What is a Tongue Thrust?

If you’ve ever heard someone mention a “tongue thrust,” you might picture a child pushing their tongue forward when they swallow or talk — and that’s not far off. But a tongue thrust is more than just a habit. It’s a sign that the muscles of the mouth, tongue, and face aren’t working together the way they should.

Understanding what a tongue thrust is — and why it happens — can help parents, dentists, and even speech therapists recognize when a child (or adult!) might need support.

What Exactly Is a Tongue Thrust?

A tongue thrust happens when the tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth during swallowing, speaking, or even at rest.

In a healthy oral pattern, the tongue rests gently against the roof of the mouth, just behind the front teeth, and moves upward (not forward) during swallowing. When the tongue pushes forward instead, it’s called a tongue thrust pattern or incorrect swallow pattern.

Over time, this can affect:

• Dental alignment (causing open bites or gaps between the teeth)

• Speech clarity (especially sounds like /s/, /z/, /t/, and /d/)

• Facial growth and development (since tongue posture guides jaw and palate growth)

Why Does a Tongue Thrust Happen?

There isn’t just one cause — it’s usually the result of several factors. Common contributors include:

• Mouth breathing 

• Prolonged pacifier or thumb sucking

• Low muscle tone or oral motor weakness

• Tongue tie or restricted tongue mobility

• Early habits that never transitioned to mature patterns

In short, the body adapts — if the airway is blocked, or if muscles aren’t functioning efficiently, the tongue finds another way to do its job.

Why It Matters

A tongue thrust isn’t just about how someone swallows — it’s about how the entire oral system functions. The tongue’s position and movement affect breathing, speech, chewing, and even sleep.

If the tongue is pushing forward constantly, it can prevent proper lip seal and nasal breathing, which impacts airway health and facial growth. Over time, this can lead to orthodontic relapse (teeth shifting after braces), persistent speech difficulties, or fatigue from inefficient muscle patterns.

How a Myofunctional Therapist Can Help

The good news is that tongue thrusts can be corrected with myofunctional therapy.

Therapy focuses on:

• Teaching proper tongue rest posture

• Retraining swallow and breathing patterns

• Strengthening muscles of the tongue, lips, and cheeks

• Supporting airway health by encouraging nasal breathing

Each therapy plan is personalized — because no two tongues (or faces) are exactly alike.

The Takeaway

A tongue thrust is your body’s way of saying, “Something isn’t working quite right.”
Instead of focusing just on the teeth or speech sounds, myofunctional therapy looks at the root cause — how the tongue, lips, and breathing all work together.

When function improves, everything else follows — speech becomes clearer, teeth stay in place, and breathing becomes easier.