Tongue Sucking : Effects and Cure
The habit of tongue sucking can give the impression that you are sucking on a hard candy or pastille
Although less common than thumb or finger sucking, tongue sucking can still result in pain, discomfort, and self-consciousness. Both adults and children are impacted by the illness.
If you or someone you love has developed a tongue-sucking habit, there are medical and at-home treatments that can be beneficial. To learn more about how to break the habit of sucking your tongue, continue reading.
What causes tongue-sucking
A disease or a medication side effect can cause someone to develop the habit of sucking their tongue later in life, or it can start in early childhood.
How Children Get Affected by This Illness
Sucking a pacifier or thumb helps children relax. A 2014 study found that children can continue to sucke until they are 4 years old, especially right before bed.
Even after the anticipated amount of time, some babies may still develop the tongue-sucking habit. This may be related to a physical health disorder in the child or to their ongoing need for anxiety relief.
As a non-nutritive habit, sucking frequently coexists with other consoling behaviors like gripping a:
- blanket
- stuffed animal
- doll
It’s possible that some kids won’t “grow out of” tongue-sucking by the anticipated age. This might be connected to a physical health condition or the ongoing need for security and anxiety alleviation.
In certain instances, tongue thrusting, also known as reverse swallowing, can coexist with tongue sucking. As a result, rather than placing their tongue behind them, the child might rest it against their upper or lower teeth.
How Adults Get Affected by This Illness
Adults who tongue-suck may be adopting this adaptive behavior as a coping mechanism for anxiety or even as a side effect of medication or illness. One such instance is tardive dyskinesia.
This happens when a person has too much dopamine in their system, which causes them to move involuntarily. Among the symptoms could be:
- facial grimacing,
- jerky arm or leg motions,
- sticking out the tongue, and
- mouth movements
that may involve tongue sucking
Metoclopramide (Reglan) is one medication that can cause tardive dyskinesia in a person.
The neuroleptic drugs, also referred to as antipsychotics, and prochlorperazine (Compazine), which are used to treat schizophrenia, can also result in tardive dyskinesia symptoms.
Why Give Up Tongue Sucking?
Tongue sucking has a number of negative consequences. These could consist of:
- impacted bite, such as a crossbite or open bite,
- hyperplasia, or tongue enlargement
- lesions or damage to your tongue
- misalignments in your teeth’s position or
- malocclusions pain from prolonged and excessive sucking
According to a 2015 research review, tongue sucking has emotional consequences as well (Trusted Source). Since you frequently aren’t aware that you’re tongue-sucking, you might feel self-conscious about it.
Your level of impact from these could vary depending on:
- How long have you been sucking your tongue?
- how long do you spend on it each day?
- the ferocity with which you perform
How to stop
You can attempt a few self-help techniques to quit tongue sucking, but if those don’t work, you can seek professional assistance.
On Your Own
Self help that involves strong determination could play a vital role for eradicating such habits.
If you’re sucking your tongue because of a habit rather than a medical condition, there are techniques you can try at home to stop. Among them are:
Make use of alternative methods to break the habit of sucking your tongue. This might involve using gum.
Putting in place recurring reminders to help you catch yourself thinking and stop yourself from sucking your tongue. A timer set to go off every 15 to 30 minutes or an app that can be set to remind you.
Get Professional Help
You can seek assistance from a physician or dentist if you are unable to help yourself. An expert can assist you in breaking this habit in a different way:
A detachable palate not only makes tongue sucking more difficult, but it can also serve as a helpful reminder to quit.
It is best to approach your child as a team. If a pediatric dentist suspects that your child has any oral or dental conditions, they will thoroughly examine their mouth and recommend that you see an orthodontist.
A psychiatrist may be able to assist you in determining the root of the problem.
Speak with a speech-language pathologist, particularly if the tongue-sucking has interfered with your ability to speak or eat.
Counseling and Stress Management: For adults, addressing the emotional aspects of tongue sucking is crucial. Counseling and stress management techniques can be effective in breaking the habit by addressing underlying anxiety or stressors.
Conclusion
Tongue sucking is a widespread habit that can cause dental and oral health issues if ignored. Creating efficient treatment plans requires an understanding of the causes, which include stress, childhood habits, and orthodontic problems. Breaking the habit can be aided by behavioral interventions, orthodontic treatments, and counseling to address emotional triggers.
In order to avoid long-term effects, parents must take the initiative to address tongue-sucking in their children at a young age. Adults should also get professional help to break this habit in order to improve their overall oral health and wellbeing.
In conclusion, treating tongue sucking as a cycle necessitates a multimodal strategy that includes orthodontic treatments, behavioral techniques, and emotional support.
By understanding the root causes and implementing appropriate measures, individuals can successfully overcome this habit and maintain optimal oral health throughout their lives.
