Tongue sucking

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Ds, nearly 9 months, has taken to sucking his tongue for comfort. He does it rhythmically, like he's still got a dummy in his mouth (he used to have one until 5 months). He usually does it while stroking his own hair and it seems to comfort him a lot. In fact, if he touches any hair at all e.g Ours, or in his touchy-feely books, then his tongue sets into motion.

A friend of mine mentioned tongue sucking caused her older son to have ulcers on his tongue. I was just wondering if this was therefore something I should be concerned about (though I really don't see how I could stop him doing it anyway).

My nephew (5 months) also sucks his tongue. He used to have a dummy but n longer takes it. My DD used to suck her bottom lip as a baby but she just grew out of it, msinly whenher teeth came through. I don't really think you would be able to stop it but maybe try distracting him rather than make a fuss about what he is doing. My dd sucking her lip bothered other people more than it bothered me!

I really don't mind him doing it so never make a fuss over it. It was just the question of whether it might lead to ulcers or something like that.

He's just got his bottom teeth through but I don't think it's got anything to do with that (thought who knows...) It's more of his alternative to thumb or dummy I think.
I guess it's good that he's not attached to a dummy or his thumb but as a paranoid parent () I'm slightly concerned about even this seemingly-harmless activity!

Any other tongue suckers out there?

I was a tongue sucker as a child, don't remember it causing any problems. In fact, don't think anyone else knew!

Hi, my daughter is almost 4 years old and sucks her tongue. There is reason for concern, mostly dentally. This can cause the teeth and mouth to develop abnormally. Also, she has speech articulation problems and these cannot be addressed until the proper tongue resting place (behind her teeth) is achieved.

An oral facial myologist is the key person to see. My pediatrician was of no help when I kept asking him about her behavior. An oral facial myologist is a person who comes from a speech therapy background or a dental hygenist background.

Another test when your child is older is to have them drink from a clear glass to see if their tongue goes into the glass. This is not a normal drinking pattern. Ask a speech pathologist to refer you to a myologist.

Myologist simply means muscles. Oral facial is mouth and face.

THe child will need to develop the correct muscles in their face as well as proper tongue placement.

I hope this info helps and you can research it further. I have tried to give you some basic info so you can look into this.

check out www.eorthodontic.com for info on tongue thrust and myofunctional therapy.

it is a good thing to read

Thanks DrMom, I'm a bit concerned about what you've written actually, especially as I've a particular concern about speech problems in general anyway (shall we say a few people in my family are 'verblly challenged' with stammers). I really hope this isn't the beginnings of something which will detrimentally affect his future speech.

I've just looked on the website you recommended and couldn't find much about tongue thrust. Is this the same as tongue sucking? I don't suppose there's anyway to stop it though is there, so maybe I shouldn't even concern myself about it yet.

What sort of speech problems does your daughter have? When did she start tongue sucking and did she do it just for comfort or all the time (DS does it only for sleep and if he touches hair - I know, strange boy). Sorry, all these questions but I am a little intrigued and worried now.

Typed in "tongue sucking" on google and got lots of links to erotic fiction. Typical !!

Hi, here is another good website I found yesterday. www.braceface.com

read through it, it is long and very informative.

My daughter started sucking her tongue after 1 year of age though I don't recall when. She was breast fed, never took a bottle or pacifier. She went to a cup at about 10 months.

She sucks her tongue for comfort: watching tv, sleeping, riding in the car.

Her speech problems are articulation and she cannot get speech therapy yet by a speech myologist because her tongue does not have the normal resting place of behind her teeth.

Tongue thrust is the same as tongue sucking.

Your child is young. THey may still out grow it. I would consult a speech pathologist.

You can get testing through your school district for children. Mine was tested at age 3 for speech. You can also get this done when they are younger. A friend of mine had her son tested at age 2 and he needed speech as well as to develop the muscles in his face. This testing is free and the therapy is free through your school district. I would suggest making some phone calls and see when they do testing. Normally it is 3 times a year. See what their schedule is.

My daughter did not outgrow tongue sucking and this if left untreated is a problem for her dentally. Her speech pathologist through the school district said she cannot even give her speech lessons until her tongue stops the through the teeth position. She is working with my daughter to gain muscle control in her tongue, lips and cheeks. My daughter will also need some orthodontia, we have already been to see an orthodontist.

Also, it is important to go see and ENT to make sure there are no airway issues. Is your child a mouth breather? Have frequent ear infections? (My daughter never had an ear infection).

Check with your pediatrician. See an ENT and a speech pathologist.

I know this is alot of info, but if your child does not outgrow the tongue sucking, they might have a big problem with speech, facial muscles, teeth and muscle development in their face.

Alot, even most, children outgrow the infantile sucking but if they don't I would suggest persuing some professional help.
What does your doctor say?

Read the braceface.com website and this might give you more information though you may have more questions.

I hope this helps.

here is the exact website:

www.braceface.com/Oralhabit.htm

Regarding the ENT, they should check for enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Airway issues s/b ruled out as to why they are mouth breathers.

Thanks for all the info, very kind of you. One last question - do you know if tongue sucking is any worse than thumb sucking or having a dummy? DS used to have a dummy which I took away at 5 months but I'll consider reintroducing it if it's 'better' for him. He's never really sucked his thumb, which I'm glad about anyway as I did it until I was 8. Is there a best thing to suck out the the three?!!

If a child does not stop at age 3 or so, they are all equally bad. This is what I have concluded having researched this on my daughter.

I really don't know, though I think the tongue sucking is the worst of the 3 because you can't take that away. Also sucking your tongue is a muscle and it starts to change the muscles in ones face.

I would think the pacifier is best because you can take that away vs. the thumb.

It does lead one to wonder about reintroducing the pacifier in lieu of a finger or the tongue for an infant. I would suggest checking with a speech pathologist during a consoltation. Sine you are concerned about future speach issues due to family members having them, I would find one now so you can have this person if and when you need them at age 2 or 3 (just to monitor your child)and to get their professional opinion to your questions.

Good luck.

Thanks again, I shall try to reintroduce the dummy though I fear this will be tricky as he just tends to bite it. If this doesn't work I shall just have to accept defeat and mention it to the health visitor (he has his 9 month check next week).

Success! Have just rocked him gently into doziness whilst holding a dummy in his mouth and he's taken it. Hopefully this will discourage him from sucking his own tongue now. I'm perfectly happy with reintroduing a dummy as I know it's more usual. Many thanks for your warnings.

My daughter does the same thing and she’s 3 now. What can I do to stop it? She sucks her tongue will playing in her hair or anyone else’s hair

My daughter's don't this since she was a baby and she's now 8. Only when she's tired. We call it tired mouth. She doesn't have any problems. Did anyone experience any?