Oral Care: The Foundation of Systemic and Skin Health

• Flossing daily removes harmful bacteria and reduces inflammation, preventing oral pathogens from entering your bloodstream and affecting your skin and body.

• Hydroxyapatite toothpaste (a natural, enamel-repairing mineral) strengthens teeth without harsh chemicals, supports a balanced oral microbiome, and reduces systemic inflammation.

• Good oral health = healthier digestion (less “leaky gut”), clearer skin, and a stronger immune system—your winter wellness trifecta!

Why Consistency is Magic

With consistent practice, you don’t just change habits—you rewrite your body’s patterns at every level. You learn the language of your own body, tuning in to subtle cues and unlocking new levels of energy, calm, and radiance.

FAQs

Q: Can tongue posture really change my face?
A: In children and teens, yes—bone is still growing. In adults, changes are more subtle but can improve muscle tone, breathing, and facial harmony

Q: How long does it take to see/feel results?
A: Children may see changes in months; adults may require at least 3 months  or more of consistent practice

Q: Is it ever too late to start?
A: No! Benefits for breathing, posture, stress, cognition and oral health occur at any age.

Q: Can poor tongue posture cause pain?
A: Yes—jaw, neck, and back and even pelvic pain can result from improper tongue and head posture

Why This Matters for Health, Longevity, and Appearance

Proper tongue posture is far more than an oral habit—it’s a foundation for whole-body health. If you miss this, then you may be missing a vital step in your health journey!

Our tongue is INCREDIBLE! It supports optimal breathing, reduces chronic tension, amplifies healing, and even shapes how we look.

By cultivating awareness and practicing good tongue posture (especially from childhood, but also any time in adulthood), we can deeply enhance our health, resilience, and even our natural beauty for life.

Supporting our tongue supports a ROOT VAUSE approach to healing! Your tongue may be a small muscle (well, many muscles, actually) with a big impact.

By giving it the right home—resting gently on the roof of your mouth—you create a ripple effect of health, calm, and confidence throughout your entire being.