If your child’s smile looks a little narrow, or their teeth seem crowded even before all the adult teeth come in, there’s often more behind it than just “genetics.” One of the biggest, hidden influences on facial growth is something most parents never think about — where the tongue rests. The tongue’s resting position quietly shapes the way a child’s upper jaw develops, and over time, that small detail can make a big difference in how their entire face grows.

The Problem: Low Tongue Posture and What It Does

Your tongue isn’t just a muscle for talking or swallowing. It’s one of nature’s most effective expanders. When it rests on the roof of the mouth, it gently pushes outward and guides the upper jaw to grow wide and balanced. But when the tongue sits low in the mouth, that upward and outward pressure disappears. The result? The upper jaw stays narrow, teeth crowd together, and the lower face can grow longer than it should. Over time, that change affects not only how the smile looks but also how easily a child can breathe through their nose.

What the Research Shows

An article in the Angle Orthodontist titled The influence of the tongue on dentofacial growth reviews how tongue posture influences skeletal development of the upper jaw. The author explains that when the tongue rests high against the palate, it encourages width and forward growth; when it rests low, narrowing and crowding are more likely to occur.

PMCID: PMC8611756 | Angle Orthodontist. 2015;85(4):715.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8611756

In simpler terms: the tongue’s natural resting place is a growth guide. When it’s where it should be, the face grows wide and healthy. When it’s not, the face adapts — often in ways we don’t want.

Why This Matters for Your Child’s Face

A narrow upper jaw doesn’t just crowd teeth — it restricts the airway, affects nasal breathing, and can set off a domino effect that impacts posture, sleep, and even attention. The good news is that, unlike some genetic factors, tongue posture can be retrained. When we teach the tongue to rest high and wide, we encourage the upper jaw to follow. That means better spacing, improved breathing, and a more balanced facial structure as a child grows.

What You Can Do: Support Proper Tongue Posture and Function

1. Encourage High Tongue Resting Posture

Teach your child the phrase “tongue up.” The goal is for the tongue to gently rest on the roof of the mouth with the lips closed and breathing through the nose. It should feel natural — not forced.

2. Add Structured Resistance for Growth

This is where Blossom Myofunctional Gum becomes powerful. The dense texture gives the jaw and lips something meaningful to work against while the child practices keeping their tongue on the palate. When paired with our guided myofunctional exercises, the chewing resistance and high-tongue training combine to reinforce healthy habits that support natural facial development. One of our favorite exercises, called “Pancake”, specifically targets tongue posture. It strengthens the tongue by having children press and “pancake” the dense gum flat against the palate — building both muscle tone and awareness of proper tongue position. Over time, this gentle daily effort helps widen the jaw and restore the natural balance of muscle and bone growth that nature intended.

The Takeaway

The tongue may be quiet, but it’s one of the most powerful expanders of a child’s face. When it rests where it belongs — on the roof of the mouth — it supports strong, wide jaws, healthy breathing, and a confident smile. Helping your child learn this habit early can influence not just their teeth, but the way their entire face grows.

Jordon Smith, DDS
“The more you know, the better they grow.”