Before Your Child’s Visit
Treatment of ties in kids (ages 4+) and adults is a relatively quick and easy process, though it does require a bit more pre-op work to ensure a positive outcome.
Empower
Growth
Myofunctional therapy is a program used to correct the improper function of the tongue and facial muscles. It involves strengthening of the tongue and orofacial muscles by teaching individuals how to engage the muscles to the appropriate position.
Individuals with predominant mouth breathing (or insufficient habitual nasal breathing) often develop maladaptive habits and patterns of orofacial function that may impact various conditions including:
-
Facial skeletal growth (maxillofacial development)
-
Sleep-disordered breathing (including snoring and sleep apnea)
-
Nasal obstruction
-
Oral hygiene and dental problems
-
Teeth grinding (bruxism)
-
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
-
Neck and shoulder tension
-
Speech problems
-
Facial esthetics
Proper diagnosis allows for targeted and effective physical therapy exercises for oral posture retraining to promote better health with goals to improve breathing, reduce pain, and enhance quality of life.
Our office requires that all patients undergoing tongue tie release work with a myofunctional therapist prior to their frenectomy. This ensures proper preparation of the muscles and their surrounding fascia, a complete release of restrictive tissues, and allows for ideal tongue posture and function after the procedures is complete. Patients who are not committed to proper preparation will not see their desired outcomes and are more likely to need repeat treatment in the future.
Work with a Myofunctional Therapist
Get Started with Bodywork
When a child has a tongue tie, their body has to compensate for the limited mobility of the tongue by tightening up in other areas. The birthing process itself may introduce tension in the child's body, especially if there is a traumatic labor/delivery, the baby gets “stuck,” a vacuum/forceps is used, or if the baby was in a sub-optimal position during the pregnancy or birth (e.g. breech, transverse, “sunny side up,” etc.)
“Bodywork” is a generalized term used to refer to hands-on touch and manual therapy to allow a child's soft tissues to release tension and reorganize. This involves slow, gentle movements across their body, paying particular attention to the head and neck, the shoulders, trunk, hips, and feet. It helps to relax the fascia throughout the body, allowing for improved sucking, swallowing, and digesting.
Some toddlers are compensating more than others, and there may be a need for multiple sessions with a bodyworker (e.g. chiropractor) before the body is ready to handle a tongue tie release. Others need very little prep work and may be “ready for release” quickly.
Click HERE for a list of bodyworkers that we work with frequently. There are dozens of other highly skilled chiropractors, osteopaths, and craniosacral therapists who can help your child prepare for a release - we encourage you to reach out to your IBCLC, pediatrician, or other references to get names of other providers in your area! Just make sure that they are trained to work on toddlers!
While working with an SLP/OT is a requirement for release, bodywork is not always required. It is always beneficial, so we do strongly encourage having a bodyworker on board both pre- and post-operatively, but there are some cases where it is not necessary. That being said, there may also be cases where an infant has not seen a bodyworker and Dr. Aaronson notices tension or strain that will require delaying treatment until a bodyworker can do some therapy to optimize the child's body for a release.
Prepare Your Home
There are a few things you can do at home to make sure you are prepared to comfort your child after a tongue tie procedure.
First, have some pain management on hand. Dr. Aaronson will review the different types of pain management with you during the consultation, but it is helpful to have a bottle of Tylenol (acetaminophen), Motrin/Advil (ibuprofen), Camilia drops, Arnica, or other types of homeopathic treatments. We also recommend freezing some banana, avocado, yogurt, or other soft foods that they can suck/gnaw on.
If you have other children at home, it may be helpful to ensure someone will be able to tend to them while you are comforting your child on the day of the procedure. The fussiest time tends to be about 4 hours after the procedure, lasting for a few hours and/or into the night. Some children experience no pain at all, while others may be very fussy. Both are normal, but it is helpful to expect a fussy toddler so that you can ensure other children's needs are tended to.
What's next?