02/18/2026
👅 Signs of Tongue Weakness
The tongue is one of the most important muscles for breathing, feeding, swallowing, and sleep — but when it’s weak or lacks endurance, the body starts to compensate.
And those compensations can show up in ways you might not immediately connect to the tongue.
Here are some common signs we look for:
⚠️ Mouth breathing
⚠️ Low tongue posture (resting on the floor of the mouth)
⚠️ Messy or inefficient chewing
⚠️ Swallowing with lip or chin tension
⚠️ Food pocketing
⚠️ Speech sound difficulties
⚠️ Fatigue while eating or feeding
⚠️ Poor sleep or snoring
For little ones, this might look like long feeds, clicking while nursing, or trouble coordinating sucking and swallowing.
For older kids and adults, it may show up as tension, clenching, or airway and sleep concerns.
The good news?
Just like any muscle, the tongue can be strengthened and retrained with targeted myofunctional coaching.
Stronger tongue → better breathing → better function → better rest. 💛
If you’ve noticed any of these signs, it may be worth taking a closer look at oral function.