Speech and Tongue Thrust
A person with abnormal oral muscle patterns may suffer a lisp or have difficulty articulating sounds. If muscles in the tongue and lips are incorrectly postured, this can prevent a person from forming normal speech sounds. Improper oral muscle function may additionally lead to TMJ dysfunction, headaches, stomach distress (from swallowing air), airway obstruction, and other health challenges.
There is research looking at why teeth move and shift after ortho, and it’s not always because we didn’t wear our retainers. Our teeth need to be supported by our cheeks, jaw, tongue, and lips, but when dysfunction occurs, they can move our teeth and our structure in a way we don’t want them to.
When we address speech, especially lisping, it can signify a tongue thrust. If there is difficulty pronouncing “T, D, N, and L” sounds, this is another indicator. General problems with articulation, rate of speech, and voice quality and clarity may also be present.
