Pediatric Swallowing Therapy: Correcting Tongue Thrust in Mequon
Does your child push their tongue forward when they swallow? Perhaps you’ve noticed their tongue peeking through their teeth when they speak, or your orthodontist has mentioned that a "tongue thrust" might be pushing their teeth out of alignment.
At Mequon Speech and Learning Connection, operating as Milwaukee Myo, we specialize in identifying and treating these complex swallowing disorders. We don't just look at the swallow; we look at the functional foundation of your child’s mouth to ensure clear speech, and a stable smile.
What is a Tongue Thrust Swallow?
A common swallowing disorder seen in children is a tongue thrust swallow, technically known as an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD).
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In a typical swallow, the tongue should press against the roof of the mouth (the palate).
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In a tongue thrust, the tongue moves forward, pressing against or between the front or side teeth.
Because we swallow roughly 600 to 2,000 times a day, that constant forward pressure can act like "natural braces" in reverse—pushing teeth out of their proper position.
The Role of Tongue Resting Posture
Usually, children with swallowing disorders also have an abnormal tongue resting posture. Instead of the tongue "living" on the roof of the mouth with the lips closed, it may rest low in the floor of the mouth or pushed against the teeth. This resting posture is just as important as the swallow itself.
A low resting tongue often leads to:
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Mouth breathing rather than healthy nasal breathing.
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Narrowing of the palate, which can lead to dental crowding.
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Speech sound errors, particularly with sounds like "s" and "z."
Why Swallowing Therapy is a "Team Effort"
Because a tongue thrust is so closely related to dentition and speech problems, swallowing therapy rarely happens in a vacuum. To get the best results for your child, we follow a collaborative medical model.
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Working with Orthodontics
Have you ever heard of a child’s teeth shifting back after their braces were removed? This is often due to an untreated tongue thrust. If the tongue continues to push against the teeth 2,000 times a day, the orthodontic work can relapse. Swallowing therapy typically works in conjunction with orthodontics to fix any dentition problems and ensure that once the braces come off, the beautiful results stay in place.
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Integration with Speech Therapy
If a child cannot swallow correctly, they often struggle to place their tongue correctly for speech. Our certified therapists are dual-trained in Speech-Language Pathology and Orofacial Myology. This allows us to integrate speech exercises with myofunctional retraining, correcting "lisps" at the source by changing the muscle patterns of the tongue.
What Happens During Swallowing Therapy?
Our goal is to retrain the brain and the muscles to work in harmony. Through a customized Orofacial
Myofunctional Therapy program, we help your child:
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Develop Awareness: Helping the child "feel" where their tongue is at rest.
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Strengthen Muscles: Exercises to build the strength needed for the tongue to stay on the roof of the mouth.
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Refine the Swallow: Coordinating the complex sequence of muscles required for a safe, "closed-teeth" swallow.
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Protect the Airway: Ensuring that swallowing is safe and efficient, preventing choking or gagging.
Is it Time for an Evaluation?
If your child is a "messy eater," breathes primarily through their mouth, or has speech articulation issues that haven't improved with traditional therapy, a myofunctional swallowing evaluation is the next step.
Signs your child may need help:
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Visible tongue between the teeth during speech or swallowing.
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Lips remaining open at rest.
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Frequent "slushy" speech sounds.
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Orthodontic issues like an "open bite."
Visit Our Clinic in Mequon
We serve families throughout Milwaukee and the North Shore communities from our conveniently located office in the Glen Oaks professional building.
