Everyone has some degree of tissue called a frenum or frenulum under their tongue. Some people are born with the tissue so tight that they are unable to properly use their tongue. This can affect their breastfeeding abilities and make issues arise later on in life if not dealt with early on. A baby's lip can also be attached too tightly, causing latch issues as well. When functional issues arise, we are here to help. 

How can a tongue tie or lip tie affect my child?

These tissues can look "severe or less severe" and affect people differently. For adults, we check their myofunctional abilities and see if these ties affect them in a functional way. With infants, we check with certified lactation consultants on what a baby's function looks like. 

Breastfeeding

Babies with tongue ties cannot properly latch, causing symptoms like clicking, slow weight gain, reflux, and nipple soreness for moms. The baby cannot get enough milk due to their lack of ability to suction which in turn makes them work harder. This can cause baby to fall asleep at the breast quickly or not want to feed entirely. 

Why haven't I heard about this before? 

Tongue and lip ties have always been an issue. They are actually one of the main reasons bottle feeding has become so popular! When breastfeeding came back into popularity, the issue was revisited. Here at Tennessee Orofacial Myology, we want to get you the knowledge you need about your baby in order to prepare them on a journey for a healthy life. Everything is tied back to the airway and succeeding with breastfeeding greatly impacts one's airway. We pride ourselves on doing our best to stay up to date on these topics. This is why we use a Light Scalpel CO2 Laser and photobiomodulation (PBM) red light laser. These are the "updated versions" of releasing lip and tongue ties. 

More Facts

When toddlers start to eat more solid foods they may struggle swallowing correctly or swallowing at all if they have a tongue tie. We suggest seeing a lactation consultant and body worker as soon as you may suspect a tongue tie. It is an easier healing process both for mom and baby when the tongue or lip tie is addressed as soon as possible. Tongue ties can also affect speech. This is where SLPs and myofunctional therapy may come into play. 

A frenectomy is used to release the tissue and start to relax the muscles causing a tongue or lip tie. When these ties are too tight, it can cause restrictions in movement. This can lead to dysfunctional breastfeeding, dental decay, mouth breathing, and problems with speech. 

Schedule a follow up appointment with a bodyworker and/or your lactation consultant! Combining these practices can help a baby shoot for the best post-release outcome. 

As far as oral pain relief, use what is best for your family. Hylands, Camilla, or Genexa are great homeopathic options. 

We are here to give your child the best head start on their health journey. Proper feeding and breathing go hand-in-hand. 

1. We want you and your child to be as comfortable and possible. We do everything in our power to lean on the side of being conservative with this procedure. We greatly value input from bodyworkers or lactation consultants. Once again, if it is not a functional issue, we don't touch it! 

2. General anesthesia is not used in office. We rub a numbing gel on the areas we release. Baby's mouth may be numb for about 20 minutes after the procedure. 

3. The entire appointment lasts about an hour in order to make sure all of your questions are answered and you feel prepared. We also take time to do an evaluation of the mouth and possible ties. The actual release of the ties takes less than 5 minutes. For the final few minutes of the appointment, we ask that parents go and get comfortable in their car. If you're calm, baby is calm. This gives you time to get adjusted and get ready to breastfeed if you would like to. 

4. Immediately following the release, baby is treated to some red light therapy to help with healing and the loosening of their muscles under the tongue. 

5. Crying and fussing are common during and after the procedure. They just don't like being swaddled! 

6. You may breastfeed, bottle feed, or soothe your baby in the best way for your family. You can stay as long as you need. 

It is so important to have follow ups with your bodyworkers and/or lactation consultant. They will aid you in keeping the released area stretched and will check on the healing process. Starting several days after the procedure, the mounds may start to look white or yellowish. This is completely normal.