Straight Teeth in Less Time
Tongue Thrusting And Dental Treatments
Lois Murray
Dental care is just as important in children as it is in adults, and there are many common problems that you are likely to witness in your own children. One of these is tongue thrusting, and you may notice the issue in children that are toddler and school age. Keep reading to learn about this and how a dentist will treat it.
What Is Tongue Thrusting?
Tongue thrusting is when you force the tip of the tongue against the back side of the two upper front teeth when you swallow. This type of action is an automatic one, and it helps to close off the mouth so that swallowing can occur easily without gulping large amounts of air. However, instead of forcing the tongue against the teeth, most people swallow and the tongue will meet the gums or the palate that sits just above the front teeth.
When the tongue is continually forced against the teeth, they will start to shift and move forward. And, this can cause a fairly substantial overbite issue that will require orthodontic treatment down the line.
Tongue thrusting often accompanies the use of a pacifier or thumb sucking past the age of four or five when the permanent front teeth emerge. Also, some children who have an altered palate or a poor ability to swallow may thumb suck.
What Will A Dentist Do?
Dentists can help to address tongue thrusting issues, and it is best to have the problem addressed as soon as possible to minimize the formation of an open bite.
Dentists will often use a variety of approaches together for treatment and other professionals who include pediatricians and speech therapists may offer assistance as well. To start the process, an appliance is often inserted to prevent the teeth from moving further forward. The appliance may be a bracket attached one that remains in the mouth, or it may be a removable guard that should be worn two or three hours a day.
Once your child has the appliance, then exercises will be suggested to help encourage good speech and swallowing habits. Your child should complete the exercises in the presence of a dentist or another professional at first to ensure that they are being completed properly. And you will likely need to learn them as well so you can supervise at home.
If you want to learn more about tongue thrusting issues and how the problem can be treated, speak with your dental services professional.
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I had braces when I was a kid. Back then, you had to wear those metal wires and rubber bands for what seemed like forever. When I saw that my child’s teeth were going to be crooked like mine, I was dreading the years of braces and orthodontist appointments and limited diets that I saw stretching ahead of us. I was pleased to find out that braces today are very different from braces when I was a kid. They don’t need to be worn for nearly as long, and they aren’t as intrusive, either. My daughter got braces that can barely be seen, and she can remove them when she eats, so she doesn’t have to give up her favorite foods. I was so impressed that I started a blog to talk about modern day tooth straightening techniques. Braces have come a long way.