Chew one-half piece of EXTRA sugar free gum. Then, using your tongue roll the gum along the palate, press and flatten the gum against the palate with your tongue. Prepare to swallow by closing your teeth together as hard as you can, keeping your lips apart and smiling. You should keep the gum pressed onto the roof of your mouth, just behind the upper front teeth. Keeping the lips apart prevents the tongue from sealing against the lips. Maintain this position while swallowing. Then repeat the sequence.
You will get the most benefit from this exercise if it is done on a daily schedule. Try to incorporate this swallowing exercise into a routine behavior such as homework, or right after dinner. Once this becomes part of your day to day activities, chewing, rolling and swallowing should be performed for a 1 hour period, two times a day.
Tongue Push-Ups
Place your tongue in the center of the roof of your mouth, close your teeth and lips tight together Then relax your tongue, now begin pushing tongue up onto the roof of your mouth as hard as you can. This should be done 15-20 minutes daily holding each one 10 seconds. The average person swallows somewhere between 1500 & 2000 times per day.
Normal muscle function in & around the mouth is important for the growth and development of the teeth and jaws. Therefore, it is important to encourage normal, balanced tongue and lip function. Once the teeth are in their correct position they will stay there if the muscle function and balance are normal. Please feel free to ask Dr. DeFelice& staff any questions you might have regarding these instructions.
6 Sets of 60 Clenches
Close teeth tightly. Place fingers on the right & left sides of your head, at the temples. You should then clench your teeth together 60 times, feeling the clench at the temples with your fingers. As with all exercises, it is best to set up a regular schedule to practice these clenches.
FAQs
Correct swallowing is as easy 1-2-3.
- Place the tip of your tongue on the palatal gum tissue right above the back side of your upper front teeth.
- Clench your teeth together.
- Swallow, keeping the tip of your tongue up on your palate. Your tongue must not touch your teeth when you swallow.
The Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy notes that, when swallowing, the tongue should be held against the roof of the mouth. Some children push their tongues forward through their teeth when they swallow, which is an improper tongue positioning known as a tongue thrust, according to Rady Children's Hospital.
What is the difference between improper and proper swallowing? ›
A tongue thrust is an improper swallowing pattern and is characterized by the tongue pushing forward and out or too far sideways in the mouth when swallowing. A proper swallowing pattern is characterized by the tongue suctioning to the palate and rolling backward.
How to swallow food correctly? ›
Mealtime Strategies
- Don't rush.
- Eat a small amount at a time.
- Chew thoroughly.
- Don't talk and eat at the same time.
- Use the chin tuck maneuver, as directed.
- Swallow, clear throat with a gentle cough, and swallow again before taking in more food.
- Finish the swallow before reloading spoon or fork.
The tongue moves the food between the teeth where it is chewed and mixed with saliva and then formed into a ball (bolus). The tongue then pushes the food ball to the back of the mouth into the pharynx. The food passes via the pharynx into the oesophagus (food pipe from the mouth to the stomach).
What are the 4 stages of swallowing quizlet? ›
- stage 1. oral preparatory.
- stage 2. oral (buccal)
- stage 3. pharyngeal.
- stage 4. esophageal.
- oral preparatory. the act of taking food, chewing it, mixing it with saliva, and forming it into a bolus. ...
- oral. controlling the bolus and transporting it to the back of the mouth. ...
- pharyngeal. ...
- esophageal.
Top tips - Mealtime positioning for people with swallowing problems
- Sit upright in erect position. ...
- Head tilted forward / chin down. ...
- Support impaired side of body. ...
- Sit at or below eye level. ...
- Place food in stronger side of mouth. ...
- Sit on side which will maximise careful feeding.
PROPER JAW POSTURE
The teeth should not touch ever – except when swallowing. This comes as a big surprise to most people. When not chewing or swallowing, the tip of the tongue should rest gently on the tip and back of the lower incisors.
Should the tongue be low in the mouth when swallowing? ›
Ideally, the tongue should rest in the top of the mouth and provide an internal support system for the upper jaw. It is important to recognize that a tongue thrust is a symptom. It can be an indicator of other health concerns involving the airway and breathing.
How do I know if I am swallowing properly? ›
Symptoms associated with dysphagia can include:
- Pain while swallowing.
- Not being able to swallow.
- Feeling as if food is stuck in the throat or chest or behind the breastbone.
- Drooling.
- Hoarseness.
- Food coming back up, called regurgitation.
- Frequent heartburn.
- Food or stomach acid backing up into the throat.
Abnormal swallowing patterns include:
Incoordination of suck/swallow/breathing - Person breathes while food/fluids are in the pharyngeal-esophageal segment, or the bolus moves into the airway during the swallow, resulting in coughing and possible aspiration into the lungs.
What is the proper sequence for the act of swallowing? ›
The currently accepted model for swallowing describes three main stages: oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal phases. While solids and liquids share common pharyngeal and esophageal phases, they differ slightly in the processing and transport of boluses into the oropharynx during the oral phase.
What is the most common cause of difficulty swallowing? ›
What causes dysphagia? Dysphagia is usually caused by another health condition, such as: a condition that affects the nervous system, such as a stroke, head injury, or dementia. cancer – such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer.
How can I improve my swallowing reflex? ›
Before swallowing, take a deep breath and hold while bending over; Continue to hold your breath and be patient as you swallow. Immediately after you swallow (before you inhale), cough and then immediately swallow again (before you inhale).
Is there an incorrect way to swallow? ›
An incorrect swallowing pattern, known as “tongue thrust” or “reverse swallow,” involves the tongue pushing forward against the front teeth during the swallowing process. This improper technique can cause dental malocclusions and other issues.
What are the correct phases of swallowing? ›
The currently accepted model for swallowing describes three main stages: oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal phases. While solids and liquids share common pharyngeal and esophageal phases, they differ slightly in the processing and transport of boluses into the oropharynx during the oral phase.
