Knowledge is key to making empowered decisions about your health. We’re dedicated to making your health a priority by keeping you informed on how to achieve your optimal well-being. We are starting off 2025 by discussing the importance of oral posture and how improper oral resting position can negatively influence daily functions like breathing, resting, sleeping, chewing, swallowing, and digestion.
Has anyone ever commented on your posture, or told you to stand up straight? What if I told you that your poor head, neck and shoulder posture may be connected to improper oral resting position?
Many people are often unaware of their oral posture or how it may be impacting their health. Take a moment to think about what your mouth is doing right now. How are you breathing - through your nose or your mouth? Where do you feel your tongue - on the roof or the floor of your mouth? Do you feel any tightness in the face, jaw, or neck?
What is proper oral posture?
Oral posture refers to the resting position of the jaw, tongue, and lips during daily activities like working, watching tv, riding in the car, and even sleeping. Proper oral resting position helps to guide the development of the jaw and facial structures —especially during childhood, fosters functional (nasal) breathing, prevents dental or orthodontic issues, supports clear speech and normal chewing & swallowing patterns, aids in proper digestion, and more.
Components of proper oral posture:
- Tongue Position: The tongue should rest gently suctioned against the roof of the mouth (the palate), not on the bottom of the mouth or against the teeth. The tip of the tongue should rest just behind the upper front teeth.
- Lips: Lips should remain closed at rest, creating a seal without tension.
- Teeth: The teeth should be slightly apart (a few millimeters), with no clenching.
- Breathing: Breathing should occur through the nose, not the mouth.
- During function: Chewing should occur on both sides of the mouth with the lips sealed. Swallowing should occur without the tongue pressing on the teeth (tongue thrust) and without accessory muscle involvement.
When any of these muscle patterns become dysfunctional, it can lead to a wide variety of issues that impact our basics functions of life, such as nasal congestion, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, allergies, asthma, frequent colds & infections, ear aches, ear congestion, ringing in the ears, teeth grinding or clenching, sleep disordered breathing, snoring, jaw, head & neck pain, narrowed palate, recessed jaw, digestive issues, and more…
Signs of poor oral posture:
- Mouth breathing
- Lips that don’t close naturally
- Tongue resting at the bottom of the mouth or pressing against teeth (tongue thrust)
- Coated or scalloped tongue
- Crooked or crowded teeth
- Forward head posture or neck tension
- TMJ pain, headaches, or facial strain
- Dysphagia
- Snoring
- Frequent dry mouth upon waking
- Drooling
- Teeth grinding or clenching
Application of Oral Posture in Our Practice
At the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Cleveland, we specialize in treating chronic pain conditions including craniofacial pain [pain in the head, face, jaw, and neck] and sleep-related breathing disorders [snoring, adult & pediatric OSA, UARS]. Assessing oral posture is a priority with each patient that comes to our office, whether it be for pain, sleep, or both.
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are often closely linked to oral posture, as improper tongue, jaw, and lip positioning can contribute to muscle strain, joint misalignment, and dysfunctional movement patterns which can exacerbate pain, noises in the jaw joints, and even restricted jaw mobility over time. Maintaining proper oral posture reduces strain on the TMJ and supports overall jaw stability.
Oral posture also plays a crucial role in sleep quality and breathing function. When the tongue rests in a low position or the mouth remains open during sleep, airway patency is compromised, increasing the risk of upper airway collapse and sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Poor oral posture can contribute to nasal obstruction, altered craniofacial development, and dysfunctional breathing patterns that reduce oxygenation and disrupt restorative sleep. Optimizing oral posture supports nasal breathing, improves airway stability, and enhances overall sleep quality.
We work diligently with our patients on self-training proper oral posture and focusing on functional (nasal) breathing. In more complex cases, reinforcing these habits may require myofunctional therapy, which consists of nasal breathing re-education and targeted exercises to strengthen the tongue and facial muscles in order to maintain proper oral posture.
How We Can Help:
If you are experiencing TMJ pain, headaches, fatigue, sleep issues, or are struggling to maintain proper oral posture, reach out to our office to schedule a comprehensive evaluation to get you one step closer to achieving optimal health.