Tongue thrusting is when you press or rest your tongue against the back of your front teeth. While it is a natural instinct for babies, some children keep doing it when they get older. This is especially true if the baby uses pacifiers and engages in thumbsucking. However, tongue thrusting can be detrimental to dental health, and we will talk about it in this blog.
Symptoms and Causes of Tongue Thrust
Tongue thrusting will not look the same in everyone, but there are some common signs that may occur. If your child has tongue thrusting, their tongue might stick out when they speak or swallow. Moreover, they might have difficulty swallowing, and you might even notice food falling out of their mouth easily. Other symptoms include mouth breathing, biting tongue or cheek accidentally, and trouble making certain sounds when they talk.
There are a few causes of tongue thrusting. It can happen when the infant does not outgrow the tongue thrust reflex, which is also called the extrusion reflex. Healthy babies have this reflex, and it helps them push their tongue forward to prevent choking while they are nursing or bottle feeding. It generally starts disappearing at around 6 months when the baby is ready for solid foods.
Some infants continue tongue thrusting if it becomes a habit, and this could be due to using pacifiers and sippy cups even after they turn 3. Furthermore, conditions that encourage mouth breathing, anatomical issues, and nervous system conditions can also contribute to tongue thrusting.
Complications Problems Caused by Tongue Thrusting
When a child thrust their tongue, it puts pressure on their teeth, which can impact their oral health and overall mouth functions as they grow up. Here are some complications and dental issues that can result from tongue thrusting:
- Teeth Misalignment: Tongue thrusting can force the teeth out of their place due to the constant pressure. As a result, the tongue can push the front teeth out or crowd the teeth to the sides, resulting in gapped or crooked teeth that cause problems in biting or talking.
- Bite Problems: Another dental issue that can result from tongue thrusting is when the top and bottom row of the teeth do not meet properly when the child bites down or chews. This is a bite problem, and some common ones include overbite, underbite, or crossbite.
- Speech Irregularities: The teeth and tongue work together to help the child speak, but tongue thrusting can affect their speaking ability. Therefore, it can lead to speech delay issues, such as lisps and struggles with certain sounds.
- Profile Changes: Your child’s overall face shape might be affected by tongue thrusting, as it can lead to an elongated profile and bad habits, such as resting with their mouth open.
Final Words
Tongue thrusting can lead to misaligned teeth, bite problems, speech irregularities, profile changes, and more. You might want to consult a dental professional to get it treated!
Whole Health Dental Center provides holistic treatments and solutions to eliminate your dental concerns. When your mouth is impaired, it can affect your speech, teeth alignment, and other issues. Call us at (703) 385-6425 to schedule an appointment.