Where is
your tongue resting?
Information about Myofunctional Therapy & Orofacial Myology
Did you know that your tongue SHOULD be resting on the roof of your mouth known as the PALATE?
In this picture the tongue is low, jaws are narrow, teeth are overlapping and crowded. There is not enough room in this mouth for the tongue!
Why is this important?
Because the tongue is a MUSCLE and it is THE DRIVER of facial and dental growth when it functions and rests correctly. It is responsible for, or directly related to the following:
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Breastfeeding efficiently without pain for the mother
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Speech and language development
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Chewing
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Swallowing (including opening the eustachian tube to drain fluid from the ears)
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Digestion
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Dental development
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Maintaining the upper dental arch (maxilla)
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Facial development
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Airway development
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Breathing (through the nose) for GOOD SLEEP
You may have been aware of some of the functions on this list, but did any surprise you? Training in the field of Orofacial Myology has been an eye-opening journey regarding what the tongue is supposed to do and what it is NOT doing for so many people!
However, if YOU want YOUR children to have strong healthy jaws, a nice smile, and straight teeth leading to optum breathing and sleeping, the tongue needs to do its job!
The History of Retraction Orthodontonics
This video explains how a child's face needs to grow forward in order for her to have a fully grown airway. Certain types of orthodontic treatment stunt the growth of children's faces, and as a result, these children end up with disrupted breathing and sleep apnea for the rest of their lives.
Video by www.righttogrow.org
You may be able to AVOID braces and wisdom teeth removal by making sure the child is breathing through the NOSE and the tongue is resting and functioning correctly beginning at BIRTH?
In other words BRACES do NOT have to be a "right of passage" for 80%+ kids!
