Tied Up
Jake had the longest tongue I’d ever seen. Out of the blue, his tongue could find a face in a moment’s notice. His tongue had full range of motion, which is what every tongue should have. Often times, tongues are not properly evaluated early enough, and can therefore, cause life long problems.
A real issue many parents don’t consider is the infant’s tongue or the attachment in which the tongue is fastened to the floor of the mouth. The movement of the tongue is important for not only latching to nurse, but in the development of the oral cavity and growth of the face. In the hospital, infants are evaluated from head to toe. One of those evaluations is that of the tongue. If an infant is found to have a restriction, the parents are informed and given the option to release the tongue. Even though my own children did not have a tongue restriction, many of my patients inform me that their children do have a restriction. What I’ve learned from discussions with those parents is all the information is not conveyed about the life long effects of not releasing the tongue.
The tongue is responsible for not only language and eating but also plays an important part in face development. How? In the rest position, the tongue naturally moves to the roof of the mouth. With the tongue sitting on the roof of the mouth, the stem cells of the palate are signaled causing the expansion of the palate. Those signals is what broadens the oral cavity. This broaden palate then allows for ample space for developing permanent teeth to erupt into the mouth. It also allows the tongue to have room for space and a seal for swallowing. That space and the tongue at the roof of the mouth also encourages sealed lips and the less likely event of a sleep disorder or APNEA in the future.
When the tongue has a tie or restriction, the negative effects are as follows:
The inability to nurse appropriately
The inability to remove food debris from the vestibules of the cheeks
Compromised speech
Increased risk of oral disease such as cavities or periodontal disease
Misaligned teeth
Mouth breathing
Sleeping disorders
Open bite
During a routine dental visit, I had a patient who presented with the exciting news that he was now a daddy. With photos to share, he was beaming with joy and excitement. After a few moments, I inquired as to how his household had changed and how much sleep he and his wife were getting each night. My patient admitted that here had not been much sleep for he or his wife. He went on to report that his daughter was diagnosed with a tongue tie. My response was a bit opinionated, but it just came out. I said to him, “You plan to get that released, right?” He told me that his wife wanted it released, but he did not. I asked why. He said he didn’t want her to go through the pain, and he didn’t see the reason for it. I explained to him that the release would allow his daughter to eat better (he said she was not eating well and wanted to eat often.) If she were able to eat better, she would sleep better. I also explained how the face shape and breathing is also associated with the tongue and ties. Before he left the dental office, he had called his wife to set in motion the release of his daughter’s tongue.
A month later, I saw this patient back in the dental office for a restorative need. I checked in with him to see how things were going. He reported the release went well and was surprised how easy the procedure went. He also reported a tremendous difference for everyone in the family. His daughter was eating better, sleeping better, and as a result there was less stress in the house because everyone was sleeping more.
A tongue tie is evaluated in several ways, and there are various stages in which the tongue can attach. Some attachments are severe with the tie at the very tip of the tongue, while others are less noticeable. To evaluate yourself, open your mouth wide. Then place your tongue to the roof of the mouth. If you need to close mostly to get your tongue to the palate, then the tongue may have a close tie. Everyone should be able to stick out the tongue….even if it’s impolite. It is unfortunate the medical community doesn’t fully understand the consequences of a tongue tie. While many people can overcome the disability in speech, they will have less ability to overcome the sleeping problems that will come.
Here is a case study done by a myofuctional therapist that demonstrates improved quality of life after a release of the frenulum. If you think your child has a tongue tie, consult with your dentist for an evaluation. The course of action is typically to see a myofuctional therapist and an oral surgeon.
Health Bite: Tongue movement is essential for health.
