The habit of rubbing the tongue against the teeth, known as tongue thrusting, is a learned behavior affecting the muscles of the mouth and face. This pattern involves the tongue placing forward pressure on the teeth during rest, speech, or swallowing, instead of resting on the roof of the mouth. This constant pressure can lead to significant changes in dental alignment and overall oral health over time. Implementing specific correction strategies can help restore a proper resting and swallowing pattern.
Understanding the Causes of Tongue Habits
The improper resting position of the tongue, where it pushes against the teeth instead of the palate, often originates from a retention of infantile swallowing patterns. Most infants naturally push the tongue forward to facilitate feeding, but this pattern is typically replaced by a mature swallow by age four. If this transition does not occur, the habit persists into childhood and adulthood.
Certain anatomical and environmental factors also contribute to this habit by forcing the tongue into a lower, forward position. Prolonged use of pacifiers or thumb-sucking past early childhood encourages the tongue to rest low in the mouth to accommodate the foreign object. Conditions that obstruct the nasal airway, such as chronic allergies, nasal congestion, or enlarged tonsils and adenoids, often lead to habitual mouth breathing.
When a person breathes through their mouth, the lower jaw must drop and the tongue must move down and forward to clear the airway. This sustained low tongue posture prevents the tongue from exerting gentle pressure on the palate, which is crucial for proper jaw development and maintaining the correct resting position. Genetic factors, such as a short lingual frenum (tongue tie) or a naturally narrow jaw, can also limit the tongue’s ability to rest fully against the roof of the mouth.
The Impact of Tongue Thrusting on Dental Health
The tongue is a powerful muscle that can exert pounds of force against the teeth with every swallow, causing predictable changes in dental and skeletal structure. The most common result of chronic tongue thrusting is the development of an anterior open bite, where the upper and lower front teeth do not meet when the mouth is closed. This gap is created by the tongue physically pushing the teeth apart.
This habit often causes the upper front teeth to tilt forward unnaturally, a condition known as proclination. The outward pressure disrupts the natural balance of forces in the mouth, leading to excessive spacing between the teeth. For individuals who have had braces, the continued forward pressure can counteract the work of orthodontics, causing the teeth to drift back out of alignment, known as relapse.
Beyond alignment issues, improper tongue posture can interfere with speech, particularly the production of sounds like /s/, /z/, /sh/, and /j/, resulting in a frontal lisp. The misalignment of the bite can also place strain on the temporomandibular joint, potentially leading to jaw instability and discomfort. Addressing the tongue habit is often a necessary precursor to stabilizing long-term dental health.
At-Home Exercises for Habit Correction
Correcting a tongue habit requires retraining the muscles to adopt the correct resting posture, often called the “spot” position. This spot is the small ridge of tissue, known as the alveolar ridge, located just behind the upper front teeth. The goal is for the entire tongue to suction up against the roof of the mouth, with the tip gently touching this spot, without pressuring the teeth.
A simple exercise is the “tongue pop,” which strengthens the muscles needed to hold the correct position. Wet the tongue and suction it firmly against the roof of the mouth, then pull it down quickly to create a loud popping sound. Repeating this action multiple times daily reinforces the upward movement.
To correct swallowing, practice the “mint swallow” technique. Place a sugarless candy or a small amount of water on the tip of the tongue at the correct spot and hold it there while swallowing. This forces the back of the tongue to create a wave-like motion, preventing the front of the tongue from thrusting forward.
Developing conscious awareness is a practical, continuous exercise. Placing visual reminders, such as a colored dot or sticky note, in common areas like a computer monitor or car dashboard can prompt a check of tongue posture. The goal is to consistently shift the tongue to the correct resting position with lips closed and teeth lightly touching until the new pattern becomes an unconscious habit.
Professional Interventions and Treatment Options
When self-correction through exercises is not sufficient, professional intervention is often necessary to successfully break the habit. The most specific and effective treatment is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT), a specialized program delivered by trained therapists. OMT involves a series of individualized exercises designed to strengthen, coordinate, and retrain the muscles of the face, mouth, and throat.
The therapy focuses on establishing the correct resting posture, normalizing the swallowing pattern, and improving lip seal and nasal breathing. Treatment typically lasts several months, requiring daily practice to ensure the long-term stability of muscle re-education. This approach is effective at preventing orthodontic relapse after dental alignment has been corrected.
In cases where the habit is severe or resistant to therapy alone, an orthodontist may recommend a dental appliance, such as a tongue crib or habit breaker. These fixed devices are cemented behind the upper front teeth and physically block the tongue from thrusting forward while the patient works on muscle retraining. If the tongue habit is secondary to an airway issue, a referral to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist may be necessary to address conditions like enlarged tonsils or chronic nasal obstruction.