Treating an individual for tongue thrusting should be both simple and painless - which isn't to say it's going to be easy. Generally, the child or adult needs to relearn how to swallow.
There are a number of treatments that can help achieve this goal:
- Showing the child or adult how "good" and "bad" swallows feel to the tongue and roof of the mouth and have them practice "good" swallows over and over again - at least 40 times a day.
- Using special techniques to make the "conscious" good swallows an "unconscious" habit, such as giving the patient a fruit drop and asking him/her to hold it in the proper position in the mouth for longer and longer periods of time.
- Another trick is to place a small orthodontic elastic band on the tip of the patient's tongue, reminding him or her to press the elastic band against the roof of him/her mouth when swallowing.
- As a last resort, a patient might be fitted with a mouth appliance that makes it uncomfortable to put his/her tongue near the teeth in the improper position.
Mouth Appliances
There are a number of these "tongue habit appliances" that your orthodontist might recommend. Most of them are designed to be installed and removed by the doctor.
One appliance fits behind the upper front teeth and has two heavy wires that curve back onto the roof of the mouth. These wires do not interfere with the tongue as long as it is in the proper swallowing position. However, if the mouth is open during the swallow, dropping the lower jaw will bring the wires into the path of the tongue, causing discomfort.
Another tongue habit appliance uses "spurs" that resembling fangs that make it uncomfortable for patients to put their tongue near their front teeth.
Appliances are usually used for two to six months. The cost ranges from $500 to $1500 and depends on the amount of work that needs to be done to address the problem.
Ask your orthodontist which appliance is best for you.
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