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Causes and Concerns of a Tongue Thrust
The term tongue thrust is becoming more commonly used, but did you know some underlying causes of an abnormal anterior motion of the tongue? Behaviors that can cause an abnormal anterior motion of the tongue include prolonged bottle use, prolonged pacifier use, prolonged sippy cup use, and oral habits such as tongue or thumb sucking.
The importance of proper tongue resting posture
The most optimal resting posture for the tongue is the tongue tip at the incisive papilla with the rest of the tongue in a light suction to the roof of the mouth. The tongue is positioned up on the roof of our mouth, and directly behind our front teeth. This tongue placement allows adequate airflow for nasal breathing.
The risks and complications of prolonged thumb sucking
Thumb sucking is a common and natural phenomenon that occurs from birth until early infancy. However, this habit is typically eliminated by 6-7 months of age, as the sucking reflex subsides. If this habit is not eliminated, and your child continues to suck their thumb during toddler and school-aged years, there are oro-facial changes expected to take place.