Studies have shown that results of this treatment are 80–90% successful and have proven to be beneficial for years after program completion. |
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What is a tongue thrust?
Tongue thrusting is incorrect tongue positioning at rest and during swallowing. When these individuals swallow, they push their tongues against or between their teeth rather than pushing upward against the palate to complete a normal swallow. Equally important, they are usually resting their tongues against or between their teeth, which often interferes with a healthy dental freeway space between the upper and lower teeth.
What damage is caused by incorrect tongue patterns?
People swallow up to 1,000 times a day. Atypical swallows and incorrect rest postures can prevent teeth from erupting and also contribute to misalignment of the teeth and jaws. The resulting malocclusions can contribute to the pain associated with jaw joint (TMJ) problems and with clenching and grinding habits. In addition to dental problems, incorrect tongue patterns can cause speech disorders and social problems related to messy eating.
How to identify incorrect tongue patterns
Check for one or more of the following symptoms:
- Open-mouth breathing
- Forward tongue movements during chewing and swallowing
- Misaligned teeth such as overjets, open bites and crossbites
- Noisy chewing and messy eating
- Persistent sucking habits, most frequently sucking the thumb
- Pain related to jaw joint (TMJ) problems and clenching/grinding
- Chewing with an open mouth
- Forward tongue positioning at rest
- Persistent speech problems which do not improve with age or with speech therapy
