Common Questions About Tongue Ties
How can a tongue-tie affect breastfeeding?
It may cause difficulties latching maintaining a latch (slipping off the nipple due to poor suction), nipple pain, ongoing feeding challenges for babies and mothers.
My baby has a tongue tie, what should I do?
Not all tongue ties will need treatment. However, if symptoms being caused from the tongue tie are unmanageable – such as pain breastfeeding, cracked/sore nipples, re-current mastitis, Baby is not gaining weight, severe colic/reflux not improving with medication then you may wish to consider having the tie divided.
Is tongue tie only a concern for babies?
No, tongue tie can affect speech Pronounciation, oral hygiene (not being able to clear the teeth from food), and eating habits (often noticed when weaning, being unable to move food within their mouth) in older children and adults.
Will tongue tie affect my child’s speech?
Potentially, if untreated, tongue ties can impact speech clarity, however it does not impact on their overall speech development. After correcting a tongue tie, speech therapy may be recommended to help older children develop optimal speech and clear articulation.
Non-surgical options for tongue-tie
Oral motor exercises:
These exercises will be demonstrated by a therapist or tongue tie practitioner to strengthen the tongue and surrounding muscles in the oral cavity, and improve co-ordination. Examples include tongue stretches, sucking and lateralisation exercises, including mouth stimulation
Lactation consultant support:
A consultation with a breastfeeding specialist such as a lactation consultant can help with breast feeding techniques, positioning, and latch to improve feeding and address potential issues related to tongue-tie. Some positions such as:
For bottle feeding, paced bottle feeding and finger feeding may be useful. including:
- Laid back breastfeeding
- Side Lying
- Or the Koala hold can be helpful.
Can Cranial Osteopathy help?
Yes. Cranial osteopathy can be supportive therapy for babies with tongue-tie. It works by gently addressing the tension and restrictions in the head, neck and jaw that may result from tongue-tie. If you are interested in seeing an osteopath, ask your tongue tie consultant for local recommendations.
Can tongue tie just be monitored instead?
Yes. In some cases, tongue tie may not cause significant problems at all and may resolve or improve over time on its own. Surgical treatment of tongue tie in older children can be more complicated and often requires a general anaesthetic.
