What is a Tongue Thrust? (And Why Should I Care?)

Today we’re talking about tongue thrusts. While normal in infancy, a child’s swallowing and speaking patterns evolve and most children grow out of this habit. However, if it continues, it can start to cause problems.

Let’s start with what a tongue thrust is. A tongue thrust (a type of orofacial myofunctional disorder) occurs when the tongue moves forward in an exaggerated way during speech and/or swallowing. The tongue may lie too far forward during rest or may protrude between the upper and lower teeth during speech, swallowing, and at rest.

Now, let’s talk about why a tongue thrust matters. As a child grows, continuous pressure — 6 hours or more a day — tends to force their teeth out of alignment. Hello, crooked teeth (and expensive orthodontic work!), as well as other potential issues (e.g., mouth breathing and related problems, loud/messy eating, difficulty or inability to swallow with lips apart).

Wondering if your kiddo has a tongue thrust? Here are some signs and symptoms:

• Tongue protruding between or against the front teeth when producing the S, Z, T, D, L, N, Sh, or Ch
• Teeth tipping – toward the lips or to the tongue
• Mouth breathing
• Loud and/or messy eating
• Tongue visible at the front of the mouth or between teeth during speech or eating
• Open mouth rest posture
• Difficulty or inability to swallow with lips apart

Some causes of a tongue thrust:

• Prolonged use of artificial nipple (bottle, pacifier)
• Prolonged use of sippy-cups
• Thumb or finger sucking
• High, narrow upper hard palate
• Enlarged tonsils or tongue (macroglossia)
• Allergies or nasal congestion
• Tethered oral tissues (tongue-tie, lip-tie, buccal-tie)

Sure, orthodontists may attempt to correct the teeth out of alignment. However, without proper therapy, the child (or adult, if not treated in childhood) may see orthodontic relapse (i.e., the teeth move back due to tongue position). And guess what? Braces will be needed again (+ any related problems will still need to be addressed). No fun for anyone!

So what now? If this sounds like something you’re dealing with and you’re wondering if your child has a tongue thrust, feel free to schedule a free screen. I’m happy to take a look and see what’s going on, and offer thoughts and recommendations on next steps or home exercises to try if it looks like a tongue thrust might be the case. Schedule a free screen HERE.

And if you know a fellow parent who is currently wondering if something is up with their kiddo, please feel free to share this post with them. I’m happy to help. 🙂