The word “stomatognathic” sounds complicated.
The underlying idea is much easier to understand: the mouth and jaws do not function as isolated parts.
The stomatognathic system includes:
- The temporomandibular joints
- The bones forming the oral cavity
- The teeth
- The tongue
- The lips and cheeks
- The gingiva and oral mucosa
- The salivary glands
- The muscles involved in chewing and swallowing
These structures participate in functions including chewing, swallowing, speaking, and breathing.
One Connected System
Greg often describes this system using the analogy of an aircraft.
In that analogy:
- The left and right sides of the maxilla act like wings.
- The tongue and teeth help coordinate pressure and movement.
- The jaw moves and adapts as the body changes position.
- The brain continuously processes sensory information.
- The visual, balance, postural, and movement systems work to keep the body oriented.
The analogy is intended to show that the mouth, jaw, tongue, sensory system, and movement system do not operate independently.
Each element of the aircraft analogy is an educational comparison, not a literal or established medical mechanism.
Pressure and Movement
During everyday activity, the tongue, jaw, teeth, chewing muscles, and facial muscles continuously change position and pressure.
Greg believes these changing forces may participate in the larger sensory and movement picture.
He compares side-to-side movement of the jaw and tongue to a windshield wiper shifting pressure from one side to another.
The body is simultaneously processing information related to balance, visual orientation, joint position, muscular tension, and the environment.
This constant information processing is part of how the nervous system plans and adjusts movement.
Gait and balance are complex functions involving the brain, spinal cord, vestibular system, vision, joints, muscles, sensation, and many other systems. A person’s gait should not be assumed to be controlled by the tongue, teeth, or jaw alone.
The Golf-Ball Analogy
Greg compares the head and brain with a golf ball sitting on a tee.
In this analogy, stable support allows the system to function with less unnecessary movement and compensation.
When someone has jaw discomfort, an unstable bite, reduced oral space, or difficulty maintaining comfortable oral posture, surrounding muscles may adapt in an effort to create stability.
Greg compares this to attempting to control a bowling ball while riding through rough terrain. The body must perform its normal tasks while also managing instability.
Why Parents Should Understand the Term
Parents do not need to memorize every anatomical structure.
The important takeaway is that chewing, swallowing, speech, tongue posture, jaw movement, oral comfort, and breathing may interact.
A concern involving one part of the system may require input from more than one type of professional.
Depending on the concern, that team might include:
- A pediatrician
- Dentist or pediatric dentist
- Orthodontist
- Ear, nose, and throat physician
- Sleep specialist
- Speech-language pathologist
- Feeding specialist
- Orofacial myofunctional professional
- Physical or occupational therapist
Understanding the term “stomatognathic system” gives parents language for asking how these structures and functions may connect without attempting to diagnose those connections themselves.
