Your tongue is an essential part of your body. It allows you to create words and sounds. Your tongue is also covered with sensors that allow you to taste food and it assists in preparing food for swallowing.
What you may not realize is that the tongue is classified as a muscle and it’s one of the strongest in your body. In fact, it is strong enough that its position can help to shape your mouth. In doing so, it has the ability to change your breathing.
The good news is that there are various treatments available to deal with tongue issues. If you have an issue it’s important to visit a good dentist, such as this dentist Fortitude Valley. They can talk you through the options and help improve your breathing.
Your Tongue & Sleep
The larger your tongue, the more likely it is that it will fall back when it’s relaxed and partially block your throat, effectively reducing the amount of space for air to flow through. Your tongue relaxes when you sleep, meaning this is the time it will affect your breathing.
The extent of its effects will vary depending on how much it has blocked your airway.
In most cases, it is likely to cause a snoring sound as air movement is reduced and the air will be forced past cells in your throat. In more serious cases the blockage of the airway will be severe enough to restrict your air supply and startle you awake. It’s generally referred to as sleep apnea and will seriously reduce your ability to get enough sleep each night.
Fortunately, your dentist can identify this issue and help you to retrain your tongue, ensuring that it sits properly in your throat and no longer cause blockages or sleep issues.
Why Visiting A Dentist Is Essential
Your dentist doesn’t just look at your teeth. They will also inspect your gum line, your gums, and your tongue, along with other parts of your mouth. They are likely to be the first person to notice an issue and can help you deal with it.
It’s worth noting that, in most cases, the dentist won’t just look at your tongue, they will also ask about your lifestyle and any other issues you are having, including sleep apnea. This will help them to diagnose the issue properly and get you the help you need.
Additional Oral Hygiene Problems
A tongue that is causing you breathing issues is serious enough. But, when your tongue falls to the back of your throat, you are forced to breathe in and out through your mouth. The air movement causes your mouth to become dry, you’ll probably wake up with a dry mouth.
Unfortunately, dry mouth means there is little saliva to dilute acids in your mouth. Acid attacks the enamel on your teeth, without saliva, it will do more damage and increase the likelihood of you developing cavities and other issues. That can lead to infections and even tooth loss. It’s easier to get your tongue problem resolved and avoid these issues.