Tongue Thrusting Habit: Cause and its Outcome; Doctors Say to Treat This Problem Soonest Possible

The continuous pressure of the wrong tongue posture will force the teeth and arches out of alignment. If the habit continues beyond infancy, the effects of the tongue thrusting habit may be seen in facial growth and appearance, health, communication or speech, or the development of teeth.

This develops when a baby starts consuming solid food as they begin to adopt the habit of putting their tongue against the roof of their mouth behind the front teeth when swallowing. Several types of bottle nipples and pacifiers and prolonged bottle use can result in an abnormal tongue thrust that usually lasts from infancy to early childhood.

Tongue Thrust has been discussed by writers ever since 1958, and it is common for school-age kids to have a tongue thrust. Approximately 67- to 95 percent of children aged five to eight years old display signs of tongue thrust. Having this habit can lead to orthodontic or speech issues in children. Kids can outgrow this habit up to the age of four. However, if the habit still exists beyond that age, it can become stronger and will now need treatment, per Pan Orthodontics.

This can lead to serious health problems in the future

The possible causes of tongue thrust in children usually begin in infancy. It can be associated with long-term sucking habits as it influences the tongue's movement, such as sucking of the thumb, fingers, or tongue. In young ones, tongue thrust occurs when there's too much forward movement of the tongue during either speaking or swallowing.

Usually, the tongue tends to push forward in the mouth and can sometimes press the area located at the back of the teeth.

Within 24 hours, you swallow 1,200 to 2,000 times with approximately four pounds of pressure.

Dr. Nancy Hartrick, a neuromuscular dentist in Royal Oak, said tongue thrust could make one's teeth crooked or misaligned and narrow airway, requiring additional dental care or usually having overbite cases. Having the incorrect function of the tongue could interfere with one's oral health. A doctor must be consulted to ensure oral health is excellent, especially since the one involved is the essential organ of the human body as it helps you taste, chew, and swallow, per Hartrick Dentistry.

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Having the correct posture of the tongue and mouth

The proper swallowing pattern is when the tongue pushes against the roof of the mouth, stimulating the growth and expansion of the bone located in the roof of the mouth. Bone cells are far too different from other parts of the body and do not grow following a genetically predetermined outcome and so will not grow when not stimulated. According to experts, tongue thrust until the age of four is acceptable and understandable, but when it hits the age of six, it can lead to a narrow and highly vaulted palate.

This kind of habit is curable, and practitioners and doctors can examine the possible causes of the problem and what can be done about it. The experts need sincere commitment and cooperation for the problem to be corrected, per Killara Dental.

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