Tongue Thrust is the habit of placing the tongue in the wrong position during swallowing — either too far forward or too far to the sides. Tongue Thrust is usually seen in cases of Open Bite and is common in children. It can be caused by poor swallowing habits, allergies, and tongue-tie. To correct Tongue Thrust, the Orthodontist may place a fixed Tongue Habit Appliance, and may additionally recommend Tongue Thrust Therapy.
Every 24 hours, you swallow several thousand times, with about four pounds of pressure each time. The constant pressure of the tongue can force the teeth and bite out of alignment. The habit of nervous thrusting can also push the tongue against the teeth. In any case, orthodontic treatment will not be totally successful unless the tongue thrust habit is broken in conjunction with getting braces.