Tongue sucking in children and adults causes and how to get rid of it

The habit of tongue sucking in children and adults may seem simple, but over time it can affect teeth, speech, and even swallowing. Many parents notice their child sucking their tongue without understanding the reasons, and some adults continue this habit from childhood or due to stress or nervous habits we will discuss the causes of tongue sucking, its effects, the different stages in children and adults, and ways to stop it through exercises or professional treatment. You will also find practical tips to help correct the habit effectively and safely.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Children

Q: Is tongue sucking normal in young children?
Yes, tongue sucking is completely normal during breastfeeding and may continue until around 3–4 years of age. It becomes a problem if it persists beyond this age.

Q: Are exercises effective for my child?
Yes, if the child follows exercises regularly under the supervision of a speech therapist or orthodontist, results often appear within weeks to months.

Q: How often should my child do the exercises?
Typically 3 times a day, with 10–15 repetitions per session depending on the exercise.

Q: Are the exercises painful?
No, the exercises are simple and designed to strengthen oral and tongue muscles without causing pain.

Q: Does my child need braces along with exercises?
If there is a noticeable gap or misalignment of teeth, orthodontic treatment may be needed during or after exercises.

2. Adults

Q: Are exercises helpful for adults after many years of tongue sucking?
Yes, exercises are very effective, but they require more patience and consistency compared to children.

Q: How often should exercises be done?
Usually 3–4 times daily, with 10–20 repetitions per session.

Q: Are exercises alone enough?
Often, exercises need to be combined with speech therapy or orthodontics if there are dental or jaw problems.

Q: Will I see results quickly?
Most adults notice improvement in tongue posture and speech within 4–8 weeks, but correcting bite or teeth alignment may take longer.

Q: Can exercises be done without a specialist?
Yes, but consulting a specialist is important to ensure proper technique and avoid further complications.

Q: Is it normal for the tongue to touch the teeth?
No. At rest, the tongue should not touch the teeth. The normal position is close to the roof of the mouth, with the upper and lower teeth slightly apart (~2–4 mm).

Q: Can dental misalignments caused by tongue sucking be corrected?
Yes, stopping the habit and using orthodontics can correct dental problems.

Q: Does pacifier use cause tongue sucking problems?
Prolonged pacifier use may lead to dental issues like open bite or malocclusion, similar to thumb sucking effects.

Stages of Tongue Sucking in Children

Stage 1: Infancy (0–2 years)

Description: Completely normal during breastfeeding.
Behavior: Tongue helps with swallowing.
Notes: Normal and not a problem.

Stage 2: Transitional (2–4 years)

Description: Child starts normal swallowing, but some continue tongue sucking or forward thrust.
Behavior: Occasional tongue sucking with an open mouth.
Notes: If it persists after 3–4 years, it may affect teeth and speech, requiring speech therapy or orthodontic intervention.

Stage 3: Chronic (4–6 years and beyond)

Description: Childhood habit persists consistently.
Behavior: Tongue sucking or thrusting against front teeth during speech or swallowing.
Notes: May cause speech problems or difficulty swallowing; requires muscle exercises, speech therapy, and orthodontics.

Stage 4: Long-term complications

Description: Gaps or tilted front teeth, jaw problems, facial pain, or headaches.
Behavior: Unclear speech, difficulty chewing or swallowing.

Stages of Tongue Sucking in Adults

Stage 1: Persistence of childhood habit

Description: Some adults maintain the habit from childhood.
Behavior: Tongue sucking during concentration or stress.
Notes: Continuous pressure on teeth and jaw; may cause speech issues.

Stage 2: Stress or nervous habits

Description: Tongue sucking as a psychological response to stress or focus.
Behavior: Continuous tongue movements, pressure on front or back teeth.
Notes: Can lead to speech or swallowing problems over time.

Stage 3: Chronic complications

Description: Permanent tongue sucking causing structural problems in teeth and jaw.
Behavior: Misaligned teeth, difficulty pronouncing words, occasional jaw pain.
Notes: Usually requires comprehensive treatment: functional exercises, speech therapy, and possibly orthodontics or other medical interventions.

Causes of Tongue Sucking

Children

Early oral habits:
- Prolonged thumb or pacifier sucking after age 2.
- Using tongue sucking for comfort or relaxation.
Dental or jaw problems:
- Gaps between teeth or abnormal alignment.
- Open or spaced front teeth, leading the child to suck the tongue while swallowing.
Muscle weakness or development issues:
- Weak oral or tongue muscles.
- Delayed fine motor control of the tongue.
Breathing problems or allergies:
- Mouth breathing due to nasal blockage or chronic allergies.
- Tongue sucking as a natural comfort mechanism.
Psychological or emotional factors:
- Stress or anxiety may lead to tongue sucking for reassurance.

