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TONGUE TIES AND AIRWAY EXPLAINED
What is a tongue tie?
A tongue tie (also called ankyloglossia) is when the attached lingual frenulum under the tongue is too short or thick and constricts the natural movement of the tongue.
The mobility and dexterity of the tongue plays a large roll in:
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expanding the upper arch and assisting in facial development as an infant and child
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enunciation of words and sounds
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creating a sealed latch for the infant to breastfeed
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moving food in the mouth to be chewed properly
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creating a suction barrier as you sleep to keep the uvula (dangling ball at the back of your throat) and tissue from falling into the airway and allow for a proper nights rest
See below for a detailed list of signs, symptoms and treatments for each and every age and stage.
Real Life Results
Hear from a mother above about her experience with us for her infants tongue and lip tie release.
Infants and Babies
Tongue, lip and buccal (cheek) ties in an infant can cause difficulty when breastfeeding or drinking a bottle as well as eating solid food later on. In order for the baby to be able to eat at the breast or the bottle properly, there needs to be a deep and secure latch.
If the lip is constricted by a tie the baby will not be able to stay flanged open to nurse which can cause blisters on the babies lip as well as an increase of air intake.
The tongue is responsible for creating suction and drawing the milk out to swallow. Without proper movement the infant will struggle to fully empty the breast or bottle without difficulty and may gag or choke while eating which can make for a very unhappy infant and mother.
As the infant grows there may also be difficulties when switching to solid foods as well.
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Gassiness and fussiness
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Colic and excessive spit up
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Blisters or calluses on the lips
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Clicking while nursing
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Being unable to gain or keep a proper latch
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Long feeding times and constantly hungry
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Upper lip curls under while nursing
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Chomping on the nipple
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Distress and arching their back while nursing due to discomfort
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Weight loss
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Milk dribbling from the mouth
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A very sensitive gag reflux
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struggles to eat solid foods
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picky eater when transitioned to solids, especially with textures
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gags on food frequently and may choke
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struggles to swallow solid food
Signs and Symptoms
The Procedure
If after a detailed consultation a release is recommended, we will numb the infant with high powered numbing jelly as well as an injection and use a CO2 laser to release the tissue. We will also go through the necessary stretches with the parents before the release and answer any questions. The procedure is very quick and it is our utmost priority to keep the infant as comfortable as possible. With the CO2 laser there is little to no bleeding. The infant will be numb afterwards but can resume breast or bottle feeding right away.
Nursing Mothers
We treat the mother and infant as a triad and will never underestimate a mother's instincts. When the infant is struggling to nurse either from a lip, buccal (side) and/or tongue tie it can create frustrations for both the mom and baby. The suckling infant will do their best to extract the milk from the breast and in their attempt, chomp at the nipple and be unable to to hold suction for long. In turn the mother can have these side affects:
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cluster feeding and prolonged feeding times
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shallow and or painful latch
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sore and possibly bleeding nipples
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distortion of nipples (flat, lipstick shaped)
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having to use a nipple shield to nurse
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mastitis and plugged ducts due to the milk not being extracted fully
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loss of milk supply (especially after the first three months
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nipple throbbing
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emotional distress and feelings of failure
Children
The crucial development time for a child is from the time of birth to 13 years old. It is always best to try to catch the issues early on but also never to late to make a drastic change in ones health. Not only is the tongue responsible for speech and enunciation, but also for the natural development of the upper and lower arch. By placing natural and constant pressure, the tongue gradually expands the arches as well as the palate. The upper palate (or roof of the mouth) sits directly under the nose and acts as the foundation for the nasal cavities. If the tongue is tied and the oral cavity is underdeveloped, the upper arch becomes high and vaulted which can create issues in the nasal passages. Our mouth was designed to only be a back up for breathing and if a child is unable to breath properly through their nose, there are a multitude of issues to follow. Below are a list of possible symptoms and signs that your child may have a tongue tie or a breathing disorder.
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enunciation struggles (I, r, t, d, n, th, sh and z)
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difficulty chewing properly or a very picky eater
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forward head posture (slouched)
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poor sleep (snoring, moving a lot when sleeping, head is propped back when asleep)
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falling asleep at random times during the day
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mouth breathing on a normal basis
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ADHD or difficulty focusing
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abnormal growth of the upper and/or lower jaw
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asymmetry of the midline of the face due to a lack of growth
If you are interested in walking through our diagnosis sheet click the button below to go to our Fairest 6 + 5.