Tongue thrusting is a habit where the tongue pushes against or between the teeth during swallowing, speaking, or at rest. This behavior can have significant implications for dental health.
Causes
Oral Habits: Thumb sucking, prolonged pacifier use, or extensive bottle feeding can encourage tongue thrusting.
Oral Structure Issues: Enlarged tonsils, adenoids, or a low tongue posture can contribute to tongue thrusting.
Mouth Breathing: Chronic mouth breathing can alter tongue posture, promoting tongue thrusting.
Dental Consequences
Malocclusion (Misaligned Teeth) Open Bite: The upper and lower front teeth do not touch when the mouth is closed, leading to an open bite. This is a common consequence of tongue thrusting.
Overbite or Overjet: Tongue thrusting can push the upper front teeth forward, creating an overbite or excessive overjet (horizontal space between the upper and lower front teeth).
Spacing and Alignment Issues: The constant pressure from the tongue can lead to spacing between teeth or contribute to crooked teeth.
Speech Issues
Lisping: Tongue thrusting can affect speech, particularly causing a lisp, where “s” and “z” sounds are pronounced with a “th” sound.
Gum Problems
Gum Recession and Irritation: The force from the tongue can cause the gums to recede, especially if the thrusting occurs against the front teeth.
Treatment and Management
Behavioral Therapy
Myofunctional Therapy: This therapy focuses on retraining the tongue and facial muscles to adopt a correct resting posture and swallowing pattern.
Speech Therapy: Speech therapists can work with individuals to correct tongue position and improve articulation.
Orthodontic Treatment
Braces or Aligners: These can help correct malocclusions and align teeth.
Tongue Crib or Habit Appliance: Orthodontists may use appliances designed to discourage tongue thrusting.
Prevention
Early Intervention: Identifying and addressing tongue thrusting early, particularly in children, can prevent or reduce the severity of dental issues.
Regular Dental Check-ups: Routine dental visits can help detect signs of tongue thrusting and allow for early management.
