How do most clinical dental professionals look at the tongue on a daily basis? Likely when inspecting the tongue is part of a standard oral cancer exam. Visually examining and palpating the dorsal, ventral, lateral boards of the tongue and looking for any abnormalities on the surface, ideally should be completed at every dental exam.1 Is this where exploring the tongue ends for most dental professionals? Are dental professionals looking at the function of the tongue? Could there be other clues that the tongue is providing into a view of the patient’s overall health? This article will review the muscles of the tongue as an organ and its function in daily activities, like breathing, speech, and digestion.2 We will discussing the tongue’s role in orofacial growth, development and overall health. Also, learning when and to what health care professional to should refer patients for help in correcting tongue dysfunction or poor oral habits.
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