Tongue Thrust/ Myofunctional Disorders

Tongue thrust or myofunctional disorders describe a swallowing pattern in which the tongue pushes against or between the teeth with contraction of facial muscles. It also describes the resting position of the tongue. This can effect dentition as well as speech patterns.

Factors that contribute to myofunctional disorder:

• Allergies, nasal congestion, nasal obstruction, or enlarged adenoids which result in mouth breathing and cause the posture of the tongue to be very low in the mouth.
• Large tonsils or frequent throat infections which cause abnormal swallowing and poor tongue/lip posture.
• Short lingual frenulum
• Thumb/finger sucking or tongue sucking
• Abnormally large tongue
• Heredity factors and growth patterns of the face (such as jaw angle)
• Neurological musculature or other physiological abnormalities

William E. and Julie Zickefoose

Certified Orofacial Myologists