Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a congenital condition that restrict’s the tongue’s movement. It is a band of tissue that attaches the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Infants with tongue-tie will often have difficulty breast-feeding and forming a proper latch at the breast. If not resolved as an infant, the tie can create problems later on that affects facial and palate growth in children, as well as speech and language difficulties. A child with tongue-tie often have difficulty with sticking their tongue out or keeping their tongue sealed to the roof of the mouth. This will also have a negative impact on their breathing, creating ‘mouth-breathers’, and cause sleep disturbances at night like snoring, open mouth breathing, frequent wake-ups, and non-restful sleep.
Where can the tongue tie?
- Front
- Back
- Middle
Symptoms:
- Nursing issues as a baby
- Excessive drooling
- Speech development issues in kids
- Sinus congestion
- Frequent wake-ups at night
- Waking up tired
- Attention problems and hyperactivity in children
- Jaw problems
Chiropractic care like cranial work and gentle manipulation combined with myo-functional therapy (tongue therapy) is a conservative and effective way to help majority of tongue-tie cases. A comprehensive evaluation of the tongue, palate, jaw function, and cranium distortion by a chiropractor will give the parent and child the best outcome and the care needed to resolve this condition. This is will also assess whether more invasive care (like releasing the tie) is necessary for the condition.
If you or your child is experiencing this condition contact us today at (650) 948-8900 for consultation or appointment to see how we can help them.