How Do You Stop Tongue Thrusting?

How Do You Stop Tongue Thrusting?

Tongue thrusting happens when the tongue pushes against the teeth or lips while swallowing or at rest. This behavior may result in dental issues like an open bite, teeth that stick out, and difficulties with speech.

Stopping tongue thrusting can be achieved through several methods:

• Exercises: To correct the resting position of your tongue muscles, try this simple exercise: place a sugar-free candy on your tongue and gently press it against the roof of your mouth. Bite down with your teeth while keeping your lips apart. Swallow with your teeth still together and lips apart. For best results, do this exercise several times a day.
• Appliances: An appliance may be suggested by your dentist or orthodontist to assist in maintaining the proper position of your tongue. There are two types of appliances: passive ones that do not involve any effort on your part, and active ones that require you to perform exercises while using them.
• Myofunctional therapy: Myofunctional therapy focuses on enhancing the facial and oral muscles’ strength and coordination. By working with a myofunctional therapist, individuals can learn specific exercises designed to enhance your tongue posture and improve swallowing patterns.

For those worried about tongue thrusting, it is important to get an evaluation from a dentist or orthodontist. Their expertise can guide you in finding the most effective treatment plan.

What is a tongue thrust?

Tongue thrusting is when the tongue is pushed forward against the teeth or between the top and bottom teeth during swallowing, talking, or resting.

An orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) is a condition that affects the muscles in the mouth and face, potentially causing issues with structural growth, function, or development.

A child applies persistent pressure on the teeth from activities like swallowing and speaking can cause misalignment in the teeth. Tongue thrusting that persists into adolescence can greatly affect the growth of permanent teeth, as well as the jaw alignment and overall facial aesthetics.

Tongue thrusting can happen as a conscious or subconscious habit. It is possible that your child is not aware of the fact that they are habitually pushing their tongue against their teeth.

During your child’s first orthodontic exam, usually around age 7 as advised by the AAO, our experienced family orthodontist will check for signs of tongue thrusting to address the habit early on.

What causes tongue thrusting?

There are various reasons for tongue thrusting, such as:

• Narrow palate (upper jaw bone)
• Enlarged tonsils
• Tongue tie
• The use of bottles or pacifiers once a child reaches 4 to 5 years old
• Using sippy cups around the age of 4 or 5.
• Thumb sucking

What Are The Types of Tongue Thrust

Orthodontic issues come in different forms, each presenting its own unique challenges and considerations:

1. Anterior open bite: The most common form of tongue thrust is anterior open bite. Tongue thrust is frequently seen when a child’s lips do not close properly and their tongue extends past the lips with an open mouth. This type of tongue thrust is often accompanied by a visibly large tongue in the patient.
2. Anterior thrust: Anterior thrust happens when the lower lip moves inwards, causing the upper incisors and lower incisors to stick out significantly beyond their usual alignment. This may lead to excessive strain on the chin muscles (mentalis) of the patient.
3. Unilateral thrust: Unilateral thrust involves having the jaw open on one side.
4. Bilateral thrust: The posterior teeth starting from the first bicuspid to the molars at the rear can have gaps on both sides, while the front bite is firmly closed. Correcting the bilateral thrust poses the greatest challenge.
5. Bilateral anterior open bite: Bilateral anterior open bite is when the upper and lower front teeth don’t make contact, with only the molars touching. Patients with a bilateral anterior open bite typically have no contact between their front teeth. Enlarged tongues are often seen in this condition.
6. Closed bite thrust: A closed bite is when the upper and lower teeth are pushed forward and jut outwards. The closed bite thrust usually involves a simultaneous forward movement of the upper and lower teeth.

How to Detect a Pattern of Tongue Thrust?

From birth, children may display a tongue thrust pattern due to an infantile swallowing condition. The good news is that up to age 4, this type of swallowing behavior is typically not a major issue. Most kids will naturally develop a more mature swallowing pattern and move away from infantile patterns, which helps prevent problematic tongue thrusts.

If the habit continues after age 4, it might become more severe and require a structured intervention program for resolution.