A tongue tie is a congenital condition in which the bottom of the tongue is abnormally short. Tongue ties can result in problems with breastfeeding, speech, or even dental development. A frenulum is a band of tissue that connects one area of tissue to another. The frenulum at the bottom of the mouth connects the floor of the mouth to the tongue.

What Is A Tongue Tie?

A tongue tie is a soft tissue that attaches the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. At our office, we can perform a simple procedure called a frenectomy to release the tongue tie so your baby can nurse more efficiently. This procedure only takes minutes and only requires a local anesthetic to numb the area. Your mouth will be completely healed in just a few days following the procedure. We recommend opting for the procedure as soon as possible to avoid complications with breastfeeding.

A tongue tie is an abnormally short, thick, or tight band of tissue connecting the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. It can cause problems with speaking, eating, and swallowing. It may also cause teeth to protrude or gaps to form between the teeth.

Symptoms of Tongue Tie

When a child has a tongue tie, they will often have difficulty with breastfeeding and bottle feeding. The baby may also have a limited range of motion with their tongue, which can keep them from being able to put their pacifier back in their mouth or bring food to the back of their mouths while chewing and swallowing their food. As an adult with a tongue tie, you may also have difficulty moving your tongue in speech or eating, as well as pain that results from it pressing against your teeth when you eat. This can even lead to jaw problems when the teeth don’t come together correctly.

A doctor can diagnose a tongue tie by feeling abnormal tissue underneath the tongue’s tip during an examination. If the doctor determines that this is, in fact, a tongue tie, they may recommend releasing the tongue by bringing the top part of the mouth forward to break the scar tissue holding the tongue to the lower part. This procedure can be completed in the office with anesthetics and only takes a few minutes to complete. Once the procedure is complete, the patient will be able to talk and eat normally again. If the tongue tie was restricting the airway, it is possible that an ENT specialist may need to follow up for a sleep study and/or treatment of the sleep apnea symptoms. Otherwise, a patient should be able to resume their normal diet and activities.

Tongue Tie Release Procedure

To correct a tongue tie, the oral surgeon will remove the restriction by carefully separating the tissues under the tongue. The surgery is quick and painless and only takes about 15 minutes to perform. After the procedure, patients can resume normal activities right away. However, they may temporarily experience discomfort when talking or chewing for several days following the procedure. This discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and cold compresses.

To learn more about our services for tongue-tie release, call us at (971) 339-0816 or visit the Sleep Health Partners office at 9370 SW Greenburg Rd, Suite 422 Rd Suite 422, Portland 97223.