Back

06. The Cave

The cave position is the posture your tongue should habitually rest in. With the tip of the tongue on the spot (just behind the front teeth), the body of your tongue should be in contact with the edges of your palate and just inside your top molar teeth extending all the way back to your soft palate. There is typically a space on the very top of your palate where there will not be contact as indicated in the diagram below. 

Most people tend to be missing contact with the back of their tongue on the back of their palate, the soft palate. Usually this is connected to having a tongue tie and may require stretching and/or a frenectomy.

Instructions:

    1. Place the tip of your tongue on the spot located just behind your front teeth.
    2. Place the body of your tongue up so that you sense uniform contact with the sides of your upper molars and palate extending all the way back to your soft palate. 
    3. While maintaining this position, open and close your jaw 10x sensing a stretch at the base of your tongue.
    4. Then, try to maintain the cave position while keeping your jaw open for 60 seconds. If this causes discomfort, do not open as far or discontinue. 

Perform 1-3x/day. *Unless otherwise directed

  • Optionally, use your testing technique to determine your optimal frequency and duration to perform.
  • If you are unable to sense contact on the back of the tongue you may have a tongue tie.

 

Back
Donate