A tongue tie or lip tie can lead to developmental concerns in infants. These issues can also be the underlying cause of other health concerns in growing children and adult patients. Dr. Ratti Handa has received advanced training in releasing a tongue or lip tie with Dr. Zaghi of the Breathe Institute. She can provide experienced care and an advanced treatment option to improve oral and overall health and wellness. Tongue tie treatment in her Acton, MA office helps patients of all ages address their dental concerns.
What is a Tongue Tie?
A tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, occurs when a thin strip of soft tissue beneath the tongue doesn’t separate before birth. This strip of tissue is called the lingual frenulum. A tongue tie causes the tongue to remain connected to the bottom of the mouth. The tissue restricts the tongue’s movement and impacts the ability to eat and eventually speak normally.
Similarly, the upper or lower lip frenulum can remain in place. This creates a lip tie that limits the range of motion.
Dr. Handa works with patients of any age with a tongue or lip tie. She can release the tie and provide myofunctional therapy to restore normal movement of the tongue, facial, and jaw muscles.
A tongue or lip tie can affect many aspects of health and development. These issues affect breathing, speech, and the coordination of facial muscle movement. Treating these problems can prevent problems later in life.
Common Signs of a Tongue Tie
There are specific signs and symptoms of a tongue tie that, if recognized, should be addressed and evaluated. In infants, these can include:
- Difficulty latching on to the breast and leaking milk around the mouth during nursing
- Failure to thrive, weight gain concerns
- Audible “clicking” noises while nursing or feeding
- Taking longer to feed and need to feed more frequently in infants
- Choking or gagging during feedings
- Gassiness or colic in infants due to discomfort from ingesting too much air
For older children or adults, the signs of an untreated tongue or lip tie can include:
- Speech difficulties and development concerns
- Mouth breathing and related concerns, including sleep problems
- Difficulty eating firmer foods due to more limited ability to chew properly
- Early or increased incidence of tooth decay or gum disease due to the limited ability of the tongue to remove food and plaque from the back of the teeth
Tongue Tie Release and Myofunctional Therapy in Acton, MA
Dr. Handa offers leading treatment options for releasing a tongue or lip tie and appropriate therapies to promote healing and improve function. She trained with a leading specialist for the release of a tongue-tie, Dr. Soroush Zaghi.
A team member at the Breathe Institute, Dr. Zaghi, has pioneered the treatment of sleep and breathing disorders, especially in young children. His interest in the effects of tethered tissues led to the development of a unique surgical tongue-tie release treatment now offered by Dr. Handa in Acton, MA.
Dr. Handa provides a comprehensive approach to addressing the release of a tongue or lip tie and related myofunctional disorders. She offers personalized care to restore proper tongue position and function. Myofunctional therapy can also improve airway and orofacial muscle function.
When disrupted by the existence of a tethered tissue, these muscles need retraining to ensure the best possible result after the release of the tongue or lip tie.
Without myofunctional therapy, many patients can continue to suffer from breathing and sleep problems, speech difficulties, and other health concerns related to improper orofacial muscle movement.
Dr. Handa recently hosted Dr. Zaghi and Dr. Sanjiv Chopra. Dr. Chopra discussed the functional approach to sleep and breathing disorders with over 40 guests.
Tongue Tie FAQs
Learn more about tongue tie treatment in Acton, MA, with answers to these commonly asked questions:
What happens if a lip tie is not corrected?
Lip ties may not need treatment, especially as some lip ties correct themselves over time. However, we recommend it in most cases. Some dentists believe that leaving a lip tie untreated increases the risk of tooth decay in children.
Can tongue-tie affect breathing?
Tongue ties are known to cause patients to breathe predominantly through their mouths. This affects patients’ sleep because mouth breathing prevents the brain from reaching deep sleep. Because the tongue blocks the airway, patients must breathe through their mouths.
Can tongue-tie cause problems later in life?
Tongue ties can cause issues for patients later in life. However, with growth, some tongue ties resolve themselves. However, people with untreated tongue ties may experience difficulty speaking or eating. Please get in touch with a professional if you have tongue tie problems.
How long does it take to heal from tongue tie surgery?
After a tongue tie procedure, your child’s mouth will take about two weeks to heal. An advantage of laser tongue tie surgery is its much quicker recovery time. The dental laser is safe for children and helps encourage quicker healing.
How painful is tongue tie surgery?
When she removes a tongue tie, our dentist removes the short, tight piece of connective tissue between the tongue and mouth. This surgery is quick, easy, and nearly painless. Tongue tie surgery almost always improves eating and speech immediately.
Does tongue tie affect sleep?
If tongue ties are left untreated, they may impact one’s ability to sleep well. The position of the tongue can block the airway, worsening mouth breathing and leading to poor sleep.
Does tongue tie affect speech?
Many people think that a tongue tie causes speech issues in children. However, this is not as common as most people think. Although many people believe this, there has been no scientific link between tongue ties and severe speech impairments.
Fix Tongue and Lip Tie Today
Do you think your child may have tongue tie? Call Dr. Handa for tongue tie treatment in Acton, MA, at 978.212.3783 or schedule a dental visit online. Please let us know if you have questions about tongue tie treatment for you or your child. We’re here to help you.