
FAQ Topic
Why is Tongue Thrust Important?

When the tongue thrusts forward during swallowing, this can result in an anterior open-bite where the top and bottom front teeth do not bite together fully. The tongue can also thrust posteriorly or laterally. This can result in an open-bite or cross-bite at the back teeth, and often contributes to a deep overbite of the front teeth.
This phenomenon is considered a retained infantile swallowing pattern, since the "suck-swallow-breathe" pattern during infant breast-feeding is still observed despite the introduction of solid food. Improper swallowing mechanics are often a result of other orofacial dysfunction, such as low tongue and mouth-breathing.
Many people with a tongue-thrust struggle to maintain their airway during dental appointments, especially with cavitron use during a dental cleaning (like water-pooling at the back of the throat), rubber dams, and a "strong tongue or lip" that tends to push dental tools in the mouth away.