Adults

Habits from childhood:
- Persistent tongue sucking if untreated during childhood.
Dental or jaw issues:
- Open or crooked front teeth may lead to tongue sucking to assist speech or swallowing.
- Missing back teeth or bite problems affecting tongue position.
Muscle or neurological issues:
- Weak tongue or oral muscles.
- Injuries or neurological conditions affecting tongue control.
Stress or nervous habits:
- Tongue sucking as a response to stress or intense focus.
Speech problems:
- Difficulty pronouncing certain sounds may lead to tongue sucking to adjust mouth position.

Symptoms of Tongue Sucking

Children

Visual/oral: Constant tongue sucking or movement, especially during play or focus; possible open bite; open mouth while swallowing.
Speech: Difficulty pronouncing s, sh, z, t, d; whistling or unclear speech.
Other: Excess saliva, abnormal swallowing, mouth breathing, other oral habits like thumb or pacifier sucking.

Adults

Visual/oral: Constant tongue sucking/movement during stress or focus; pressure on teeth; misaligned or tilted teeth.
Speech: Difficulty pronouncing certain sounds; whistling or unclear speech.
Other: Excess saliva, difficulty swallowing, psychological effects like embarrassment or low confidence due to teeth appearance or speech difficulties.

Types of Tongue Sucking

Children

Anterior Tongue Sucking:
- Tip of tongue on front teeth or gum, starts sucking.
- Symptoms: Open bite, excess saliva, speech difficulties.
- Causes: Oral habit like thumb or pacifier sucking.
Lateral Tongue Sucking:
- Tongue on side teeth while sucking.
- Symptoms: Pressure on side teeth, tilting, difficulty aligning teeth.
- Causes: Weak oral muscles or compensating for swallowing difficulty.
Open Mouth Tongue Sucking:
- Tongue sucking with open mouth.
- Symptoms: Protruding front teeth, excess saliva, unclear speech.
- Causes: Mouth breathing or chronic nasal blockage.
Posterior Tongue Sucking:
- Sucking the back of the tongue.
- Symptoms: Difficulty swallowing, occasional jaw pain.
- Causes: Weak posterior tongue muscles or jaw issues.

Adults

Chronic Anterior Tongue Sucking:
- Persistent childhood habit with tip of tongue on front teeth.
- Symptoms: Wear/tilt of front teeth, excess saliva, speech difficulty.
- Causes: Childhood habit or dental/jaw problems.
Stress/Focus Tongue Sucking:
- Tongue sucking during stress or concentration.
- Symptoms: Continuous tongue movement, pressure on teeth, speech issues.
- Causes: Psychological stress or nervous habit.
Lateral/Posterior Tongue Sucking:
- Sucking sides or back of tongue to compensate for dental/jaw issues.
- Symptoms: Tilted teeth, difficulty swallowing, occasional jaw pain.
- Causes: Missing back teeth or bite problems.

Diagnosis of Tongue Sucking in Children and Adults

1. Children

Clinical Observation

Observe the child during play, eating, or concentration to see if they suck their tongue constantly.
Note if the mouth is open or if the tongue thrusts against the front teeth while swallowing.
Monitor breathing patterns: does the child rely on mouth breathing instead of the nose?

Speech and Language Assessment

Evaluate pronunciation of sounds like s, sh, z, t, d.
Observe any whistling sounds or unclear speech.

Dental and Jaw Examination

Look for open bite or misaligned teeth.
Check teeth and jaw alignment for any abnormalities caused by persistent tongue sucking.

Specialist Consultation

Speech Therapist: to evaluate tongue function during speech and swallowing.
Dentist/Orthodontist: to assess the effect of tongue sucking on teeth and jaw alignment.

2. Adults

Clinical Observation

Observe the person during eating, speaking, or concentration to see if they constantly suck or move the tongue.
Check for excess saliva or mouth opening during speech.

Speech and Language Assessment

Evaluate pronunciation and sounds affected by tongue sucking.
Note any changes in speech or whistling sounds.

Dental and Jaw Examination

Examine bite alignment, front teeth, and any wear or tilting caused by tongue pressure.
Assess the impact of tongue sucking on jaw function, including pain or clicking.

Specialist Consultation

Speech Therapist or Oral Myofunctional Therapist: to correct tongue posture during speech and swallowing.
Dentist or Orthodontist: to correct dental or jaw problems resulting from chronic tongue sucking.

Risks of Tongue Sucking in Children and Adults

Children

Effects on Teeth and Jaw

Protrusion or spacing of front teeth (open bite).
Tilted or misaligned teeth.
Difficulty in normal bite closure.

