Four Pillars of Myo: Proper Swallow & Tongue Thrust

A proper swallow is the final pillar of myofunctional therapy. Have you ever heard the phrase "something went down the wrong pipe"? If this happens to you frequently, it may indicate a dysfunctional swallow, often described as a tongue thrusting, where the tongue pushes against the teeth during swallowing.

This tongue thrusting pattern typically develops in childhood due to breathing issues, such as allergies or enlarged tonsils. When we can’t breathe through our nose, our mouths open, and the tongue drops to the bottom of the mouth as we inhale. If mouth breathing becomes a habit, the tongue loses muscle tone, leading to changes in how we swallow.

A tongues low resting posture, can lead to dental changes. This can cause teeth to shift, narrowing of the upper arch, and result in an open bite.

Anterior Open Bite

Posterior Open Bite

Tongue Thrust Compellation

If you notice areas of open bite or are worried about a potential tongue thrust habit, a great first step is to consult a myofunctional therapist, orthodontist, or dentist.

Read more about how effective therapy can be on eliminating this habit below.

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Bendgude, V. D., Shah, S. S., Nankar, M. Y., & Shetty, B. R. (2021). Orofacial myofunctional therapy in Tongue thrust habit: A narrative review. International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, 14(2), 298–303. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1926

Tongue Thrust Video, Myofunctional Therapist. (2013). Youtube. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loXCfn7m41k.