Tongue thrust, also referred to as a reverse swallow, is a dysfunctional oral motor pattern that affects the way a person swallows, speaks, breathes, and maintains tongue posture at rest. It’s far more than a “bad habit” — it’s often a red flag for underlying structural, muscular, and airway-related dysfunctions that require specialized intervention.

At Myofunctional Spot, we take a comprehensive and root-cause approach to treating tongue thrust — addressing not only the oral and facial muscles, but also the breathing, sleep, and airway issues that often go hand-in-hand.

A tongue thrust occurs when the tongue pushes forward against or between the front teeth during swallowing, speaking, or at rest. This pattern is considered dysfunctional and can lead to significant long-term effects on oral health, facial development, and speech.

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and dentists are often the first to detect a tongue thrust during routine dental exams or speech evaluations. Dentists may observe how the tongue impacts tooth alignment, while SLPs notice how it affects articulation and swallowing. However, a skilled myofunctional therapist is uniquely qualified to address all of these issues together — including the critical airway dysfunctions that often underlie tongue thrusting.

Tongue thrusting is more than a cosmetic concern. It can interfere with proper breathing, chewing, speech development, sleep, and facial growth. A dysfunctional swallow pattern often signals the presence of mouth breathing, open-mouth posture, or airway obstruction — all of which can lead to developmental delays and long-term health complications if left untreated.

Unaddressed, tongue thrust can contribute to:

• 🦷 Dental malocclusions, including:
   
  • Open bite
     
  • Overbite
     
  • Crossbite
     
  • Underbite
     
  • Crooked or misaligned teeth
     
• 🗣️ Speech disorders, including:
   
  • Lateral or frontal lisps
     
  • Misarticulated “S,” “T,” “D,” “N,” and “L” sounds
     
• 🫁 Breathing and airway issues:
   
  • Mouth breathing
     
  • Snoring
     
  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
     
  • GERD or LPR due to air swallowing
     
• 😬 TMJ dysfunction (TMD)
   
• 📉 Orthodontic relapse after braces
   
• 🧠 Cognitive and sleep concerns due to poor oxygenation
   

You or your child may have a tongue thrust if you notice any of the following:

• Mouth breathing during the day or night
   
• Visible tongue between or against the teeth at rest
   
• Speech concerns, especially difficulty with “S,” “T,” “D,” “L,” and “N” sounds
   
• Messy eating or excessive drooling
   
• Frequent burping or swallowing of air
   
• History of thumb sucking or pacifier use beyond infancy
   
• Open-mouth posture during rest or sleep
   
• History of reflux or GERD
   
• Orthodontic treatment that isn’t progressing as expected
   

Tongue thrust is rarely an isolated issue. In almost every case, it occurs alongside mouth breathing, low tongue posture, and open-mouth resting posture. This dysfunctional pattern alters the mechanics of the jaw, face, and airway — contributing to long-term changes in facial development and increasing the risk for sleep-disordered breathing such as snoring and sleep apnea.

The tongue is meant to rest against the palate, acting as an internal “orthodontic retainer” that supports ideal jaw and airway development. When the tongue remains low and forward on the floor of the mouth, it no longer supports the upper jaw — leading to collapse of the palate, narrowing of the airway, and increased risk of both dental and respiratory concerns.

There is no single cause, but contributing factors may include:

• Chronic nasal congestion or allergies
   
• Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
   
• Thumb sucking or prolonged pacifier use
   
• Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia)
   
• Low muscle tone or poor oral motor control
   
• Airway obstruction or habitual mouth breathing
   
• Poor oral habits developed early in life
   

Even after the root cause (like thumb sucking) is eliminated, the dysfunctional swallowing and breathing pattern often remains — which is why therapy is essential to retrain the system.

At Myofunctional Spot, we use evidence-based myofunctional therapy to correct the underlying muscular and behavioral patterns associated with tongue thrust.

Our treatment includes:

• ✅ Restoring correct tongue posture (against the palate)
   
• ✅ Establishing nasal breathing as the default breathing pattern
   
• ✅ Eliminating mouth breathing and open-mouth posture
   
• ✅ Training an appropriate swallow that moves food upward and backward
   
• ✅ Correcting speech articulation errors related to tongue position
   
• ✅ Strengthening the orofacial muscles involved in chewing, speaking, and breathing
   

Myofunctional therapy is non-invasive, exercise-based, and completely tailored to your or your child’s unique anatomy and habits.

Braces may align the teeth — but if a tongue thrust pattern remains, the teeth are constantly being pushed forward by muscular pressure. An individual can swallow up to 1,000 times per day. Without retraining the tongue, these forces can cause orthodontic relapse, making the braces far less effective over time.

By incorporating myofunctional therapy before, during, or after orthodontic treatment, we address the root cause — not just the symptoms.

If you or your child has been told they have a tongue thrust, or if you suspect mouth breathing or speech issues may be present, we invite you to schedule a functional evaluation. Early intervention can prevent long-term dental, speech, and airway complications — and help support optimal oral and overall health.

📍 Serving South Florida In-Person | 🌍 In Office & Telehealth

📞 Call: 954-261-9864

📧 Email: info@myofunctionalspot.com

💻 Learn more: www.myofunctionalspot.com

If you have concerns related to a tongue thrust, click here to contact me