What Is a Tongue Thrust Habit?

When we are born, we all swallow with an in and out movement of the tongue.  As we grow, most of us transition to a swallowing pattern where the tongue presses against the roof of the mouth.  Some people don’t make the change and their tongue continues to push forward against or between the teeth when swallowing.  The tongue may also lie between the teeth while it is at rest.

How does a tongue thrust affect your teeth?

It doesn’t take a lot of force to move the teeth.  If there is constant pressure from the tongue pushing against your teeth it will cause your teeth to move and become crooked or spaced.  An open bite may also develop which means the teeth will not overlap normally. 

Open bite due to tongue thrust habit

-This can make chewing and swallowing more difficult

-It may be hard to chew with your lips closed

-It may cause an open-lip resting posture where it is hard for you to keep your lips closed even at rest

-An open-lip resting posture may cause gum disease

-An open-lip resting posture may also cause narrowing of the roof of your mouth and affect growth and dental development

-If you wear braces, it will take longer to straighten your teeth

-If you wore braces and your teeth were straightened, your teeth may not stay straight due to the imbalance of the muscles of the tongue, lips and cheeks.

Does everyone with a tongue thrust swallow the same?

No. Not all tongue thrusts are alike.  There are several types of tongue thrusts. Some push forward against and even sometimes through the teeth. Some push against the side teeth, some push against the top teeth and some push against the bottom teeth.

I don’t have a speech problem. Why has my orthodontist recommended I see a Speech-Language Pathologist?

Like any habit, a tongue thrust swallowing pattern is difficult to change.  A speech-language pathologist who offers myo-functional therapy can help you learn the new patterns of tongue movement you need to keep your tongue in the proper place.  Myo-functional therapy exercises given to you by a speech pathologist will help you make the necessary corrections so that it will become second nature for your tongue to rest in the proper place and for you to swallow correctly day and night.

How difficult and demanding is the therapy?

It is important that you want to make the changes and are mature enough to cooperate and stick with it. Therapy requires regular, short pieces of practice involving moving your tongue in specific ways and making sounds differently.  If you are willing to do this, you can change your patterns. The speech- language pathologist will make sure you understand the exercises and how to do them, tailoring them to suit your particular needs. Your job is to practice.

But doesn't the orthodontist straighten teeth?

Yes, your orthodontist can align your teeth and give you a beautiful smile, but if your tongue patterns in swallowing and speech are still pushing on your teeth, your tongue will push your teeth out of alignment again. This is why your orthodontist will refer you to a speech-language pathologist, so that you will have greater success in re-aligning your teeth and avoiding relapse.