Tongue thrust, also known as an orofacial myofunctional disorder, involves the tongue pushing against or between the teeth during activities like swallowing, speaking, or at rest. This condition often originates in childhood but can persist into adulthood if not addressed. The repetitive pressure can lead to various oral health issues, but it is treatable in adults.
Recognizing Adult Tongue Thrust
Adults with tongue thrust may exhibit several signs. Common manifestations include speech impediments, such as a lisp affecting “s” and “z” sounds. Dental misalignments, like an open bite where front teeth do not meet, or protruding teeth and gaps, are also common due to constant forward tongue pressure.
Other indicators include habitual mouth breathing, difficulty swallowing, or messy eating habits. This involves an atypical swallowing pattern where the tongue pushes forward instead of moving upward against the roof of the mouth. This incorrect movement exerts force on teeth and jaw structures, making professional evaluation beneficial.
Professional Pathways to Correction
Addressing adult tongue thrust begins with a professional assessment to confirm the condition and develop a tailored treatment plan. Myofunctional therapists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are key professionals. Myofunctional therapists specialize in retraining mouth and face muscles for proper function and resting posture. SLPs assess tongue movement, muscle tone, and speech clarity, noting articulation errors.
Orthodontists also play a role, especially with dental issues like misaligned teeth or bite problems. They often collaborate with myofunctional therapists to ensure effective, long-term orthodontic results. The diagnostic process usually involves observing swallowing patterns, assessing resting tongue posture, and evaluating speech, leading to a comprehensive treatment strategy.
Therapeutic Approaches
Myofunctional therapy is a primary method for correcting tongue thrust in adults, retraining oral and facial muscles. This therapy involves specific exercises designed to strengthen the tongue, lips, and cheeks, and to retrain swallowing patterns. Exercises include practicing proper tongue placement, such as resting the tongue tip on the “spot” behind the upper front teeth on the roof of the mouth. Swallowing retraining often involves practicing with small sips of water, ensuring the tongue moves upward and backward without pushing against the teeth.
Patients typically commit to daily exercises, often for a few minutes multiple times a day. The active phase of therapy may last 4 to 12 months, and consistency is important for lasting results. Orthodontic treatment may be integrated before or during myofunctional therapy to correct dental issues caused by the tongue thrust. This combined approach addresses both muscle dysfunction and dental alignment problems, leading to stable outcomes.
Maintaining Results and Preventing Recurrence
Sustaining correction requires commitment to new muscle memory and habits. Daily exercises reinforce corrected patterns even after initial improvements. Maintaining proper tongue posture, with the tongue resting gently against the roof of the mouth behind the upper front teeth, prevents recurrence.
Integrating these new habits into daily routines, such as mindful tongue placement, helps make them automatic. Without sustained effort, relapse is possible, with the tongue reverting to old habits and dental issues reoccurring. The aim is to establish a proper resting posture and swallowing pattern for long-term stability.