They are different actions and to an extent contradict each other. Try to place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth without pushing and then apply suction. You will notice the rest of your tongue raising against the hard palate and curling inside your soft palate quickly.

Stop this and try to push the tip of your tongue hard on the roof of your mouth and notice how a different area of your tongue is engaged to sustain the force. Now try to suction as you are pushing hard and notice how difficult it is to get any suction.

I would say the key difference is which tongue muscle insertions are being engaged that facilities each function.

Thank you. From my understanding we want to be suctioning rather than pushing right? Is there a concrete exercise/method for creating suction properly (and to ensure you are not merely pushing up)

Posted by: paradise

Thank you. From my understanding we want to be suctioning rather than pushing right? Is there a concrete exercise/method for creating suction properly (and to ensure you are not merely pushing up)

Welcome. I am not aware of any exercise to train for suction specifically. The method I described is the only one I am aware of, which is to:

• place (not push) the tip of the tongue on the N spot
• suck the tongue in as if sucking in saliva

Watch how the rest of the tongue will rise to press flat against the hard palate and curl inside your soft palate. You will also notice that at this point your mastication muscles start activating and pulling your mandible upward and forward to close your mouth.

Now reduce the effort to the minimum you need to keep it there.