My 5 year-old son has been diagnosed with a tongue thrust. My dentist has recommended treatment with a speech therapist, but my pediatrician has said his thrusting is mild and he will grow out of it. Kim Loos Dr. Kimberly A. Loos practices general dentistry in San Jose, California. She is also a clinical instructor at University of Pacific School of Dentistry and an editor for Dentistry On-Line. Speech and myofunctional therapy is usually not necessary to correct tongue thrust.
Children usually grow out of tongue thrust swallowing.
The tongues of newborns have very restricted movements. Over the next several weeks of life, the tongue develops backward movements, depression and forward movements. Between two and three years, a child is able to lick their lips from one side to the other. With increased control of the tongue and growth of the lower jaw, swallowing mechanics transition from the infant swallow to the adult swallow. This transition time varies in individual children.