Intense prolonged thrusting of the tongue, or forcing the tongue forward against the front upper teeth, can have adverse effects on the development of your child's teeth or jaw. The action may cause the front teeth to gap, move forward, and, in extreme cases, the upper jaw can also move forward. Early detection and stopping of the habit can prevent a potentially serious overbite. Tongue thrusting can occur during the initial phase of swallowing, while speaking, and also depending on the position of your child's tongue at rest. During a normal swallow, the tongue is placed on the roof of the mouth. However, children who thrust their tongue will push the tongue forward against the front teeth when swallowing. This can exert up to six pounds of pressure against the structure of the mouth. As swallowing is done on an average of once every 43 seconds, this pressure is applied approximately 2000 times a day. As a result, the front teeth are pushed forward into abnormal positions. Symptoms of tongue thrusting include difficult speech, grimacing or pursing lips while swallowing, open mouth breathing, or allowing the mouth to hang open and the tongue to be pushed forward while at rest. If your dentist suspects that tongue thrusting is a problem for your child, he or she may be referred to an orthodontist. An orthodontist can employ several methods to change your child's behavior. A small, non-visible appliance, or mouth brace, is often used to deter tongue thrusting, thumbsucking, and nail biting.
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