Tongue thrust, also known as orofacial muscular imbalance, is a condition where the tongue pushes forward against the teeth during swallowing, speaking, or resting. This can potentially affect your braces treatment in several ways.
Firstly, tongue thrust can exert pressure on the front teeth, causing them to shift or move out of alignment. This can make it difficult for your orthodontist to properly adjust your braces, resulting in slower progress and potentially longer treatment times.
Secondly, tongue thrust can also cause damage to your braces themselves, particularly the brackets and wires. The constant pressure from your tongue can loosen or dislodge the brackets, which can then require extra trips to the orthodontist for repairs.
Thirdly, tongue thrust can also affect your overall oral health. It can lead to bite problems, difficulty chewing and swallowing, and even speech issues.
If you have tongue thrust, it is important to discuss this with your orthodontist before beginning any braces treatment. They may recommend speech therapy or other treatments to help address the issue and ensure that your braces treatment is as effective as possible