It is a myth that a person can swallow their tongue during a seizure. The frenulum linguae prevents this. Objects should not be inserted into the mouth during a seizure, as it can cause harm. Instead, the person should be placed on their side and emergency medical care may be necessary.
Tongue swallowing is a commonly believed myth. It typically refers to the idea that a person having a seizure might swallow their tongue. This has often involved inserting objects into their mouths to prevent this. Many people today, however, understand that it is physically impossible to swallow your tongue.
During an attack, when lying on their back, a person may open their mouth and gasp for breath. Other individuals who witness this may notice that the sufferer’s tongue may roll back towards their throat. This may also feel like the sufferer is swallowing their own tongue or the tongue they swallow.
Although many doctors have tried to debunk this myth, some people still believe that tongue swallowing can occur during an attack. In fact, it is physically impossible for an individual to swallow his tongue, even if he is having a seizure. A thin piece of tissue located just under the tongue, known as the frenulum linguae, prevents this from happening. This tissue connects the bottom of the tongue to the base of the mouth just behind the lower teeth.
Years ago, most people believed in tongue swallowing. To prevent a person who was having an attack of suffocation, all kinds of objects were inserted into his mouth. this could include things like wallets, metal utensils, and sticks.
Inserting these kinds of things into a person’s mouth during a seizure often did more harm than good. For example, because a person may squeeze or bite when having a seizure, there is a chance that he may break off a piece of the object in her mouth. This can then get stuck in his throat, suffocating him. Harder objects, such as the aforementioned metal utensils, could also cause chipped teeth or other damage inside the mouth.
While tongue swallowing is impossible, it is not uncommon for a person having a seizure to bite their tongue. However, if a person is having a seizure, nothing should ever be placed in their mouth. Along with objects, this includes fingers, which could be badly injured.
Instead, the person should be placed on their side and any tight clothing, especially collars, should be loosened. During a seizure or grand mal seizure, all objects around the person should be moved if possible. Contrary to popular belief, a person having this type of seizure should never be restrained, as it could lead to injury. Bystanders should keep track of how long the seizure lasts and stay with the sufferer until the end of the episode. Emergency medical care is usually recommended if an attack lasts more than five minutes, if the sufferer has been injured, or if they have never had an attack before.
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