Tongue thrust (also called
reverse swallow or
immature swallow) is the common name of
orofacial muscular imbalance, a human behavioral pattern in which the
tongue protrudes through the anterior
incisors during
swallowing,
speech, and while the tongue is at rest. Nearly all infants exhibit a swallowing pattern involving tongue protrusion, but by six months of age most lose this reflex allowing for the ingestion of solid foods.