# Atypical Swallowing and Speech Therapy > It is increasingly common to leave the dentist's visit with a new concept we had not heard before, that our child has atypical swallowing. - **Author:** carlos-garcia · **Category:** Adultos - **Published:** 2015-04-26 · **Updated:** 2020-06-16 - **URL:** https://elteuespai.com/en/atypical-swallowing-and-speech-therapy/ - _Translation pending clinical review._ --- It is increasingly common to leave the dentist's visit with a new concept we had not heard before, that our child has **atypical swallowing**. At first it may seem a bit surprising when the reason for the consultation is cavities or abnormal dentition. And the surprise is usually even greater when we are talking about a teenager or even an adult. Apparently the definition is simple: atypical swallowing is swallowing that is done incorrectly and that interferes with the formation of the orofacial system, both the dental arches and the jaws. ### Concept of atypical swallowing [Atypical swallowing](http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degluci%C3%B3n_at%C3%ADpica) is also known as dysfunctional or infantile swallowing. It is considered infantile because it is the typical pattern of the first years of life, where the tongue is placed between the teeth and adopts a low and forward position. In this case the lingual muscles are unable to perform the triple closure necessary to make the food bolus reach the pharynx correctly, and they exert negative pressures on structures of the orofacial system, such as the dentition. Put more simply, since the tongue does not have the necessary strength to position itself correctly, what it does is push the dental arches anteriorly or laterally, producing malformations in the dentition. ### Why its rehabilitation is so important We must keep in mind that swallowing is an innate vital function and that its main objective is to carry the food bolus from the mouth to the stomach, thus feeding the individual. But we must consider that we not only perform food-related swallows; we make the same gesture every time we swallow saliva. Therefore, while in children there are between 600 and 1,000 swallows, in adults we are talking about between 2,000 and 2,600 swallows daily, both of saliva and of food. If each time this gesture is made it is done incorrectly, the negative pressure being exerted on the dentition and the upper and lower jaws will be excessive and compromises the entire structure of the orofacial system. The persistence exerted by the 17 muscles of the tongue is the main cause, but not the only one, that produces this negative effect. "La gota horada la roca, no por su fuerza sino por su constancia" (Ovidio) ### When to suspect atypical swallowing The dentist and the orthodontist will refer the patient to speech therapy, but there are factors that can make us suspicious and in that case consult the professionals. One of the important factors is the type of feeding the child has; a soft diet that lasts too long over time causes the orofacial musculature not to have the adequate tone to perform its functions. Another harmful effect is the presence of damaging sucking habits, such as the excessive use of the pacifier; it is recommended that its use not be prolonged beyond the first two years of life; others are digital sucking or onychophagia. Children with oral breathing, with their mouth open at rest, or with difficulties controlling drooling are also susceptible to study. Or simply when the growth of the dentition is not correct, even after having worn braces. Also when there is some dyslalia, difficulties in the pronunciation of a phoneme, such as rhotacism and sigmatism. ### Importance of speech therapy treatment Treatment should be done jointly and in a coordinated way among the different professionals: dentists, orthodontists, maxillofacial specialists, otolaryngologists, and speech therapists. The speech therapist will be responsible for the functional rehabilitation of the orofacial system, reestablishing the appropriate swallowing pattern. Through [myofunctional therapy](/en/new-myofunctional-therapy-in-speech-language-pathology/), the speech therapist will try to achieve the orofacial muscular balance that allows the patient to achieve a mature or adult swallowing. Part of the intervention will be done with foods of different textures: liquid, semisolid, and solid. It is important to highlight that even if the use of orthodontic appliances has been favorable and the alterations have been corrected, if the bad habit is not rehabilitated the dentomaxillofacial structures may become altered again. This causes disappointment in the patient in addition to the financial and time cost that it entails. Hence the importance of intervening on the action that is generating this imbalance before or during the orthodontists' intervention. For more information, [contact us](/en/contact/).