What Is Tongue Thrust In Babies And Adults?

What-Is-Tongue-Thrust

After reading the title, you might be wondering “what is tongue thrust?” 

The answer to this question is:

Pressing your tongue forward between upper and lower teeth when you are swallowing is a bad habit. Due to this inappropriate orthodontic condition, “tongue thrust” happens.

This problem especially occurs in children because they have this bad habit. Also, It may generate problems like:

Let’s know more about “baby tongue thrust.”

Babies who feed by breast and bottle mostly have this problem. When the babies get older, their swallowing and speaking habits normally change. 

However, it is not good to use bottles to feed babies, and this can cause tongue thrust in childhood

There are some other causes also which creates tongue thrust:

  • Sucking thumb, fingers and tongue
  • Allergies in mouth
  • Short or tight tongue
  • Inappropriate swallowing habit

Following are the symptoms of tongue thrust in babies:

  • Tongue tip stuck between teeth
  • Breathing by mouth
  • Not able to touch lips with each other
  • Messy eating 
  • Swallowing reflex

After reading about babies, let’s talk about tongue thrust in adults:

Suppose you had tongue thrust problems in your childhood and did not take any medication. Then you must have this problem in your adult age also.

Mouth allergies, tonsils in the throat, and stress are the main factors of tongue thrust in adult age. Remember that this problem is not common in adult age.

Symptoms of tongue thrust in adults are the same as in children tongue stuck between teeth, not able to touch lips, etc.

Tongue thrust therapy:

Read the below points to know about tongue thrust therapy:

  • Keep a orthodontic rubber band on tip of the tongue
  • Press the tip of the tongue against gum right behind your front teeth
  • Bite your teeth together 
  • Keep your lips away
  • Then swallow

Tongue thrust diagnosed: 

Different kinds of doctors diagnoses tongue thrust, including:

  • General practitioners
  • Pediatricians
  • Pathologist 
  • Dentist

Doctors can easily find out what is in eating and swallowing.

Some pathologists may identify swallowing patterns in the tongue-thrust reflex by holding the lips and check the swallowing process.

Read more- What Could Endodontist Near Me Do? Everything About An Endodontist

What kind of problems can occur by tongue thrust?

Yes, tongue thrust reflex can cause many other problems like:

  • Malformed teeth
  • Front teeth out 
  • Creates gap between teeth
  • Problem in speaking
  • Effect the shape of the face
  • Tongue stuck between teeth 

Treatment of tongue thrust:

Treatment of tongue thrust is the same for children and adults.

There is only one difference: the tool which is used for children is “tongue grab,” and the process which is used for adults is known as “orthodontic treatment.”

The orthodontic treatment includes orofacial, which helps the placement of lips, jaw, and tongue.

Read more- Best Baby Teething Gel For Sore and Tender

Final Words:

We hope that the above points helped you to know about what tongue thrust is, baby tongue thrust, tongue thrust reflex, tongue thrust therapy, and tongue thrust treatment. Now, you know everything about tongue thrust and its treatment so, if you or your child is suffering from tongue thrust, use the above treatment and leave a thank you comment after your tongue thrust problem gets resolved.

Poorvika sharma