Do you do any of these!? Might be time to have your oral function evaluated. Although we chew with our jaw muscles, a large portion of chewing and swallowing is dependent on the tongue’s ability to transfer and gather the food. Without proper oral function due to low tone or a restriction, we tend to have less control over our food, chew less, and potentially swallow more air. Chewing is essential for primary digestion. Mechanically with the teeth, and the more we chew, the more saliva is mixed