Simply put, a tongue thrust is an altered swallowing pattern. In a proper swallowing pattern, the tongue goes to the roof of the mouth and moves like a wave toward the back of the palate. With a tongue thrust swallowing pattern, the tongue presses against the teeth and pushes forward or outward during a swallow. The tongue can be very strong and can over time influence the position of the teeth. Other signs may include:
- habitual mouth breathing with the tongue forward in the mouth or even sticking it out
- lisping during speech or difficulty pronouncing the sounds “t”, “d”, “n”, and “l”
- general problems with articulation and clarity of speech
- sucking habits (past or present) can cause a tongue thrust to develop
- messy eating habits where the food is pushed forward out of the mouth
Correcting this pattern of swallowing is important for a number of reasons but often it comes to the fore with orthodontic treatment. Tongue thrust can directly impact the long-term success or such treatment. It can slow down your progress, it can cause your teeth to move again after completing treatment, and it can make movement of the teeth and closing interdental spaces more difficult.
Tongue thrust or reverse swallow may also lead to aerophagia (excessive swallowing of air). Excess air in the digestive tract may result in bloating, burping, gas or stomach discomfort.
Orofacial Myofunctional therapy is one method used to help retrain muscles and eliminate a thrusting habit.
Click here for examples of a tongue-thrust swallow.
