Reviewed by Dr. Alan Baughman, DMD, MBA
Reviewed by: Dr. Alan Baughman DMD MBA
⏳Reading time: three minutes
Tongue thrusting is a swallowing pattern in which the tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth. While it is normal in infants, it can sometimes persist into childhood or adulthood and contribute to tooth alignment, bite, and speech concerns over time.
What Is Tongue Thrusting and How Can It Affect Your Teeth?
✅Reviewed by: Dr. Alan Baughman DMD MBA
⏳Reading time: three minutes
Tongue thrusting is a swallowing pattern in which the tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth. While it is normal in infants, it can sometimes persist into childhood or adulthood and contribute to tooth alignment, bite, and speech concerns over time.
What Is Tongue Thrusting and How Can It Affect Your Teeth? 1
Signs and Symptoms of Tongue Thrusting 2
What Causes Tongue Thrusting? 2
Why Dentists Monitor Tongue Thrusting 2
Treatment Options for Tongue Thrusting 3
Dental Evaluation at Clearwater Dentistry 3
What age should tongue thrust stop? 4
Can tongue thrusting move teeth? 4
How do I know if I have tongue thrust? 4
Can tongue thrusting be corrected? 4
What Is Tongue Thrusting?
Tongue thrusting is a pattern where the tongue pushes against or between the teeth during swallowing, speaking, or rest. In babies, a tongue thrust reflex is normal and causes the tongue to push forward when something touches the lips or tongue.
As children grow, this reflex usually fades and swallowing becomes more controlled. When a forward tongue pattern continues in older children, teens, or adults, it may place repeated pressure on the teeth and affect the bite over time.
Signs and Symptoms of Tongue Thrusting
Tongue thrusting can be subtle because swallowing happens automatically. Some signs are easy to notice at home, while others may be identified during a dental or orthodontic exam.
Common signs include:
- Tongue pushing between the front teeth when swallowing
- Tongue protruding during speech or swallowing
- Mouth breathing
- Difficulty making certain speech sounds
- An open bite, where the front teeth do not touch
- Front teeth tipping forward
- Spacing between the front teeth
- Teeth shifting after braces or clear aligners
One sign alone does not always mean someone has tongue thrusting. A dental exam can help determine whether tongue posture or swallowing patterns may be affecting the teeth, bite, or long-term orthodontic stability.
What Causes Tongue Thrusting?
Tongue thrusting can develop for several reasons. In some people, an infant swallowing pattern continues longer than expected. In others, oral habits, breathing patterns, or bite problems may contribute to a forward tongue posture or swallowing pattern.
Possible contributing factors include:
- Thumb sucking
- Long-term pacifier use
- Mouth breathing
- Allergies or chronic nasal congestion
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
- An open bite
- Spacing between the front teeth
- Tongue tie or restricted tongue movement
Identifying contributing factors can help guide treatment. In some cases, correcting an oral habit or addressing breathing concerns may be an important part of managing tongue thrusting.
Why Dentists Monitor Tongue Thrusting
Tongue thrusting can place repeated pressure on the teeth over time. While the force from a single swallow is small, the tongue moves thousands of times each day. In some cases, a forward tongue posture or swallowing pattern may contribute to tooth movement and make it harder to maintain a stable bite.
Dentists and orthodontists often evaluate tongue posture when patients have an open bite, spacing between the front teeth, or teeth that have shifted after orthodontic treatment. Identifying tongue thrusting may help explain why bite changes are occurring and guide treatment recommendations.
Treatment Options for Tongue Thrusting
Tongue thrusting usually improves by retraining the tongue, lips, and swallowing pattern. The goal is to help the tongue rest in a better position and move properly during swallowing, speech, and daily function.
Treatment may include:
- Orofacial myofunctional therapy to retrain tongue posture, lip seal, and swallowing patterns
- Speech therapy if tongue position affects certain sounds
- Orthodontic evaluation if the teeth or bite have shifted
- Dental appliances in select cases to support habit correction or orthodontic treatment
- Support for mouth breathing, thumb sucking, pacifier use, tongue tie, or airway concerns when these factors are involved
Tongue thrusting usually does not stop just by reminding someone to keep their tongue back. Swallowing happens automatically, so the muscles often need guided retraining before a healthier pattern becomes natural.
Dental Evaluation at Clearwater Dentistry
At Clearwater Dentistry, Dr. Alan Baughman evaluates tooth position, bite changes, mouth breathing signs, and other dental concerns that may be connected to tongue posture.
If needed, our team can discuss options such as monitoring, retainers, occlusal guards, or referral to the right provider for speech, myofunctional, orthodontic, or airway-related care. The goal is to help you understand what is happening and choose the next step that fits your needs.
Dentist in Greeley, CO
If you or your child has signs of tongue thrusting, a dental exam can help identify whether the habit is affecting the teeth and whether additional care may be helpful.
To book an appointment at our dental office in Greeley, CO, call (970) 515-3550 or visit us at 3110 67th Ave Pl, Greeley, CO 80634.
FAQs
The tongue thrust reflex is normal in babies and usually fades as oral control develops. If tongue thrusting continues into childhood or affects speech, swallowing, or tooth alignment, an evaluation may be helpful.
Yes, tongue thrusting may contribute to tooth movement over time, especially if the tongue repeatedly pushes against or rests between the front teeth. It may also contribute to an open bite or orthodontic relapse.
You may notice your tongue pushing forward when you swallow, a tongue-forward resting posture, an open bite, a lisp, mouth breathing, or teeth shifting after orthodontic treatment. A dentist, orthodontist, speech-language pathologist, or myofunctional therapist can evaluate the pattern.
Yes. Depending on the cause, treatment may include myofunctional therapy, speech therapy, orthodontics, habit correction, or treatment of underlying breathing concerns. The most appropriate approach depends on the individual’s needs.
