Conditions / Tongue thrust
Tongue thrust
A swallow pattern where the tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth. Common in young children; can persist in adults and affect orthodontic stability.
Reviewed by Gina Sabbak, RDH · Myofunctional Therapist, Louisville KY. Last reviewed . Educational content — not a substitute for in-person evaluation.
What it is
A typical mature swallow is produced with the tongue tip pressing against the roof of the mouth, behind the front teeth. In a tongue thrust, the tongue pushes forward — sometimes between the teeth, sometimes against them.
In children, tongue thrust is normal until about age 7. If it persists, it can affect speech (lisping), swallowing, and tooth position.
Common signs
- Visible tongue movement between or against the teeth during swallow
- Lisping on s, z, t, d, n, l sounds
- Open bite or gaps between teeth
- Mouth breathing
- Messy eating / difficulty managing food
How myofunctional therapy may help
Educational, not diagnostic. Outcomes vary; results are not guaranteed.
Retrain the swallow pattern through targeted exercises.
Establish correct tongue rest posture as the foundation.
Coordinate with orthodontic treatment when one is planned or in progress.
What to expect
A typical program runs 4–6 months.
Most children make the change in 4–6 months; adults may take longer due to longer habit history.
Keep learning
Related reading
- What is myofunctional therapy, really?
Educational article (~5 min read).
- Customized Exercise Programs
How this service supports this condition.
- All conditions we work with
The full set of myofunctional patterns we support.
- How we may help
Overview of the assessment and program structure.
Common questions about tongue thrust
- What is a tongue thrust swallow?
- A tongue thrust swallow is a swallow pattern where the tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth, instead of pressing up against the palate behind the front teeth as in a mature swallow. In young children this is normal until around age 7. When it persists, it can contribute to speech, eating, and dental concerns.
- Can tongue thrust affect my speech?
- It can. A persistent tongue thrust often shows up as a lisp or distorted sound on s, z, t, d, n, and l. Speech clarity and tongue thrust often improve together when the swallow pattern and tongue rest posture are retrained — though for some people, working with a speech-language pathologist alongside therapy is the most effective path. Our Orofacial Myology for Speech Support (/services#speech-support) service covers this overlap.
- Can tongue thrust be corrected in adults?
- Yes. Adults can absolutely learn a mature swallow pattern, though it often takes a bit longer than it does for children because the habit has been in place longer and the surrounding muscles have compensated. A typical program runs 4–6 months, with consistent daily home practice between sessions.
- How does tongue thrust affect orthodontics?
- Tongue thrust is one of the reasons teeth can drift back toward crowding or an open bite even after braces or aligners. The orthodontic appliances move the teeth, but the same forward tongue pressure that contributed to the original alignment can keep pushing after treatment. Pre- and post-orthodontic myofunctional therapy is often recommended to support the stability of orthodontic results (/services#pre-post-orthodontic).
Open references
Where the illustrations come from
The anatomical illustrations on this page are drawn from openly licensed educational sources. We attribute them in the caption; the canonical sources are linked here for anyone who wants to verify or use them.