Tongue thrust: when swallowing pushes teeth out of place
28 August 2026 · 4 min read
We swallow around 800 times a day. A wrong pattern is a powerful orthodontic force.
What tongue thrust is
In a mature swallow the tongue tip presses against the palate behind the front teeth. In a tongue thrust the tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth — an infant pattern that should fade by around age six.
Signs to watch for
An open bite where front teeth do not meet, front teeth flaring outward, the tongue visible between the teeth at rest or while speaking, messy eating, and lisping on s and z sounds.
Correcting the pattern
Treatment combines myofunctional exercises with removing the cause — nasal obstruction, a tongue tie or a lingering thumb habit. Correcting the swallow before or during orthodontics is what keeps the new bite stable.
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