Are there non surgical options for tongue tie management?

Yes.

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:

• Laid back breastfeeding
• Side Lying
• Or the Koala hold can be helpful.
• For bottle feeding, paced bottle feeding and finger feeding may be useful.

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 a 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.

Surgical option: Frenotomy / tongue tie division