Understanding Tongue Thrust in Children: What Parents Need to Know (With a Smile)

If you’ve ever caught your child’s tongue sneaking forward during speech, swallowing, or while they’re zoning out watching cartoons, you may have witnessed a tongue thrust in action. It’s a very common pattern — and while it can be surprising (“Why is your tongue escaping again?”), it’s absolutely something we can help with. Let’s break it down with clarity… and just a tiny bit of humor.

So… What Causes Tongue Thrust?

Ah, the infamous tongue thrust causes list — it’s longer than the line at Target on a Saturday. Common culprits include mouth breathing, allergies, enlarged tonsils, prolonged pacifier use, thumb-sucking, and good old-fashioned habit. Sometimes the tongue is simply trying its best with the situation it has (“You want me to breathe AND swallow? Pick one!”). Whatever the root cause, understanding the “why” makes all the difference for treatment.

What Does Tongue Thrust Treatment Look Like?

Effective tongue thrust treatment is less about “fixing” something and more about retraining the oral and facial muscles to work the way they were designed. A myofunctional therapist evaluates how your child breathes, swallows, and rests their tongue — and then creates a plan that strengthens the right muscles. Think of it as coaching for the mouth: supportive, structured, and surprisingly fun. No whistles required.

And Yes, Tongue Thrust Exercises Can Help

Targeted tongue thrust exercises help kids (and adults) learn where their tongue should be and how to coordinate breathing and swallowing without the tongue trying to run off again. These exercises are kid-friendly, step-by-step, and build confidence along the way. With consistency (and sometimes a creative reward system), kids make amazing progress.

Tongue thrust may look quirky, but it’s very treatable. With the right support, kids can swallow more efficiently, speak more clearly, and develop healthy lifelong habits — all without their tongues attempting a dramatic exit.