Tongue Ties- More than “How far can you stick it out?”
As a Myofunctional Therapist in Brantford for the last 3 years, the comment I hear most often about tongue tie assessment is “They asked me to stick my tongue out, and said that it was fine.” The assessment, diagnosis and treatment of tongue tie is so much more than can you lick an ice cream or can you stick your tongue out, the assessment at treatment of restricted tethered oral tissues affects so much more than just range of motion.
10 affects of tongue tie:
- Speech concerns
- Chewing and swallowing/digestion concerns
- Growth and development concerns
- Breathing and airway concerns
- Sleeping and apnea concerns
- Focus and attention concerns
- Can contribute to gagging
- Can contribute to clenching and grinding
- Can contribute to TMJ pain and disfunction
- Orthodontic concerns including relapse
The assessment of tethered oral tissues begins with an assessment of function. How well does the tongue move? Is it able to cleanse the oral cavity? Is it able to seal to the palate to aid in growth and development? How does it affect the client’s ability to speak, sleep, eat, and breathe? It’s surprising to learn that tongue position affects all these things and more! Function can be assessed through a variety of open-interview style questions, measurements and photographs to apply to different modalities of assessment, Dr. Kotlow’s or Friedman’s measurements for range of motion and free tongue space, for example.
Doctor L. Kotlow and Dr. Friedman both have made tongue ties their life’s work. Their websites contain a wealth of knowledge for clients and clinicians. Dr. R. Baxter’s book – Tongue Ties- is also another fantastic resource. There are a range of books, articles, and videos on my website, under the Learn More tab as well.
Once assessment is complete, the next step is treatment. Some restricted tethered oral tissues can be improved with myofunctional therapy alone, while others require release by a doctor in combination with a myofunctional program. The easiest way to tell which you or your child may require is to seek an assessment by an airway focused provider such as a functional dentist or myofunctional therapist. Myofunctional therapy provides the framework for changing one’s oral habits through a series of exercises done daily at home. These exercises help to strengthen and activate the muscles of the oral cavity, while retraining them to work in their proper functions.
Through proper repatterning of the muscles of the oral cavity we are able to reduce or eliminate the symptoms associated with poor oral resting posture and tongue tie, and aid in growth and development that can literally change a person’s life.
Though the affects of restricted oral tissues are gaining more popularity recently, the research of many doctors has been ongoing for decades. As we look towards a more holistic or whole-body approach to health, it becomes evident that the treatment of restricted fascia is critical for overall health and wellness.
For more information on whether you or your child may have restricted oral tissues or a tongue tie, a consultation can be scheduled with me through my website, or feel free to follow the Contact Me link to ask any questions you may have.