One of the most common incorrect swallowing habits is a ‘tongue thrust.’ This is where the tongue is ‘thrust’ forwards to the front teeth in the act of swallowing and speaking. because the tongue is such a strong group of muscles, this action can have a significant effect on the development of the teeth and bone formation for a young person or affect the position of the teeth in older people.
Determining the reason for a tongue thrust is as important as the programme to help this powerful muscle to function as it should. Speech often improves automatically as the tongue is toned and trained, and swallowing becomes more effective.
Clients are often referred for myofunctional therapy prior to the commencement of orthodontic treatment to eliminate the possibility of relapse when the orthodontic treatment is completed.