When you say the word “Boston” where does the tip of your tongue rest when you finish that word? Does it rest UP against your palate towards the front of your mouth? This is where naturally your tongue should land. When you sleep at night where does your tongue rest? It should naturally rest on the roof of your mouth.
These are just a few questions around a tongue tie. If your tongue does not rest in this natural area, this blog may peek an extra interest for you. There are also lip and cheek ties which have different anatomical effects to assess.
This past week I learned through dental and tongue tie professionals what tethered oral ties are and their impact on critical components of the airway, breathing, the formation of the jaw, positioning of teeth, and consequences through adulthood.
Ties limit an activity that is natural to a person. Ties cause a variety of health issues as a result. The tongue is so important; we typically associate it with swallowing, taste, and speech, but it also affects the SHAPE of the skull and craniofacial complex.
One in twenty people have a tie (tongue, lip or cheek) and it is more common in males. It can be genetic as 70% have a known relative who also has a tie. Ties can be overlooked by medical practitioners since it is not a required learning in their curriculum.
I was stunned to learn what can happen if ties are not released. Ties can cause crowded/crooked teeth, swollen adenoids, chronic allergies, snoring, daytime drowsiness, nightmares, sleep issues, ADD/ADHD, swollen tonsils, restless sleep, venous pooling, bed wetting, lower IQ, diabetes, anxiety, obesity, bruxism, tori, addictive patterns, dementia/Alzheimer’s, delayed growth, stroke, mouth breathing, periodontal disease, fibromyalgia, car accidents, decreased immune response, depression, higher caries (dental cavities) risk.
The power a tie can have on the physical shape of the body is incredible. It is connected to the fascia: the biological fabric that holds us together. It connects all organs and muscles, and recent research suggests that fascia contains sensors that contribute to proprioception. A tie can restrict and tense up your entire body. Adults can live with a chronic issue having no idea a tie is causing it.
Signs and consequences of a tie in infants may be: baby slides off breast when latching/feeding, upper lip curls inward when latched, infant has mouth open when at rest (major red flag), milk spills out of mouth when feeding, colic symptoms, visibly frustrated at the breast, reflux, extremely gassy, slow or poor weight gain, gumming/chewing while nursing. Sleep challenges: tossing and turning, dark circles under the eyes, trouble with solid foods or picky eating, teeth grinding, bedwetting, nightmares or night terrors. Mom experiences: discomfort while feeding, nipples are fattened cracked or bruised after nursing, severe pain when latching, history of mastitis, infant thrush.
One way to look for a tongue tie in a baby is when baby is sleeping. Lower their jaw and the natural placement of the tongue should be UP against the palate. If the tongue moves down with their lower jaw, the tongue may be restricted by a tie. There are additional types of ties as well. When baby’s mouth is at rest, are lips closed and come together in a straight horizontal line? That is the natural state. Or, is a lip lifted and you can see teeth? That may be a sign of a lip tie. An adult can consider these questions for their own potential ties as well.
Signs to look for in children or adults may be: open mouth breathing (major red flag), high palate, long face, ortho extractions, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, TMJ pain, teeth growing outward or crowding, snoring, trouble sleeping, sleep disordered breathing, choking or gaging, improper swallow pattern, improper tongue rest position.
Mouth breathing is a red flag and should be taken a closer look at. Nasal breathing is the body’s natural breathing channel and for good reason: it filters, humidifies, warms and moistens the air. It is the only way for nitric oxide to be added through the sinuses which is a natural dilator. This dilator further opens the airways to send more oxygen reaching the middle and lower lobes of the lungs. Each breathing channel triggers different nervous systems reactions: sympathetic occurs with mouth breathing: fight or flight response, and stress hormones, increased heart rate. Whereas the parasympathetic occurs with nose breathing: supports rest and calming, lower heart rate, preservation of energy. Plainly put - mouth breathing yields less oxygen, less oxygen puts more strain on your cardiovascular system, which increases your likelihood of disease.
Releasing a tie can be simple. The reported results can be life changing for a child and an adult. Look for an assessment by a dentist who has specifically trained in tongue ties, or one with airway focused healthcare or experience with Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT). They may use a no contact laser or scissors. The right expert can help ensure you receive the proper course of action including a team-approach for followup care. Simple in-home therapy and body work is likely needed. For example it may be a lactation consultant, a chiropractor or a speech therapist for your child. It can be a chiropractor for an adult. One resource to find a local expert is The Breathe Institute.
This blog is just the tip of the iceberg around ties. I couldn’t believe the childhood and adulthood consequences including the diagnoses of ADHD in children (in error), speech impediments, which has been reported to improve or eliminated with the release of a tie.
All of this can affect you and baby’s sleep. Just one more example why a sleep book or training may not help a root cause. There is so much that the body is going through and ties are one thing to consider. Maybe this post can help you or your loved one!
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