Odd tongue sucking habit, PLEASE HELP!

[lving4today]

It sounds strange, but whenever I sleep or am in a restful state of mind, I suck on my tongue by tucking my teeth over my top teeth and suckle. Similar to thumb sucking, and I've doing it since I was little. I'm now 20 and now I'm more worried about dental issues than ever. My dentist said I have beautiful teeth, but I've become extremely paranoid.

I've tried retainers with small pokey things to prevent my tongue, but all that did was cause lacerations and I still continued. It makes it difficult because my tongue is in my mouth and most times then not its a subconscious habit and I can't control it.

I can't find any help with this and even my dentist wasn't sure if it'd cause damage.

I'd like to if it will affect my teeth in any way, if not I'll continue and just accept it because if I don't do it I cannot sleep at night.

Please someone help with some insight, I'm at my wit's end.

[Divine92]

I have the same problem. My mom had a boyfriend when i was younger whos mom was worried about my teeth getting messed up she would watch through our the night. But my tongue comes out on its own. I have a baby picture of me sucking my tongue. I also snap on a certain material and it makes a popping sound.. the pleasure of doing that and sucking my tongue is amazing. I'm 24 and been doing since i was born basically. I've had braces and my teeth look good. They might be pushed out a little but nothing major. I mostly only do it at night now or when I'm tired. It must be something your genes cause I just had a baby and my son does it too. I dont think you can stop unless you had really good self control. In My case, my tongue just comes out when i go to sleep. It has a mind of its own HAHA

[Buuks]

I also have the same problem. I thought I was weird. My mom use to smack me when I was younger but it never helped. I also enjoy doing the pop sound of fabrics. I really thought one as the only one with this problem

[jayjay2122223]

I have this problem too. People look at me crazy because i don't even know i am doing it. I think it has something to do with daydreaming and stress! while at least for me...

[Boston2016]

Ive also been sucking on my tongue since a child and at the same time play with my hair when I had hair. Im surprised when I googled Tongue sucking versus thumb sucking there were not comparison or explanation. I do suck my tongue when I am relaxed or hungry.

[Raiders123]

I'm 26 and unfortunately I have had this tongue sucking problem too since I could remember. I used to have a baby blanket with soft fabric I would pet between my thumb And index finger until I fell asleep. I literally slept with that until the 8th grade. It was so hard to give my blanket with my fabric up because it helped me go to sleep. I have had braces twice because of over bites and a gap between my teeth. Unfortunately I couldn't  kick the tongue sucking habit while I was sleeping so my teeth always moved back, it was a waste of money those braces. I never experienced a lisp and honestly never knew all of you experience the same habit as myself. I thought I was the only one. Dentist seem to not have a solid answer for this either. I also had a spiked wire built in the roof of my mouth that would stab my tongue if I suck it out while I was sleeping. It got so bad my tongue would bleed so I cut it out of my mouth. When I was 22 about 4 years ago I wanted my teeth fixed once and for all so I decided to get 4 veneers on the front of my teeth it cost around 6,000$ total. It honestly made me so happy because I have tried to fix my teeth so many times and finally in two doctor visits I had the smile I always dreamed of. But my doctor explained if I keep sucking my tongue my veneers will move just like my teeth, and 4 years later I'm experiencing the change again, not a gap but a slight unnoticeable movement. Well not noticable now at least. I did get a special night retainer that has a tiny hole in the top of the retainer that keeps your tongue back at night. I used it a lot the first year but it is so uncomfortable to try to break this habit that's like asking a person to try to sleep with your eyes open, it's just to hard you'll be up all night, that's how we feel about sleeping with our tongues in our mouth! The dentist told me I would have to wear my retainer every night for the rest of my life because it is to hard to break this habit after doing it for so many years. Which is sad, I don't mind it when I would go to slumber parties when I was little my girlfriends always thought it was cute. And my boyfriend thinks it's cute as well. I don't mind doing it I just don't want messed up teeth after all I have done to try to keep them straight for longer then 4 years before there doomed once again! :(

[Thejessica]

Hello everyone!

All of my life I thought I was the only one that had this problem. I didn't know what my tongue sucking was called but on a radio show this morning I heard it's called Tongue Thrusting (good to know it has a label) it results from weening children off breast feeding. I am 22 years old and I've been sucking since I was a child, can't remember never sucking.

Anyway I finally found the solution to my sucking habit. I noticed a lot of people are seeking solutions and I want to share what helped me stop sucking. This sucking is almost an addiction to me, in fact it is an addiction. I noticed that the urge to suck my tongue can be overwhelming and so I learnt to tell myself that this urge will pass and not to give in to the momentary pleasure. Just remind yourself that the urge will pass and it does pass. All you have to do is that once you catch yourself sucking stop immediately, and trust in this process. Just stop sucking immediately and remind yourself that the urge will pass and that you're the one in control, not the urge. Them remove your mind from the issue of sucking, think of something else to distract yourself. Whenever the urge comes just repeat the process. The urge to suck my tongue always passes, keep reminding yourself that the urge will pass and eventually the urge won't come. Do not dwell on your tongue sucking as a problem. do not focus your mind on it, ignore the tongue sucking and eventually the thought of sucking will leave you.

I must say that like most addiction, tongue sucking never really leaves. If you give in to it again, it'll come back in full force. I noticed that after I successfully stopped sucking and I went through a traumatic experience, I turned to sucking to calm me down, almost like some people turn to alcohol to drown their sorrows. It never really goes away because its a pleasure you can call up by yourself. When I stopped sucking the urge never came on its own. I notice that I was the one that sought the pleasure of sucking. I have stopped sucking so many times that I have become a master of it. I realised that I could control it at will.

The longest I have gone without sucking is 3 years but I messed that track record on my own. Once you follow my advice and realise that sucking is an urge you can actively control, it'll be easy to stop sucking once you decide to. Do not see your tongue sucking as a problem you have to deal with, it is a part of you that you can control simply by not giving in to the urge to suck. I see my tongue sucking as a unique gift, the pleasure and bliss it gives me is on the same scale as orgasm only, it isn't sexual and it lasts much longer.

Yes you can stop sucking! The only tool you need is the serious desire to stop sucking your tongue and follow my tips above. Good luck!

[Jeessie]

I used to suck my tongue ever since I was a child. I tried to stop but I could not. I later came across someone who had a similar problem but prayed to God and the problem stopped. That same day, I also prayed to God. Praise JESUS, I no longer suck my tongue. Your testimony will be the next if you BELIEVE. Accept Jesus into your life and have FAITH. There is nothing too hard for God to do. You can even make a vow like the way I did promising that I was going to share my testimony once the healing takes place. MAKE SURE it is a vow you can pay and pay the vow once you notice the tongue sucking has stopped.

[Coocooloo]

It pushes your teeth forward and you have to have braces