The answer to whether your tongue can push your teeth out is a definite yes. The tongue is a large and powerful muscle that, when positioned incorrectly, exerts continuous force capable of altering the alignment of the jaw and teeth over time. While the tongue is fundamental for eating, swallowing, and speech, an improper resting posture or movement pattern can create significant dental issues. These problems occur when the delicate balance of forces that keeps the teeth in place is disrupted by misplaced pressure from the tongue.
The Dental Condition Caused by Tongue Force
The long-term effects of misplaced tongue pressure are collectively known as an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD). This is most commonly characterized by a pattern called tongue thrust or reverse swallow. This condition occurs when the tongue habitually pushes forward or sideways against the teeth instead of resting against the roof of the mouth (palate).
When the tongue consistently pushes outward, it overwhelms the inward pressure from the lips and cheeks, leading to dental misalignment. The most common consequence is an anterior open bite, where the upper and lower front teeth fail to meet when the jaws are closed. This chronic pressure can also cause the front teeth to flare outward, creating noticeable gaps or excessive spacing (diastema). Addressing the OMD is necessary because correcting the teeth with orthodontics without changing the muscle pattern often results in the dental alignment relapsing after treatment.
How the Tongue Exerts Force on Teeth
The force that moves teeth primarily comes from the resting posture of the tongue, not the brief act of swallowing. The tongue’s position when relaxed is the single greatest determinant of dental alignment. Ideally, the entire tongue should rest gently against the hard palate. When the tongue rests low and forward, however, it exerts a sustained, light pressure against the back of the front teeth, mimicking the mechanics of orthodontic braces.
While an average person swallows hundreds of times daily, each swallow applies force for only a fraction of a second. Research indicates that a minimum of six hours of sustained pressure is needed to induce tooth movement. The incorrect resting posture maintains this continuous, low-level pressure against the teeth for many hours throughout the day and night, gradually pushing them out of alignment.
The improper swallowing pattern, or reverse swallow, reinforces this issue. During a reverse swallow, the tongue pushes forward against the front teeth instead of rolling back against the palate. This visible thrusting action is a symptom of the underlying muscular imbalance. The combined effect of the incorrect resting posture and the forward swallowing pattern creates a chronic muscular environment that actively pushes the teeth out of position.
Underlying Causes of Tongue Thrust
The development of an improper tongue posture and swallowing pattern is often linked to underlying physical or habitual factors.
Airway and Respiration Issues
A major contributing factor is the presence of an airway or respiration issue, which forces the individual to become a chronic mouth breather. Conditions like enlarged tonsils or adenoids, chronic allergies, or persistent nasal congestion make it difficult to breathe through the nose. To open the airway, the lower jaw drops, and the tongue is forced into a low and forward position. This low resting position prevents the tongue from shaping the palate and maintaining dental arch width, training the muscles into the tongue thrusting pattern.
Habitual Factors
Another significant cause involves habitual factors developed during early childhood. These include prolonged thumb-sucking, finger-sucking, or extended pacifier use beyond the appropriate age. These habits train the tongue to sit low and forward to accommodate the object in the mouth, reinforcing problematic muscle memory.
Anatomical Factors
In some cases, anatomical or genetic factors may play a role in the development of OMD. A short lingual frenum (tongue tie) can physically restrict the tongue’s ability to reach and rest properly on the palate. Furthermore, certain inherited jaw shapes or facial growth patterns may predispose an individual to an incorrect tongue posture.
Methods for Correction and Prevention
The most effective and targeted approach for correcting a tongue thrust pattern is Oral Myofunctional Therapy (OMT). This specialized therapy involves a structured regimen of exercises designed to retrain the tongue, lips, and facial muscles. The goal is to reprogram the muscle memory, teaching the tongue to rest against the palate and achieve a mature swallowing pattern. OMT is particularly successful because it addresses the root muscular cause of the dental misalignment rather than just the visible effects.
Orthodontic treatment, such as braces or clear aligners, is often used in conjunction with OMT to correct existing dental damage. However, the stability of the orthodontic correction relies heavily on the success of the myofunctional therapy. Without correcting the tongue’s improper pressure, the teeth are highly likely to relapse into their original misaligned position, even after being straightened by an orthodontist. Prevention focuses on early intervention by addressing suspected airway obstructions and encouraging the cessation of non-nutritive sucking habits as the child grows.