What is it?

Tongue tie (ankyloglossia) is when a band of tissue connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. This often keeps it from moving freely.

How your tongue is attached to the floor of the mouth plays a significant role in how your face grows and how your mouth functions through breathing, speech and swallowing.

Assessment of a Tongue Tie

When you meet with Misty, she will take several measurements and photos of your tongue. She will evaluate the range of motion and ask questions to better understand any restrictions you may have. If a tongue tie (lingual frenum) release is recommended, she will refer you to a highly qualified surgeon who has received additional training in tongue tie assessment and treatment. This surgeon will release the tissues that are restricting you or your child from normal tongue function.

The tongue tie release will be performed mid-therapy, after you have developed muscle tone and coordination in the muscles around the frenulum. Once the release is completed, we will work together to further develop the tone, coordination, and function of the newly released tongue, with the goal of achieving optimal oral muscle function.

Low Tongue Posture

Low tongue posture occurs when the tongue, at rest, sits lower than the roof of the mouth, often in the middle of the mouth or behind the lower teeth. Ideally, the tongue should rest comfortably against the roof of the mouth with the lips together while breathing through the nose. A low tongue posture habit is likely to persist, even if the underlying causes are addressed (e.g., a tongue tie has been released or nasal breathing has been taught). To correct tongue posture, the facial and tongue muscles must be retrained or modified.

What Else You Should Know

-A tongue tie won’t prevent a person from speaking, but it can make it hard for them to speak clearly. For example, a child's vocabulary might be age-appropriate, but their speech is hard to understand.

-Sometimes, kids can work through a speech problem or it may go away as they grow. In some cases, surgery may the best option.

-Symptoms can come and go as kids grow. A tongue tie that caused no trouble through early childhood may become a problem for older kids or teens who want to play a wind instrument or are frustrated or embarrassed because they can’t stick out their tongue.

Click the Mouth Breathing link for more information