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Do Kids Need to be Monitored When They Tongue Thrust?


Posted on 9/21/2020 by Fariba Mutschler
Do Kids Need to be Monitored When They Tongue Thrust?Tongue thrusting is a habit that most babies develop and grow out of relatively quickly, however occasionally it can become a problem with your child's oral health. Let us take some time to look at why tongue thrust occurs and when your child is at risk for developing complications as a result of this habit.

What Is Tongue Thrust?


Tongue thrusting is when a child uses his or her tongue to push forward against their upper and lower teeth when they swallow. The tongue pushing against and past the teeth causes a thrusting motion that over time can seriously damage their oral development. Normally, when a toddler swallows, the tongue rests against the roof of the mouth directly behind the upper teeth instead of pushing against the teeth.

Generally speaking, most babies go through this phase, especially when they are still very young and still breastfeeding. They usually grow out of this, but if your baby is becoming a toddler and still tongue thrusts when swallowing, please call our office and come in for a visit. We would like to exam your child and see if it is truly something we need to correct.

Why Is Tongue Thrusting a Problem?


Tongue thrusting can lead to many different complications, including misalignment of the teeth and even development of a lisp during speaking. While these may not seem like big problems to a toddler, as your child ages these problems will continue to grow and can be very difficult and costly to correct.

If your child is over the age of 6 months old and still thrusting his or her tongue forward every time that they swallow, it may be time to bring your child to us for an evaluation. We have lots of ways that we can correct and curb this habit and ensure that your child has a healthy smile for years to come!
My daughter was a little nervous to have her dental work done but everyone in the office was super friendly and very reassuring and that helped her nervousness go away. Thanks for the excellent dental experience. ~ Lilyana G.


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Dr. Fariba Mutschler & Dr. Mark Mutschler have created this informative blog to help educate the community. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please use the share it button to post to Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
Great Grins for KIDS Portland, 13908 SE Stark Street, Ste C, Portland, OR 97233-2161 / (971) 470-0054 / portlandchildrensdentist.com / 11/5/2024 / Tags: pediatric dentist Portland /