In a tongue thrust the tongue pushes into the teeth when swallowing. The tongue is the strongest muscle in the body and teeth move with pressure. That's why orthodontics works. It can cause an anterior open bite but the thrust doesn't have to be forward, it can be to the side. Sometimes the thrust can be lateral and prevent the back teeth from touching.

          The tongue is used for speech and a tongue thrust causes problems making some sounds. Because it's not working well, a patient may not be able to swallow correctly. Patients often have TMJ headaches and breathing problems. Some develop thumb sucking habits. When a dentist attempts to close an open bite, the tongue opens it back up. The tongue exerts more pressure on the back of the teeth than orthodontic wires. It's best to retrain the tongue using tongue thrust treatment and cleats behind the teeth before completing orthodontic treatment. The cleats bond to the back of the front teeth and help the patient remember not to force the tongue forward.

          A tongue thrust patient is usually a mouthbreather with nasal allergies blocking their noses. The tongue learns to stay low while the patient uses the mouth to breath. It is often part of a number of problems such as mouth breathing, forward head posture, neck problems and headaches.

          There are different types of tongue thrust. The anterior is forward and the front teeth often do not touch because of the tongue pressure separating them. A lateral is to the sides of the front teeth. A posterior is when the tongue is pushed sideways and separates the back teeth. Tongue thrust therapy is based on the type. The dentists at the Atlanta Dental Group PC are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being. You are welcome to join our family of patients. If you would like to consult with our senior Georgia Dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, make your appointment by calling  404-874-7428.