What is atypical swallowing in adults?
This disorder consists of the inadequate placement of the tongue at the moment of swallowing, causing pressure on the teeth that over time makes its position incorrect.
Ideally, the tongue should rest on the palate for correct swallowing (not on the teeth) and the orofacial musculature should not intervene in the process.
Causes of atypical swallowing in adults
Atypical swallowing in adults is often associated to:
- Poor tongue, lip and cheek strength.
- The mouth remains open at rest.
- Abnormal development of the maxillary bones.
- It is associated with mouth breathing.
- Inadequate tongue movements when eating, resulting in difficulty eating certain foods.
Symptoms of atypical swallowing in adults
The main symptoms associated with this disorder are:
- The upper and lower arch teeth are not in contact.
- The tongue is not positioned on the palate, but between the teeth.
- There is no lip seal.
- Oral breathing is prominent.
- If there is hypotonia, it favors the accumulation of food debris in the mouth.
How do we treat atypical swallowing in adults at Logopeda Barcelona?
From Speech Therapist Barcelona, after a previous diagnosis, we will start a treatment to re-educate the orofacial and respiratory habits, which originate or worsen dental and oral malocclusions.
The speech therapy intervention consists of teaching the correct mechanics of swallowing with tongue exercises and the rest of the muscles involved in chewing so that they stop exerting pressure on the teeth, as well as re-education of the altered phonemes.