If you or your child has limited tongue mobility and range of motion, it could be due to tongue-tie. At Breathe Airway in Treasure Valley, the expert team of doctors and myofunctional therapists diagnose and treat tongue-ties to reduce unpleasant symptoms and improve tongue function. Call the office to learn more or schedule an appointment online today.

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Tongue-Ties Q&A

What are tongue-ties?

Tongue-tie is a condition that occurs at birth and restricts tongue movement. It occurs when short, thick tissue bands tether the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, interfering with eating, speech, and more. 

Family history of tongue-ties and being male are risk factors for developing tongue-tie. At the first sign of tongue-ties, see the Breathe Airway team for an evaluation. The sooner a child gets treated for this condition, the fewer eating, swallowing, speech, and breathing disorders will occur.

What are the symptoms of tongue-ties?

Common symptoms associated with tongue-ties include:

  •         Limited tongue movement
  •         Reduced ability to breastfeed in babies
  •         Difficulty speaking or swallowing
  •         Poor posture
  •         Mouth breathing
  •         Low tongue posture
  •         Sleeping issues
  •         Neck and shoulder tension
  •         Grinding or clenching
  •         Headaches
  •         Gastric reflux
  •         Dental crowding
  •         Cavities
  •         Deficiency in facial development

 

What does a tongue-tie have to do with sleep?

With tongue ties, individuals will learn to use other facial muscles to compensate for the loss of tongue mobility. When we enter different sleep cycles, these facial muscles relax causing the tongue to fall back into the throat and interfere with normal breathing. This can lead to sleep disordered breathing and sleep apnea.

How does my provider diagnose tongue-ties?

To diagnose a tongue-tie, your Breathe Airway specialist examines your mouth and tongue. They could ask you to move your tongue around to assess its range of motion and mobility. A comprehensive exam is completed to thoroughly assess the structural aspect of the tongue related to how it can function. We assess compensations using other muscles of the face in order to elevate the tongue. Different assessments are done depending on the age of the patient.

How are tongue-ties treated?

After your evaluation, our team may recommend a tongue-tie removal which is also known as a frenectomy (see our page on frenectomies).

A frenectomy involves releasing the tissue that is causing the restriction. At Breathe Airway, we use the latest CO2 laser technology to accurately and precisely release the tongue.

Myofunctional therapy is required before and after the tongue-tie surgery. We follow the most up to date research and protocols in order to provide optimal treatment to our patients. It is imperative to a successful outcome of the surgery that myofunctional therapy be incorporated.

To learn more about treatments for tongue-ties, call the Breathe Airway office and speak with a friendly staff member or schedule an evaluation online today.