09/15/2026
A tongue thrust isn’t just a “bad habit.” It’s almost always a jaw width problem.
For example in this case, the upper arch was narrow enough that the tongue didn’t have ideal room to rest on the palate.
When the tongue doesn’t have enough space where it belongs, its function and posture is directed forward instead- causing the large open bite seen here.
That’s why diagnosis matters. Rather than only trying to close the open bite with braces, we first addressed the width problem first with expansion, creating more room for the tongue and improving the relationship between the upper and lower arches.
Combine that with some myofunctional (tongue posture) exercises and you’ve resolved the tongue thrust.
Proper width → proper tongue space → better function → tongue thrust eliminated → long term stability.
Orthodontics isn’t just about moving teeth. It’s about understanding why the teeth ended up where they did in the first place.
