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Tongue thrusting can be described as a condition in which the tongue protrudes against the upper teeth during periods of swallowing, speaking, or even while being at rest. Even though many may consider it harmless, it repositions the teeth and is not healthy for children and adolescents, especially teenagers. In this blog post, I will explain what leads to this habit, how it influences the positioning of teeth, and how one can treat this issue.
What Is Tongue Thrusting?
Tongue thrusting is the condition where the tongue protrudes against or between the two anterior teeth instead of resting against the roof of the mouth. This error can happen during activities like swallowing, speaking, and even at rest. The tongue’s forward push can exert pressure on the teeth, which causes misalignment.
Causes of Tongue Thrusting
Several factors can contribute to tongue thrusting, including:
1. Prolonged Use of Pacifiers or Thumb-Sucking
When children use pacifiers or suck their thumbs up to the age of three or more, they may develop tongue thrusting. These habits may lead to the tongue pushing against the teeth and thus causing them to protrude.
2. Enlarged Tonsils or Adenoids
Enlarged tonsils or adenoids can block the nasal passages, causing people to breathe through their mouths. This results in tongue thrusting since the tongue prolapses forward to help create an airway.
3. Speech Disorders
Some cases of speech disorders are closely associated with tongue thrusting and include a lisp. In such cases, the forward position of the tongue plays a crucial role in the pronunciation of phonemes.
How Tongue Thrusting Affects Teeth Alignment?
Some of the common dental issues caused by tongue thrusting include:
1. Open Bite
Open bite is a dental disease that implies there is no contact between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed. Tongue thrusting may result in an open bite since it tends to push the front teeth forward, leading to a gap between the teeth.
2. Overjet
The separation between the upper and lower anterior teeth is called the overjet. The front teeth may be more protruded in the cases of tongue pushing, which will increase the gap between the upper and lower teeth and the bite.
3. Speech Impediments
Such types of speech disorders can be strongly associated with tongue thrusting, for example, speaking with a lisp. Under such circumstances, the forward position of the tongue determines how the phoneme is pronounced.
Solutions to Correct Tongue Thrusting
Below are some effective solutions:
1. Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy involves practices that help muscles of the mouth and face to work properly in swallowing and positioning the tongue. Such exercises may serve to help train a normal peristaltic swallow and eliminate or at least reduce tongue thrusting.
2. Orthodontic Treatment
If tongue thrusting leads to other malocclusions, one may require procedures such as orthodontic treatments. This means orthodontic appliances such as braces or clear aligners can be used to fix such problems, including open bite or overjet.
3. Speech Therapy
Speech therapy can be helpful to people who have speech issues due to tongue thrusting. A speech therapist will also consider addressing errors in the placement of the tongue and giving proper education on how to swallow.
4. Surgery
Tongue thrusting may require surgery in which deviant structures such as enlarged tonsils or adenoids must be removed. This is often used when all the other modes of treatment have failed to work out properly.
Tongue thrusting is beyond a habit because it poses a great threat to the teeth if not corrected. Symptoms of tongue thrusting should be identified and treated early to avoid long-term problems related to teeth alignment and oral cavity. One must remember that this is a very detrimental habit; however, with the help of psychotherapy, orthodontic treatment, and certain types of behavioral modifications, it is quite possible to acquire the habit of not bracing your teeth and gaining perfectly aligned teeth.
FAQs
Q: Is tongue thrusting harmful?
A: Yes, tongue thrusting can lead to problems such as open bite and overjet and sometimes might even lead to problems with speech if not treated.
Q: At what age should tongue thrusting be treated?
A: Tongue thrusting is best treated during early childhood, although it can also be treated when going through the teenage years or even adulthood.