The Impact of Tongue Ties & Oral Restrictions
Oral restrictions (tongue, lip, or buccal ties) can impact facial appearance, speech, sleep, behavior, breastfeeding, breathing, posture, digestion, and overall development.
When the oral tissues are anchored or thicker than normal, they can create restriction and tension in the body. The severity of the tethered oral tissues (TOTs) can impact oral function, facial development, and lifelong health consequences.
Mouth breathing alone, just one side effect of TOTs, can increase the risk of:
Cardiovascular disease
ADHD
Anxiety
Sleep apnea & snoring
Gut issues (mouth breathing alters the oral microbiome and increases cavities)
Babies need full tongue, head, and neck movement to feed effectively, so being aware of oral restrictions is especially important.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
SYMPTOMS IN BABIES
Open mouth while sleeping
Colic symptoms
Reflux
Head to a preferred side
GI symptoms
Noisy breathing
Discomfort with tummy time
Two tone lip
Lip blisters
Nose congestion
Lip curls under when nursing/taking a bottle
SYMPTOMS IN KIDS & ADULTS
Speech issues
Mouth breathing
Headaches
Forward head posture
Snoring or sleep apnea
Jaw pain, clenching, grinding
Improper jaw/facial growth
Increased risk of cavities and gum disease
Picky eating
Leaky gut
BREASTFEEDING SYMPTOMS
Noisy clicking or sucking
Nipple pain/damage
Popping on/off breast
Coughing/gagging
Poor weight gain
shallow/painful latch
Milk slipping out sides
Incomplete drainage of breast
Falling asleep at the breast (fatigue)
Clogged ducts
Poor seal
Frequent short feeds
Gumming the nipple
Very long feeds
IF YOU SUSPECT AN ORAL RESTRICTION IN YOUR CHILD
The complexities of oral restrictions and revisions are not taught in medical or dental school, which makes it increasingly difficult to find an expert provider to correctly diagnose and treat an oral restriction. Posterior tongue ties can not be seen with the naked eye, and some “normal” looking tongues suffer from limited range of motion and must be treated.
When Mackenzie was a baby, we went to nine different doctors, three IBCLCs, two SLPs, an ENT, and an OT, who all missed her tongue tie, posterior tongue tie, and lip tie. After three months of struggling, we drove five hours away to meet with a preferred provider to finally receive a correct diagnosis, which truly changed our life. Mackenzie was a different baby once her oral restrictions were released.
You can find a professional in your area with this directory provided by the International Affiliation of Tongue-tie Professionals. However, be sure to use a provider that encourages bodywork before and after the procedure. It makes a tremendous difference in effectiveness!
Dr. Baxter has an excellent book on the topic that includes a section of questions parents can ask their provider.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
There are two common procedure techniques for releasing oral ties: laser and scissor.
Laser treatment are more accurate than the use of scissors.
My children and I all had oral restrictions released with a laser, and the procedure lasted 30-90 seconds. Temporary pain for a lifetime of relief! Anesthesia was not required. Similar to having a cavity filled, a numbing gel was applied to the area before the procedure.
I had my lower lip and tongue-tie released at 32 years old to prevent receding gums, relieve neck pain, and improve sleep. I was able to watch the procedure (totally optional, but fascinating), drive home, and eat fine.
Keep in mind that the mouth is incredibly efficient at healing. If the surgical wound is not managed and stretched properly for weeks following the procedure, it might reattach.
In addition, it may take some time to relieve tightness, gain strength and mobility, and train the tongue muscle to move properly. Consider it physical therapy for the mouth. Myofunctional therapy and body work is incredibly helpful.
For these reasons, it is recommended to have oral restrictions released as soon as possible.
WAYS TO support your child BeFORE & after a release:
Myofacial or Craniosacral Therapy (very important)
Chiropractic care
Tongue/lip stretches
Tummy-time
Skin to skin
Suck training - teach the brain to call on the right muscles
IBCLC if breastfeeding
If baby is in pain, dip the corner of an organic washcloth in breast milk and freeze. Let baby chew on it for relief.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Tongue-Tied, by Richard Baxter
Untethered Podcast
If you’re in the Virginia area, we used The Center for Speech & Swallowing and Dr. Elizabeth Wade.
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided on SUNNYSEED is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified healthcare provider. SUNNYSEED is not liable for how the information is used and cannot be held responsible or guarantee any results.
