Tongue thrusting is a disorder that can affect tooth development and speech. It involves the tongue thrusting forward past the front teeth when swallowing, talking, or doing nothing. It can cause orthodontic problems and speech issues. Therapy and braces are often needed to correct it. Causes include thumb sucking, allergies, and heredity.
A tongue thrust is an orofacial myological disorder that can affect a person’s tooth development and speech. Speech therapy and braces are often needed to correct a tongue thrusting, which has many causes. People who have this disorder are often unaware of it, although some may discover it during a regular dentist appointment.
Also known as immature swallowing or reverse swallowing, a tongue thrust disorder involves the tongue thrusting forward past the front teeth when a person is swallowing, talking or, often, doing nothing. Young children normally have this type of swallowing. It turns into a normal swallow, where the tongue is on the palate, when the child is 6 or 7 years old. It can become a habit if it continues beyond age 7. This condition normally affects the upper front teeth but can affect other teeth as well, depending on the severity of the condition.
If a tongue thrust doesn’t correct itself naturally, it can cause orthodontic problems. The average person swallows about 2,000 times a day. This orofacial muscle imbalance causes the tongue to exert 1 to 6 pounds (0.4 to 2.7 kg) of pressure on the teeth. Teeth are pushed out of place over time and braces may be needed to correct the placement of the teeth. The condition can lead to growth distortions affecting the teeth and face.
Speech problems can result from tongue thrusting disorder. It’s often the cause of lisps, but it can also affect some sounds, including t, d, n, ch, sh, and j. Therapy is often used to train the tongue to sit properly in the mouth and move properly to speak. Special language exercises are used to treat the disorder. If it’s very severe, you may need to use a more permanent device in combination with braces and speech therapy.
Tongue thrusting is one of the most common orofacial myological disorders. It can lead to social problems beyond speech and orthodontic problems. Sufferers can make funny faces when they drink or eat. They may also lick their lips a lot or pucker at odd times, like when they’re drinking. This can cause them difficulties in school, work and in general public.
This ailment has many causes. In some cases it is caused by thumb sucking or certain types of artificial nipples, such as those found on pacifiers and bottles. In other cases, the condition can be hereditary. Allergies and nasal congestion can also contribute. Large tonsils and a condition known as “tongue tie” can also be causes.
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