Introduction: Digestion Starts in the Mouth—But It Doesn’t End There
Most people associate digestion with the stomach or intestines. But at BreatheWorks, we help patients understand that digestive function starts with posture, breathing, and orofacial mechanics. If you’re not chewing properly, breathing through your nose, or holding your tongue in the correct position, your digestion is likely suffering.
That’s because the chewing-breathing-digestion axis relies on coordinated systems that start at the face and mouth—and these are directly affected by posture.
How Orofacial Posture Affects Digestion
Orofacial posture refers to the way your tongue, lips, and jaw rest when you’re not speaking or eating. Optimal rest posture includes:
- Tongue resting on the palate
- Lips closed without strain
- Breathing through the nose
- Jaw resting gently closed or teeth lightly touching
When this balance is disrupted, it can lead to:
- Mouth breathing, which dries the oral cavity and disrupts digestive enzyme production
- Poor chewing due to jaw instability or misalignment
- Swallowing air (aerophagia), leading to bloating, gas, and acid reflux
- Disorganized chewing rhythm, affecting bolus formation and downstream digestion
In children, this often presents as:
- “Picky eating” or texture aversion
- Taking too long to finish meals
- Swallowing without fully chewing
- Slumped posture at the dinner table
- Frequent hiccups, burping, or complaints of belly pain
The Role of Breathing and Diaphragmatic Pressure
Breathing sets the tone for digestion. When we inhale properly using the diaphragm, it:
- Creates pressure gradients that support esophageal sphincter function
- Stimulates vagal nerve activity, which governs the parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state
- Coordinates movement between the pelvic floor, abdominal muscles, and intestinal tract
But in patients with chronic mouth breathing, shallow breathing, or poor posture, this process breaks down—leading to:
- Constipation or delayed gastric emptying
- Increased intra-abdominal pressure and gastroesophageal reflux disease treatments
- Poor appetite regulation and disrupted hunger cues
- Fatigue or nausea after meals due to poor oxygenation and autonomic imbalance
Real-World Case Study: A Child with Tummy Aches and Slow Eating
A 10-year-old girl was referred to BreatheWorks for speech therapy related to articulation issues. But her intake revealed:
- Open-mouth posture during rest and meals
- Chronic bloating, slow eating, and frequent complaints of stomach discomfort
- Tongue thrust and weak chewing pattern
- Slouched seated posture during homework and meals
Over eight weeks of myofunctional therapy, chewing retraining, and nasal breathing exercises, she began:
- Finishing meals without complaints
- Transitioning to more textured foods
- Showing improved digestion and fewer stomach aches
- Gaining clarity in speech and better engagement in school
The outcome wasn’t just clearer speech—it was better digestion and energy.
Why Many Digestive Treatments Fall Short
Typical digestive treatments focus on diet, hydration, or medication—but often miss these upstream contributors:
- Poor chewing and bolus preparation
- Mouth breathing reducing salivary enzymes
- Lack of vagal stimulation due to shallow chest breathing
- Postural collapse impairing stomach and esophageal alignment
That’s why patients with GERD, IBS, or chronic bloating often see improvements when oral function and posture are addressed.
How BreatheWorks Helps Restore the Digestion Axis
Our therapy approach integrates structural, functional, and behavioral insights across systems:
✅ Myofunctional therapy for chewing rhythm, tongue posture, and lip seal
✅ Breathing therapy to support vagal tone and diaphragm mobility
✅ Postural correction to reduce intra-abdominal pressure and enhance core coordination
✅ Speech therapy when feeding, swallowing, or motor speech issues are involved
✅ Collaboration with GI specialists, dietitians, and pediatricians when appropriate
Signs It’s Time to Evaluate Orofacial-Digestive Function
Patients who may benefit include:
- Children who chew with mouths open or struggle with solids
- Adults with frequent reflux, burping, or air hunger after meals
- Teens with both speech and digestive complaints
- Patients with mouth breathing and persistent GI symptoms despite diet changes
- Individuals who feel full quickly or “get bloated just from water”
Key Takeaways
- Orofacial posture and breathing directly influence digestion and GI function
- Mouth breathing and improper chewing can cause reflux, bloating, and fatigue
- Therapy focused on airway, chewing, and diaphragm coordination can improve both speech and digestion
- BreatheWorks addresses the full chewing-breathing-digestion axis with evidence-based, whole-patient care
