1 in 4 adults have a tongue thrust, or a forward swallowing pattern. Why are tongue thrusts a problem? Tongue thrusts puts pressure on teeth causing them to move positions and causes people to swallow to much air.
Do you have a tongue thrust? Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth and then swallow. Does your tongue thrust forward or are you forming a suction with it to swallow? That is not the ideal way to swallow. This can lead to many problems with digestion and if your tongue is thrusting forward it can cause your teeth to flare forward. Keep in mind the pressure from your tongue is much stronger than the force of braces! Remember how much pressure you felt when you had braces?
Tongue Thrust FAQs
1. How do I know if I have a tongue thrust? Difficulty chewing or swallowing, choking on foods easily, strong gag reflex, sound distortions with some speech sounds.2. What are some symtoms of a tongue thrust? Orthodontic relapse(even while wearing a retainer), stomach bloating(swallowing to much air), distortion of speech, particularly with T, N, D, L, S and Z sounds.
3. What causes a tongue thrust? Thumb sucking, finger sucking, pacifier ( past the age of 2), tongue ties, poor/ low muscle tone, enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
4. Can myofunctional therapists provide feeding and swallowing therapy? Myofunctional therapists who have a background as speech language pathologists may provide feeding and swallowing therapy.
5. What happens if I don't treat my tongue thrust? Orthodontic relapse, TMJ disorders, difficulty chewing, swallowing and digesting food.
6. How long does myofunctional therapy take? Therapy sessions are held every two weeks. It is expected that the patient will practice at home daily. Usually 10-15 sessions are required. This may seem like a long time but think about how many years your tongue and lips have been utilizing improper patterns.
3. What causes a tongue thrust? Thumb sucking, finger sucking, pacifier ( past the age of 2), tongue ties, poor/ low muscle tone, enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
4. Can myofunctional therapists provide feeding and swallowing therapy? Myofunctional therapists who have a background as speech language pathologists may provide feeding and swallowing therapy.
5. What happens if I don't treat my tongue thrust? Orthodontic relapse, TMJ disorders, difficulty chewing, swallowing and digesting food.
6. How long does myofunctional therapy take? Therapy sessions are held every two weeks. It is expected that the patient will practice at home daily. Usually 10-15 sessions are required. This may seem like a long time but think about how many years your tongue and lips have been utilizing improper patterns.