Tongue Position

Deep neck flexor activity and tongue posture are not first priorities when the person cannot tuck, fully exhale, pause, or maintain abdominal tension while inhaling. Keeping the tongue on the roof of the mouth seals the oral airway and encourages nasal airflow. Proper tongue posture creates a natural blockade that discourages mouth breathing and encourages nasal breathing. When a person uses a mouth-breathing strategy, the tongue may drop to the floor of the mouth or push forward. When the tongue rests against the palate, the mouth becomes less available as a breathing route. Tongue posture can be influenced by body mechanics below the neck. Low or forward tongue posture may be a compensation to open the mouth for airflow, but it is not ideal as a default resting strategy. The tongue is placed on the roof of the mouth immediately after the exhale. The tongue position on the roof of the mouth is maintained through both the pause and the following inhale. The tongue remains on the roof of the mouth while inhaling after the pause. The tongue position should involve the whole tongue rather than only the tip. The exercise requires placing as much of the tongue as possible on the roof o…