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. Range of motion is evaluated and she will ask you questions in order to understand the restrictions you have. If a tongue tie release is recommended, she will refer you to a highly qualified surgeon who has taken additional training in tongue tie assessment and treatment to release the tissues that are holding you back from normal function.

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

Low Tongue Posture

Low tongue posture is when the tongue, at rest, sits lower than the roof of the mouth, often in the middle of the mouth or inside the lower teeth. Ideally, our tongues should rest comfortably in the roof of the mouth with our lips together while breathing through the nose.
A low tongue rest posture habit can be lasting even if the causative factors are corrected ie. tongue tie has been released or nasal breathing has been demonstrated. Retraining the facial and tongue muscles is crucial to establishing the correct tongue posture.

What Else Should I Know?

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 problem or it might go away as they grow. In some cases, surgery is 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.