EVER WONDERED WHY YOU BITE YOUR TONGUE?

By: Dr. Tanvi Desai, D.C.

Ever wondered why you bite your tongue while chewing or talking? Some cultures believe when you bite your tongue it is an indication of someone cursing at you. Which would not make sense for anyone that is a left brainer or anyone who requires the facts.  When I began to wonder why I bite my tongue, I was one day talking and happened to which created a bump.  As the day went by the bump never subsided. However, when I sat for dinner, I bit my tongue in the same spot AGAIN! Really?!  Which brought the question up as what is the reasoning for anyone to bite their own tongue?
Scientific Explanation
​As a chiropractor, the most logical reasoning would be that there is a spinal misalignment, causing the jaw to shift from its original positioning. The atlas vertebrae sits directly behind the jaw or  more specifically the mandible. When the atlas moves out of alignment, it takes up some of the space between the atlas and mandible (the area right below the ear). This causes the jaw to move out its original place (to create space) as it opens. Now the jaw opens in a slanted and zig- zag pattern confusing the tongue about its spatial placement while it makes specific movements as we talk and chew, thus compromising itself between the teeth. Ouch!

The opposite is true too that the jaw can cause the atlas to move out of alignment. The jaw's position is compromised by postural abnormalities created by tight and weak muscles in the neck and mouth region, therefore causing the atlas to move out of its way. 
As NUCCA chiropractors that specialize in the atlas bone, we will analyze and understand its relationship to the mandible, and address the issue by aligning the spine first, and the jaw second. So do you really need to see your chiropractor for that?Yes, Of course! Your atlas is the outlet for all communication between your brain, spinal cord and the rest of your body. If the mechanics are disturbed by its misalignment, then there is an increased probability of pressure on the brainstem. Next time you catch yourself biting your tongue, come to the Alpha Spine Center to be sure everything is aligned.