Tongue thrusting or tongue thrust swallowing will effect the positions of the teeth. Normally the sides of the tongue rest against the palatal shelves and the upper back teeth. The tip of the tongue lightly rests behind the upper front teeth (incisors). The tongue on swallow will remain behind the upper teeth.
In a tongue thrust swallow, the tongue forcibly pushes against the incisors. Since we average ~ 2000 swallows a day, these persistent forces have the effects of creating an open bite and making the incisors protrude.
Structural, habitual or neurological causes can contribute to tongue thrusting. The most complex tongue thrusts appear to be neurological and a solution is often hard to find. Fortunately, most tongue thrusts are more simple.
Structural influences include enlarged tonsils or adenoids that force the tongue forward, a large tongue (macroglossia), or a narrow palate that does not allow room for normal tongue position and function. Large tonsils and adenoids as well as a narrow palate can be addressed once they are diagnosed.
Habitual tongue thrusts are often the lingering effects of an abnormal swallow created by the enlarged tonsils and adenoids. In other words, a child learns to accommodate for the enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids and even after they are removed, it's now a habit. This is also the same with the tongue thrust that persists after a thumb sucking habit is eliminated. The longer the thumb habit is present the more likely a tongue thrust will be present after the elimination of the thumb habit. Then the tongue habit has to be addressed. The best way to demonstrate this is to put your thumb in your own mouth and suck on it. It will be immediately clear how the tongue postures with this habit.
Dr. Gray can recognize a tongue thrust swallow and advise you regarding its effects and offer solutions. With good patient compliance, a specially designed removable tongue thrust appliance worn at least one hour a day and while sleeping at night will provide good results by addressing both the conscious and sub conscious nature of the swallow. Fixed appliances are sometimes used for the persistent tongue thrust swallows.
Dr. Gray will be happy to provide his considerable expertise to this condition.