In many cases, tongue thrust may not be detected until the child is under orthodontic care. As a rule, orthodontists, general dentists, pedodontists, some pediatricians, and speech therapists detect the problem. The most difficult problem of all is the diagnosis. If the child has not naturally outgrown the pattern by age four, the thrust is strengthened, becomes an issue, and will require a training program to correct the thrusting pattern. Most children will outgrow the infantile pattern and develop the mature pattern of swallowing in other words,В they willВ not developВ a problematic tongue thrust. It is acceptable to have this swallowing pattern up to the age of four.

At what age does a child usually exhibit a tongue-thrust swallowing pattern?ДЄ child exhibits a tongue-thrust pattern from birth, because it is an infantile swallowing pattern. However, one problem is not always associated with the other. The lateral lisp (air forced on the side of the tongue rather than forward) shows dramatic improvement when the tongue thrust is also corrected.

The вЂњSвЂќ sound (lisping) is the one most affected. Speech is not frequently affected by the tongue-thrust swallowing pattern. This continual habit will push the teeth out of alignment and reverse the orthodontic work. Many orthodontists have had the discouraging experience of completing dental treatmentВ with great results, only to discover that the patient had a tongue thrust swallowing pattern. The force of the tongue against the teeth is an important factor in contributing to malformation (вЂњbad bitesвЂќ). In the United States, 20 to 80 percent of orthodontic patients exhibit some form of tongue thrust. The fact that a significant number of school-age children have tongue thrust has been noted by specialists.ДЇor example, recent literature reports thatВ as many as 67 to 95 percent of five- to eight-year-old children exhibit a tongue thrust that may be associated with, or contribute to, an orthodontic or speech problem. The term вЂњtongue thrustвЂќ has been described and discussed in speech and dental publications since 1958 by many writers. The closed-bite thrust is typically a double protrusion.

Closed bite thrust -В Both the upper and lower teeth are spread apart and flared out.

The bite is completely open on both sides, including the front teeth.

Bilateral anterior open bite -В The only teeth that touch are the molars.

The bilateral thrust is the most difficult to correct.

Bilateral thrust -В Posterior teeth from the first bicuspid through back molars can be open on both sides and the anterior bite is closed.

Unilateral thrustВ - The bite is typically open on either side.

The anterior thrust is frequently accompanied by a strong muscle of the chin (mentalis).

Anterior thrust -В The lower lip pulls in the lower incisors and the upper incisors are extremely protruded.

Generally, this type of tongue thrust is accompanied by a large tongue. In such cases, the lips do not close properly, and a child often has an open mouth and tongue protruding beyond the lips.

Anterior open biteВ - ThisВ is the most typical and common form of tongue thrust.

There are several variations of tongue-thrust and related orthodontic problems:

BeingВ вЂњtongue tiedвЂќ:В having a short lingual frenum.

Muscular, neurological, or other physiological abnormalities.

The angle of the jaw line or other hereditary factors within a family.

Difficulty swallowing which can be a result of adenoids, frequent sore throats,В or tonsils.

Nasal congestion, allergies, or obstructions may contribute to this.

Mouth breathing, which can cause the tongueвЂ™s posture to be very low in the mouth.

Some artificial nipples used for feeding infants.

No one specific cause has actually been determined for the tongue thrust problem. This is an involuntary, subconscious habit that is difficult to correct. Aside from the pressure exerted while swallowing, nervous thrusting also pushes the tongue against the teeth while it is at rest. This constant pressure of the tongue will force the teeth and arches out of alignment. It is estimated that every 24 hours, you swallow a total of 1,200 to 2,000 times, with about four pounds of pressure per swallow. Tongue thrusting, simply defined, is the habit of placing the tongue in the wrong position during swallowing, either too far forward or to the sides. Tongue Thrust Therapy What is tongue thrusting?

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