Tongue thrust and its influence in orthodontics

Area of Science:

• Oral Myology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Orthodontics

Background:

• Tongue thrust is an oral myofunctional disorder with varied terminology, including 'deviate swallow' and 'infantile swallow'.
• The term 'tongue thrust' is preferred due to its prevalence and descriptive accuracy of lingual behavior.
• This behavior is increasingly linked to tongue resting posture rather than solely the act of swallowing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the terminology and understanding of tongue thrust as an oral myofunctional disorder.
• To explore the association between tongue thrust behavior and the development of malocclusion.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and terminology used to describe tongue thrust.
• Analysis of the lingual behavior during swallowing, functional activities, and resting posture.
• Evaluation of the etiological significance of tongue thrust in malocclusion.

Main Results:

• 'Tongue thrust' is the most widely adopted term, accurately reflecting lingual behavior.
• 'Tongue thrusting' is considered more related to tongue resting posture than swallowing.
• The term 'thrust' implies mild, continuous lingual pressure, even at rest.

Conclusions:

• The precise role of tongue thrust in the etiology or consequence of malocclusion remains a critical area of study.
• Understanding tongue thrust's impact on dental and occlusal development is essential for myofunctional therapy and orthodontic interventions.