Ask the Dentist with Dr. Mark Burhenne

Episode #41: What To Do About a Tongue Thrust?

Dec 21, 2021

20:59

Did you know that a woodpecker’s tongue wraps all the way around its brain? In today’s episode, we’re talking all things tongues as Dr. B answers a listener’s question about tongue thrust! From the evolutionary reason for why a woodpecker’s tongue is like it is, to how a tongue thrust affects your face, breathing, talking, and so much more, this episode has it all! We dissect how the tongue functions normally and what leads to an abnormal position such as a tongue thrust. We are reminded of the importance of functional dentistry as Dr. B explains why getting braces to fix the results of a tongue thrust doesn’t fix the underlying issue, and how the swallow reflex works. Find out who you should turn to instead of your local dentist when given an absolute answer, how to check if you have a tongue thrust, and what you can do to fix it! We look forward to having you join us.

Key Points From This Episode:

Today’s question: what would Dr. B recommend for a tongue thrust? [0:01:45]
Why our tongues are amazing and their role in oral and overall health. [0:02:27]
Dr. B’s perception of the swallow reflex and the physics underlying it. [0:05:28]
What happens in the mouth when the tongue is thrusting forwards. [0:06:49]
Why a dentist’s absolute answer to being unable to fix a tongue thrust should be challenged. [0:07:28]
How a tongue thrust can affect your health, [0:07:57]
The root cause of a tongue thrust and how functional dentistry is important in addressing it. [0:09:03]
Why Dr. B recommends that a myofunctional expert should be present at birth. [0:11:00]
How to tell if you have a tongue thrust. [0:11:55]
How a tongue thrust can be treated: behavioral retraining. [0:13:40]
The role of myofunctional therapy in retraining your facial muscles. [0:15:28]
Where to find a myofunctional therapist that Dr. B recommends. [0:16:56]
Why the functional approach is the best. [0:17:41]
Where to find a functional dentist. [0:18:47]