Tooth Be Told

As I began to reflect on the last 10 years as a dentist here in Niwot, I kept coming back to my favorite and most gratifying detail - being a part of the community. The relationships that have been cultivated out of a shadow of a common phrase, “I’m scared of the dentist,” have made me feel that this life and the connections to our community are just as important as the technical skill of my career. Whether at Rock & Rails, our kids’ Niwot flag football games, or a Saturday morning coffee hello, I feel the need to express my sincere gratitude for our small-town, big-hearted community.

It is my hope that this column will be another way to connect to you and give you insight into my whole-body approach to health and wellness. As a dentist, my perspective obviously starts with me looking in your mouth, but I’d like to show you the value of how your mouth is the gateway to your body via anecdotal accounts of varying topics.

This week’s edition of Tooth Be Told discusses our increased exposure with an adult tongue tie. Tongue ties affect individuals differently at various stages of life, from infancy through adulthood. This condition involves a restrictive tissue on the floor of the mouth that limits the movement of the tongue, potentially impacting breastfeeding, speech, dental health, and even facial development. Understanding and addressing these ties are crucial as their effects can extend far beyond infancy, influencing growth, development, and overall well-being if left untreated.

Most recently, we had a patient who was concerned about gum recession. One would ask, how are the gums related to our tongue position?

First, our natural and proper tongue resting position is against the roof of your mouth, your lips closed and teeth slightly parted. It is also important to note that your tongue should not press on your teeth.

Poor tongue positioning can lead to a number of specific health concerns, including jaw and neck pain, breathing difficulties (nasal breathing promotes better breathing efficiency and lowered blood pressure), shifting teeth, jaw pain and poor body posture.

As we asked more questions of our patient, she had experienced two previous spinal fusions, premature tooth loss, and sleep apnea since 2007. She had a substantial tongue tie upon clinical examination. My point is this: a tethered tongue can’t rest in the natural position, thus other vital muscles are recruited to swallow, breath, and position your head.

From an oral bacteria standpoint, mouth breathing creates a change in your bacteria that can cause inflammation (gingivitis), dry mouth (xerostomia), and cavities.

Going back to our initial question, how does our tongue play a role in gum recession? The answer: tooth malposition, and the bacterial load in our mouth has a direct effect on the health of our gums. If your teeth have shifted because of tongue posture and our oral and breathing habits change as a result, our gums are the most vulnerable tissue in our mouth.

Start here and ask yourself the following questions: Do I have head and neck pain? Do I mouth breathe? Do I have teeth that are shifting and/or chipping? Do I have trouble placing my tongue on my palate?

I hope this information helps you to evaluate your tongue position as well as the importance to your overall health and does not cause you to run out immediately and buy new pillows due to neck pain.