Correcting tongue habit/thrusting

[threescompany]

The main reason I'm in braces is for gaps in the top (center) and bottom (side, after canine) that the orthodontist says are the result of a "very strong tongue habit". I don't think I have a true open bite, based on the pictures I've seen, but rather it's pushed my front teeth forward. He said that we can work on it when we get to the right point in the treatment, but I'd like to start correcting the behavior sooner rather than later. I've noticed, since he said that, I do indeed cram my tongue up against my teeth. I also noticed that when at rest, I sometimes have my teeth apart and my tongue resting between them. It's even more frequent since I have the stupid pads on my molars keeping my bite apart!

Anyone have any links or resources to retrain the tongue? I've found a couple exercises but most things I've found are for kids with tongue thrusts.

[XBIBIX]

Hey threescompany,
I can totally relate. I have also pushed my top and bottom front teeth forward with a very bad tongue habit! im now nearly 8 months into treatment and i think am safe to say that i fixed the tongue thrust about a month in, through jus will power alone!
Its really hard at first but if u make a concious effort to hold ur tongue in th groove on th roof of your mouth while ur just sitting, or say driving or swallowing or falling asleep, the muscle begins to accept that position and now when i put my tongue against my teeth it feels really unnatural!
I know it horrible because u basically teaching your tongue and mouth to operate totally differently than it has ur whole life but u can do it! itl b soo worth it in the end!

just though id encourage you that u may not need scary appliances or therapy to fix ur problem

[DrJasonKTam]

We have some patients do an exercise holding a tic tac or similar mint with their tongue against the roof of the palate just behind the upper front teeth. This is where your tongue should be when you swallow. Try swallowing about 10 times holding the tic tac in place. When you're done, your treat is the mint .

[Sara Bellum]

I wish I had some advice. I'm mainly posting to let you know you're not the only adult who does this. I had straighter looking front teeth in the past before I started tongue thrusting. I have an overbite, so I wanted to get braces one day anyway, but the result of my tongue thrusting habit has left me immensely self-conscious. This is a habit I haven't been able to shake off in over ten years. I don't know why I do it. Is it self-stimming like pacing, which I also do without realizing? I'm relieved to see XBIBIX was able to overcome their habit , and I will definitely give DrJasonKTam's advice a try.

[threescompany]

Thank you all for posting. It's a totally sub-conscious thing, which is why it's so hard to change! When I notice it, I move my tongue away. Is the normal resting position touching the roof behind the front teeth? Or is just just when swallowing? I'll try the tic tac trick, as well as just being aware and trying to retrain myself.