Tongue Thrust
A swallowing pattern where the tongue pushes against the front teeth.
Tongue thrust (also called infantile swallow pattern) occurs when the tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth during swallowing, speaking, or at rest. While normal in infants, this pattern should naturally transition to a mature swallow by age 6. Persistent tongue thrust exerts 4-6 pounds of pressure with each swallow (we swallow 1,200-2,000 times daily), enough to move teeth over time. Consequences include open bite, spacing between front teeth, speech issues (lisping), and difficulty with certain sounds. Treatment involves myofunctional therapy — exercises to retrain tongue posture and swallowing patterns. In some cases, orthodontic appliances like tongue cribs may be used alongside therapy for comprehensive correction.