Tongue thrusting can lead to a number of orthodontic problems such as bad bites. If you have a tongue thrust, your tongue pushes forward between your upper and lower teeth every time you swallow. Tongue thrusting may be the result of thumb sucking, mouth breathing, swallowing challenges, an exceptionally large tongue, a muscular or neurological abnormality, or nasal congestion. Our Crestview office has gotten a number of questions related to tongue thrusting so we wanted to clear the air and give you the facts.

The good news is that you may be able to stop a tongue thrust in the comfort of your own home. Consider placing a sugar-free candy such as a lifesaver on the tip of your tongue. Then, press the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Make sure your tongue is pushing against the gum. Next, bite your teeth together and keep your lips apart. Lastly, swallow but be sure to keep your teeth together and lips apart.

Performing this exercise two times in the morning and in the evening can stop tongue thrusting in its tracks. While you may find these exercises to be a real challenge initially, understand that they will get easier a your tongue gets used to them.

In the event this exercise doesn’t do the trick, visit Dr. Sims or your local Pensacola dentist. He may be able to design a tongue thrust appliance that can resolve this issue. Dr. Sims may also recommend that you visit an orofacial myologist or speech therapist with expertise in myofunctional therapy.

Contact Sims Orthodontics Today

If you or your child is dealing with tongue thrusting, we encourage you to call our Pensacola, Florida office today at 850-477-7715 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Clay Sims. We look forward to hearing from you!

Read this article in Spanish here – Cómo Detener El Empuje De La Lengua