Putting
Your Child’s Tongue Back Where It Belongs
Does your child always have his or
her mouth slightly open? Are your child’s lips dry or cracked from excessive
licking? These are signs of tongue thrust, a common childhood condition that
involves inappropriate placement of the tongue when swallowing or at rest.
Tongue thrust can cause speech issues as well as dental problems.
Children with this condition tend to
thrust their tongues forward against the lips when swallowing. This motion puts
pressure on the front teeth—around four pounds with each swallow—which can
eventually cause an overbite, or protruding or misaligned teeth.
Experts believe that between 67% and
95% of children ages 5 through 8 years have tongue thrust, yet the condition
usually goes unnoticed until a dental or speech problem arises. While some
blame heredity, a larger-than-average tongue or such habits as thumb-sucking
might contribute to tongue thrusting, no one knows what causes tongue thrust.
We may notice signs of the condition and bring it to your attention, but you
can also ask Dr. Jared to check for tongue thrust if you suspect it may be present in
your child.
Depending on your child’s age and
whether other structural issues are at play, treatment for tongue thrust
typically involves oral habit training. A speech therapist works with your
child to correct the swallowing pattern and retrain the muscles in the jaw and
mouth to work properly. We may also recommend that a special appliance be put
in your child’s mouth to help correct the tongue’s position.
While it isn’t a serious health
problem, tongue thrust can wreak havoc on your child’s bite and jaw alignment.
Unfortunately, the most difficult problem is the diagnosis; usually, your
child’s pediatric dentist or pediatrician can detect the problem. Tongue thrust
is a major contributor to the need for further dental work. If left untreated,
tongue thrusters can essentially “undo” the process of wearing braces by
pushing newly straightened teeth out of alignment.
The sooner tongue thrust is
diagnosed, the easier it will be to fix, avoiding future dental problems. If
you suspect your child might have tongue thrust, bring it up at his or her next
dental checkup at KiDDS Dental along with any questions you might have.
Give us a call at 509-891-7070 to schedule today!
