Tongue Thrust
What is a tongue thrust?
It is a habit of resting or thrusting the tongue forward/sideways against or between the teeth while swallowing, chewing, resting, or speaking
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A tongue thrust is a symptom and means that there is a bigger issue at play
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Improper oral rest posture
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Proper oral rest posture:
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Mouth is closed with teeth slightly apart
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Tongue is lightly suctioned to the roof of the mouth; front middle and back
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Lips closed
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Nasal breathing
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Improper oral rest posture affects
Breathing
Chewing
Swallowing
Proper development of craniofacial structures and airways
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What causes improper oral rest posture?
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Thumb/finger sucking
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Tongue tie
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Prolonged pacifier use
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Prolonged bottle use
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Use of sippy cups
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Enlarged tonsils and or adenoids and more
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Health issues linked to improper
oral rest posture
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Anterior open bite
Overbite
Overjet
Low muscle tone of cheeks, jaw, lips, and tongue
High narrow palate
Malocclusion
Speech issues
Improper swallow pattern
Underdeveloped jaws and airways
Delayed tooth eruption
Orthodontic relapse
Difficulty chewing and speaking
Nasal allergies
Digestive isssues
ADD/ADHD
Hyperactivity
Bed wetting
Sleep apnea
***Disordered breathing
Mouth breathing
Oxygen deprivation
TMJ issues and dysfunction-chronic jaw or neck pain, headaches
**Disordered breathing and mouth breathing presents its own set of health issues
Myofunctional Therapy is needed to fix dysfunction of the tongue to maintain proper oral resting posture and correct the tongue thrust
Sleep Disordered Breathing
Facts about sleep
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Sleep disordered breathing can happen at any age, any time
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A negative sleep study result does not mean normal breathing
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Snoring is common but never normal
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Open mouth is never normal
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Disordered breathing sends the body into constant fight or flight=stress
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If you are not breathing correctly at night, you are not breathing correctly during the day
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Root Cause of Sleep Disordered Breathing
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Undeveloped jaws, airway, and improper oral rest posture (lips sealed, tongue to the roof of the mouth; front middle, back, teeth slightly apart).
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Signs and Symptoms of Disordered Breathing
Dark circles under eyes
No spacing in between baby teeth
Crooked, misaligned teeth
Crossbite,overbite,underbite
Gummy smile
High narrow palate
Hyperactive
ADD/ADHD
Allergies
Eczema
Enlarged tonsils/adenoids or removal
Frequent upper respiratory infections
Anxiety
Depression
Night terrors/nightmares
Mouth breathing day or night
Breathing is audible
Restless-tossing and turning
Bed wetting
Teeth grinding/clenching
Tired when waking up
Aggressiveness
Difficulty in school
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Scientific Evidence and Sleep Disordered Breathing Health Affects
Cancer
Diabetes
Asthma
Allergies
High blood pressure
Hypertension
Heart failure
Heart disease
Stroke
Obesity
Abnormal heartbeats
Alzheimer's
Dementia
Immune compromised
GERD
Liver disease
COPD
Preclampsia
Gestational hypertension
Gestational diabetes
Gut issues
and more
Studies show myofunctional therapy alone can significantly reduce disordered breathing. With an integrative approach, it can be reduced even more or possibly eliminated
Tongue Ties
A tongue tie is when the band of tissue underneath the tongue is too short or tight, causing a limited range of motion and compensations. It leads to a cascade of health issues
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"To be "mildly" tongue tied is like being "mildly" pregnant. You either are or you are not. No matter how mild, can end up being problematic"
- Dr. Bobby Ghaheri
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You do not outgrow, or stretch a tongue tie. It is often misdiagnosed or missed.
Tongue tie releases can have a huge impact on health and wellness.
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Compensations
When the tongue's range of motion is restricted, surrounding muscles will find a new and improper way way to get the job done, causing a cascade of compensations throughout the body
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Fascia
The tongue is connected to every muscle, bone, artery, organ, and nerve through that fascia (A thin casing of connective tissue) Restriction in one place will cause restriction in other places as well as compensations
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This can impact
Breathing
Swallowing
Chewing
Proper craniofacial development and airways
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When muscles compensate or are restricted (tongue tie or lip tie), orofacial muscle tone can be weak or overused, causing an imbalance throughout the body and dysfunction. Muscles become dysfunctional and can cause improper chewing, swallowing, breathing, and proper oral rest posture
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Myofunctional disorders are improper orofacial muscle(muscles of the head and neck) function and weak ,overused, or improperly used, muscles that interfere with proper breathing, chewing, swallowing, and growth and development of skeletal airways and jaws
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Orofacial dysfunction needs to be addressed with a myofunctional therapy program (integrative) to fix orofacial dysfunction and a release provider may be recommended to release the tie. If a release is recommended, myofunctional therapy is needed before and after procedure for proper healing of the wound and muscle rehabilitation
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Untreated tongue ties can lead to
ADD/ADHD
Mouth breathing
Reflex/GERD
Gassy, colic, fussy
Latch issues
Picky or messy eating
Issues with textures
Hypermobility
Ear infections
Digestive issues
Sinus issues
Headaches and migraines
Anxiety
Depression
Teeth grinding
TMJ issues/disorders
Fatigue
Sleep disorders/disordered breathing
Snoring
Allergies
Poor posture
Improper development of the jaws and airways
Speech issues
Neck and back pain
Improper swallowing
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Mouth Breathing/Snoring
Mouth Breathing/Snoring
Does not create nitric oxide Activates sympathetic nervous system=fight or flight=stresses the body Constricts veins and arteries=oxygen and nutrient deprivation to body/organs including the brain General inflammation of the body Increased allergies, asthma and risk of sleep apnea Bad breath and increased risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease Worse sleep Negative impact on craniofacial growth and development Low tongue posture=NO vagus nerve activation
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Nasal Breathing
Creates nitric oxide(vasodilator, antiviral, antibacterial, bronchodilator) Activates parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest)=calms the body Filters out dust and allergens Better sleep Vagus nerve activation
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Vagus Nerve
Primary sympathetic nervous system=rest and digest Plays a big role in nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system Plays a big role in metabolism, heat rate, blood pressure, decreasing inflammation, digestion and gut heath
Mouth breathing can change the way you look
