Tongue thrust is a term that describes a swallowing pattern in which an individual pushes the tongue against or between the teeth. This habit has also been called deviate swallow, deviant deglutition, reversed swallow, perverted swallow, oral myofunctional disorder, visceral swallow, infantile swallowing pattern, and abnormal swallow.
Tongue thrust is the persistence of an infantile swallow pattern during late childhood. This can lead to breathing and speech difficulties, open bite, and protruded teeth. Tongue thrust can be treated in different ways with early diagnosis, removal of underlying causes, correcting tongue posture, and breaking the habit with the use of orthodontic appliances. An Oral Myofunctional Therapist (OMT) can be instrumental in helping a patient learn to re-train the facial muscles and eliminate a tongue thrusting habit. The muscles in the face and mouth have been programmed over the course of many years and therefore breaking the habit is not easy. OMT’s are skilled at helping children and adults strengthen the muscles necessary to overcome a tongue thrust.