Effects on Speech

Difficulty pronouncing s, sh, z, t, d.
Whistling sounds or unclear speech.
Delayed development of speech skills if habit persists.

Effects on Swallowing and Digestion

Difficulty swallowing normally.
Excess saliva during swallowing or speech.

Effects on Daily Habits

Mouth breathing instead of nasal breathing.
Possible development of other oral habits like thumb or pacifier sucking.

Adults

Effects on Teeth and Jaw

Wear of front teeth from constant tongue pressure.
Jaw problems such as pain or facial headaches due to muscle tension.
Disturbed bite alignment.

Effects on Speech

Changes in pronunciation of certain sounds.
Whistling or unclear speech.
Occasional communication difficulties.

Effects on Swallowing and Digestion

Difficulty swallowing food and liquids.
Saliva leakage during speech or swallowing.

Psychological and Social Effects

Embarrassment due to speech or dental appearance.
Sometimes loss of self-confidence.

Tongue Sucking Treatment with Exercises

1. Children

a. Correct Tongue Placement Exercise

Teach the child to place the tip of the tongue on the gum behind the upper front teeth while swallowing or sucking.
Repetitions: 10–15 times, 3 times daily.

b. Swallow Exercise

Place the tongue on the roof of the mouth, then swallow gently without pushing forward.
Benefits: trains normal swallowing and reduces tongue sucking.

c. Oral Muscle Strengthening

Make the child smile then close the mouth firmly while pressing lips, or blow into a small balloon.
Goal: strengthen muscles around the mouth to prevent tongue sucking.

d. Speech Exercises

Teach pronunciation of s, sh, z, t, d with correct tongue posture.

2. Adults

a. Tongue Placement Exercise

Place tip of tongue behind the upper front teeth while swallowing, keeping lips closed.
Repetitions: 10–20 times, 3–4 times daily.

b. Gentle Pressure Exercise

Press tongue on the roof of the mouth for 5 seconds then relax.
Benefits: strengthens posterior tongue muscles and prevents forward thrust or sucking.

c. Speech Exercises

Read words or texts containing s, sh, z, t, d while maintaining correct tongue posture.
Benefits: improves pronunciation and speech with regular practice.

d. Oral and Lip Exercises

Wide smile then press lips for 5 seconds.
Blow into a balloon or use a straw to strengthen muscles around the mouth.

3. Important Tips for Exercises

Consistency: Essential, especially for children, to turn correct tongue posture into a habit.
Combine with other treatments: Exercises are often combined with speech therapy and orthodontics if needed.
Early intervention: The earlier the treatment, the faster and more effective the results.

Tongue Sucking Treatment with Surgery

1. Is surgery always necessary?

Most cases improve with functional exercises + speech therapy + orthodontics.
Surgery is rarely needed and only indicated in severe structural abnormalities of the mouth, jaw, or palate.

2. Cases that may require surgery

a. Palate or cleft issues

Examples: cleft palate or congenital defects preventing correct tongue posture.
Goal: correct skeletal structure to facilitate normal swallowing and speech.

b. Severe dental or jaw problems

Examples: extreme malocclusion, very small or misaligned upper/lower jaw.
Surgery type: orthognathic surgery to adjust jaw and improve teeth alignment.

c. Rare muscle or ligament problems

Severe weakness in tongue muscles or ligaments.
Rare procedure: frenectomy for extremely short tongue ties (Ankyloglossia) affecting swallowing and speech.

3. Important Notes

Surgery is not the first option unless there is severe structural abnormality.
Most children and adults improve with exercises, speech therapy, and orthodontics without surgery.
After surgery, patients often need speech and swallowing exercises to adjust tongue posture.
Early intervention with functional exercises can reduce the need for surgery later.

Tips for Managing Tongue Sucking with Exercises

Children

Consistency is key: Perform exercises daily, at least 3 times, to make correct tongue posture a habit.
Start early: Early intervention gives faster results, especially before teeth and jaw are affected.
Use fun tools: Balloons or special straws can make exercises enjoyable for children.
Combine with speech therapy: Teach difficult sounds while maintaining correct tongue posture.
Avoid harmful habits: Thumb or prolonged pacifier sucking can hinder progress.

Adults

Stick to daily routine: Exercise 3–4 times daily, 10–20 repetitions each session to strengthen muscles and correct tongue posture.
Practice during focus or speech: Maintain tongue posture while reading or talking to reinforce the habit.
Combine with speech therapy or orthodontics if needed: Exercises alone may not be enough if there are teeth or jaw issues.
Follow-up with specialists: Speech therapists or orthodontists can monitor progress and adjust exercises.
Patience and perseverance: Correcting tongue posture takes weeks to months; consistency is crucial for permanent results.