Tongue Ties
What is a tongue tie?
A tongue tie or a lingual frenum (ankyloglossia) is a condition where there is a small band of connective tissue joining the tongue and the floor of the mouth. This usually restricts tongue movement and can affect feeding, speech, dental and skeletal development, and airway health.
It’s important to note that while many individuals have some degree of tongue-tie, not everyone experiences adverse effects. However, when functional problems arise, a simple procedure known as a frenectomy or frenotomy can be performed to release the frenulum and improve tongue mobility. This procedure is often recommended early in newborns experiencing feeding difficulties or in older children and teenagers when the tongue-tie is identified as a contributing factor to dental crowding or other issues.
- Feeding: In infants, a limited range of tongue motion can lead to breastfeeding challenges, such as difficulty latching, prolonged feeding times, and inadequate weight gain. It can also effect the transitioning to solids.
- Speech: As children grow, restricted tongue movement may affect the articulation of certain sounds, potentially leading to speech difficulties.
- Dental and Skeletal Development: Proper tongue function plays a crucial role in the development of the jaws and alignment of teeth. A tongue that doesn’t move correctly can contribute to underdeveloped jaws and crowded teeth.
- Airway Health: An improperly functioning tongue can influence the development of oral structures, potentially affecting airway health and contributing to issues like mouth breathing or sleep-disordered breathing.
Tongue Ties in Newborns
As a new parent, navigating your baby’s health and well-being can feel overwhelming. One area you might hear about is tongue and lip ties. These conditions can impact feeding, speech, oral development and airway health, but not every case requires treatment. Some babies adapt well and no treatment is required. It will be up to you decide if the symptoms are causing stress on your baby. Here’s what you need to know to make an informed decision.
If your baby is not feeding well, It could be due to the restricted movement of the tongue. Such restrictions can prevent the tongue from reaching the roof of the mouth to effectively compress the nipple or bottle teat, leading to prolonged feeding times and inadequate milk intake.
Or it could be due to your baby’s lip restriction. This can hinder the baby’s ability to achieve a proper seal during feeding, resulting in increased air intake, which may cause discomfort or vomiting.
The procedure to release the connective tissue tie is called a Frenectomy or Frenotomy and we use a precision laser. While generally safe, as with any surgical procedure, there are risks, including bleeding, infection, or damage to nerves and salivary ducts.
We would encourage you to also seek an opinion from a Speech Pathologist, Osteopath, or Chiropractor trained in dealing with infants or your Lactation Consultant. A referral is required.
Tongue Ties in Children, Teenagers and Adults
The main issues with a tongue tie that has been diagnosed at an older stage of life is usually speech difficulty, under development of the dental arches resulting in crooked teeth and airway restrictions. This is what can happen If the tongue is unable to consistently reach the palate when swallowing.
Orthodontics is used in conjunction with a minor surgical procedure called a Frenectomy or frenotomy to release the frenulum, thereby improving tongue mobility. This procedure is typically quick and may be done using a laser followed by some stitches to minimise discomfort and help with a swift recovery.
If you suspect a tongue tie is affecting your quality of life, come and have a chat with us to discuss potential benefits and risks of treatment.