What is an oral restriction?
Tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, is an unusually shortened, thickened, or tightened lingual frenulum, a normal structure located between the tongue and the floor of the mouth; this anomaly restricts the tongue's normal movements. Babies with ankyloglossia will often have a low tongue posture, which means that the tongue rests on the floor of the mouth as opposed to the roof of the mouth. When this is the case, babies have an inability or diminished capacity to raise their tongues up to contact the nipple during breastfeeding, resulting in weak intra-oral pressure which may interfere with breastfeeding. A baby with ankyloglossia may have trouble lateralizing their tongue (moving it the the sides of their mouth), which is necessary for optimal hard palate and cranial development.
Cranial compression (or molding) or low vagus nerve function may mimic true ankyloglossia by inhibiting the upwards mobility of the tongue, in function but not structural capacity. In these cases, the best intervention is to address the functional movement with techniques such as TummyTime!™.
Cranial compression (or molding) or low vagus nerve function may mimic true ankyloglossia by inhibiting the upwards mobility of the tongue, in function but not structural capacity. In these cases, the best intervention is to address the functional movement with techniques such as TummyTime!™.
What are some indications that my child may be tongue tied?
- The end of the tongue may be heart shaped
- Latching difficulty
- Discoordination of suck-swallow-breathe
- Possible plugged ducts, mastitis, and breast and nipple pain
- Possible increased air ingestion creating excess gas and fussiness
- White coated tongue (microbiome development on surface of tongue)
- Possible GI microbiome deficiencies
- A high arched palate
- Palatine tori (or boney development in the center of the hard palate)
- Hypersensitive gag reflex
- Baby may still hungry after a twenty minute sucking period on the breast
- Persistent swallowing deficits
- Low tongue posture which may contribute to sleep disordered breathing and sleep apnea
- Possible open mouth posture associated with an imbalance in skeletal structure,
- Nipples may be extremely sore with a flat crease after baby has attempted to eat
- Possible difficulty with mouth opening, latch, and tongue movement
- When baby cries the tongue may lay flat in the bottom of the mouth (babies tongue should elevate when they are crying)
- Delayed speech development
- Picky eating
- Poor chewing
- Dental hygiene issues
- Drooling
- Snoring
- Mouth breathing
- High arched palate, consequent narrowing of airways, and the potential for sleep apnea or sleep disordered breathing patterns
- Sleep disturbances
How does tongue tie affect a baby's development?
The mobility of the tongue greatly influences the deep front line of fascia, otherwise known as "the core". This fascial line plays a big role in structural stability and functional movement. Tongue tie, given that it is a restriction of the tongue, can significantly inhibit movement. Tongue tied babies tend to be very challenged and uncomfortable in tummy time as a result of the fascial tension, and many parents perceive that their baby dislikes the position so much that they stop putting baby in tummy time. Since tummy time is a core foundation for all future development, that can dramatically affect their developmental progress.
How does TummyTime!™ help tongue tie?
TummyTime!™ is a great whole-body approach to oral function. The method uses gravity as an assistant to improve tongue function, helping to unwind baby from physiological flexion or "fetal postion". The position of tummy time facilitates the tongue's greatest range of motion and MOVEMENT helps to free restriction. Helping babies to feel comfortable in tummy time allows them to spend more time maximizing their tongue function.
Additionally, the TummyTime!™ method helps baby to regulate his or her autonomic nervous system. When baby is well regulated, calm and relaxed, this results in higher vagal nerve tone. Since the vagus nerve and the hypoglossal nerve are closely associated, greater function in one will affect the other. So what the TT! method gives baby that generic tummy time does not is a healthier social nervous system that affects the very function of the the nerves which ennervate the tongue.
Additionally, the TummyTime!™ method helps baby to regulate his or her autonomic nervous system. When baby is well regulated, calm and relaxed, this results in higher vagal nerve tone. Since the vagus nerve and the hypoglossal nerve are closely associated, greater function in one will affect the other. So what the TT! method gives baby that generic tummy time does not is a healthier social nervous system that affects the very function of the the nerves which ennervate the tongue.
