My orthodontist gave me a weird exercise to do?

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#1 Post by **melani** » Sun May 30, 2010 4:24 pm

did you experience this before?
My ortho told me I do not swallow correct way meaning when I swallow, my tongue is touching my front teeth thus pushing them out so she told me to practice to swallow with my tongue touching the roof of my mouth (I do not know how to say it really)I have to do it 100 times a day every day
but it is so impossible?
Have you done this before????

#2 Post by **yj207** » Sun May 30, 2010 5:00 pm

I heard about this somewhere that if you don't swallow properly your teeth will get crooked again after getting your teeth straightened. It has something to do with your tongue pushing your teeth in wrong directions or something when you swallow and that will eventually move your teeth. I only heard about it, not accurate about the info but I would try to google it.

#3 Post by **yoginbraces** » Sun May 30, 2010 5:08 pm

It's so interesting this came up b/c my girlfriend who had braces when she was a teen told me just this past Friday that her ortho also taught her how to swallow properly. I had never heard of this until now. My ortho hasn't mentioned to me but I will start practicing since my main reason for having braces is for protrusion of both top and bottom teeth. Thanks for posting!

#4 Post by **ReneG** » Sun May 30, 2010 5:09 pm

quick reply to say yea. i had to do the same thing. keep tongue at back of mouth or at roof. NOT to touch the teeth at all.

How you swallow makes a difference because the force of swallow + tongue is strong enough to shift your teeth!

I had tongue thrust which pushed my upper front teeth up and out.

#5 Post by **UGHBRACES** » Sun May 30, 2010 5:11 pm

You are a tongue thruster which is not good for you. Most people swallow with their tongue pushing against the roof of their mouth, which is the correct way.

http://www.ebody-specialist.com/orthodo ... sting.html

#6 Post by **psych braces** » Sun May 30, 2010 8:46 pm

I have read several comments on this site in reference to this. Some say they are in braces due to thrusting. It would make sense to correct this problem so that the whole ortho process doesn't crumble after debracing because you continue to thrust your tongue when you swallow.