SPECIALTY DENTISTRY

Under everybody’s tongue is what we call the lingual frenulum, which runs from the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. The frenulum is composed of mucosa, fascia, and rarely muscle. When this attachment between the underside of the tongue and the floor of the mouth is too tight and restricts the movement of the tongue, a “tongue tie” occurs. This restriction of the movement of the tongue can lead to numerous symptoms in infants, children, teenagers, and adults.

The symptoms of a tongue tie can be divided into 4 main groups: speech, feeding, breathing, and sleep issues. While these 4 main groups of symptoms affect all ages, certain symptoms are more prominent in each age group due to corresponding development.

In Infants, the most notable symptoms of a tongue and lip tie occur with feeding. Most noticeably, infants with tongue and lip ties often have difficulty breastfeeding. Restriction of the tongue from moving upwards toward the roof of the mouth makes latching and efficient breastfeeding extremely difficult. Other notable symptoms include reflux, snoring, and extreme pain for the mother when breastfeeding.

In Children, delayed speech and speech that is difficult to understand can be related to tongue ties. Sleep issues are also prominent in children with tongue ties. Children that sleep in strange positions, sleep restlessly (moving frequently throughout the night), snore, and wake up tired are likely breathing through their mouths at night, which may be caused by a tongue tie.

In Adults, the symptoms that manifest are often different than in children or infants because, through the years, adults have learned to compensate for many of their speech and feeding issues. Difficulty speaking quickly, trouble with certain words or sounds, history of speech issues, and jaw fatigue when speaking can be connected to tongue ties. Mouth breathing at night, which can be a result of a tongue tie, can lead to light/restless sleep, poor sleep quality, snoring, and even sleep apnea.

At Baker & Graham Family Dental, we use a laser to release the lingual frenulum restricting the tongue. Our laser allows us to precisely and efficiently remove the tissue causing the issue. This is a quick procedure that often can be completed in a matter of minutes. Post-operatively, patients often report slight to moderate discomfort that can be compared to a sore throat or a pulled muscle in the neck.