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 Habit Sheet for the Correction of Abnormal Swallowing
Basic Steps to Swallow Correctly:
- Close the back molar teeth firmly in contact with one another.
- Place the tip of the tongue against palate or gum ridges behind the upper front incisors.
- Press tongue up flat against roof of mouth, slide tongue back with sucking action.
- SWALLOW. Pretend your tongue is a peanut butter sandwich stuck to the roof of your mouth.
- Again close teeth firmly, close lips easily, tongue flat against roof of mouth, suck hard and swallow.
Remember:
- Use a mirror to watch for facial movements when practicing. Muscles around mouth should be completely relaxed when swallowing.
- Practice on small bits of food, small swallows of liquid. Do not blow, but suck when swallowing. Keep lips closed lightly, use card or wax paper between lips as a reminder to keep lips closed.
Repeat the above basic steps many times a day and use the following exercises to learn to swallow correctly:
- Keep molars firmly together when swallowing any food.
- Lick the palate or gum ridges many times each day.
- Place the tip of tongue on the palate or gum ridges behind upper front teeth and keep it there while studying, playing, watching television, or in school.
- Pencil exercise - Place pencil across outside of upper incisors and hold in place with lips for one-half hour per day.
- Swallow food WITHOUT taking liquid - DO NOT "wash it down."
Night Time Suggestions:
- Place the tip of the tongue on palate when you go to bed and try to keep it there.
- When you awaken in the morning, again place tip of tongue on palate.
Follow the above basic steps of swallowing when you eat breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner.
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