The lingual frenulum is the thin tissue that connects the tongue to the lower jaw. When the frenulum is thicker and/or restricts the tongue from natural movement, it is known as tongue-tie.
A common sign is the inability to stick the tongue outwards or side to side. The tongue may appear heart shaped in severe cases but not always. Please see photo below. The lingual frenulum is supposed to detach before birth. However, it is fairly common that some infants are born with a thicker frenulum that restricts the tongue movements. If left untreated, infants can struggle with proper nourishment and may not be able to be breast fed. If already nursing, it can make feeding very painful for mom.
Children and adults live with the condition while coping with challenges like speaking, chewing difficulties, tension in the head, neck, jaw, and shoulders.
If a tongue-tie is left untreated, it can prevent the airways from fully developing. This is partly because the upper surface of the tongue is unable to rest naturally against the palate, or the roof of the mouth.
Infants can struggle to fall asleep and need a pacifier or thumb to self-soothe. Without the pressure of the tongue resting against the roof of the mouth, the airway fails to fully develop and remains narrow. A narrow airway can cause the following issues:
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BRUXISM (TEETH GRINDING) -
MOUTH BREATHING -
DIFFICULTY STAYING ASLEEP -
SLEEP APNEA -
SIDS -
SNORING
As mouth breathing becomes more habitual to compensate for the reduced airway space, the nasal passages fail to develop correctly. This creates future complications with large tonsils and adenoids. Mouth breathing can also affect facial development.
