Teethered Oral Tissues

Difficulty in breastfeeding can sometimes be due to a band of tissue holding the tongue down ( tie). Shallow latch, painful breastfeeding, slipping of the baby from the breast after latch are some of the many problems moms can face. Tongue ties can also make  transitioning to solids a challenge for your child.

The tongue is a very powerful muscle which helps maintain the balance between the teeth, lips cheeks and jaws. A restriction in the tongue can create a huge imbalanceleading to incorrect tongue function. This can lead to poor oral hygiene, crooked teeth and tooth decay.

Apart from taste, speech is an imporant role of the tongue. However, a thin band holding it from functioning has shown to affect the child's ability to get certain sounds right. The most common ones are with the letters l,” “r,” “th,” “d,” “z,” “s,” “n”, and “t..

The tongue forms an integral part of the breathing apparatus. A tongue which is tied down will make it difficult for the child to be able to breathe well, especially while asleep.

A restricted tongue creates an imbalance in the breathing patterns in most children. There is a higher chance of snoring, teeth grinding and obstructive sleep apnea in kids with teethered oral tissues.

When the tongue rest closer to the lower jaw than in the roof of the mouth it increases the chances of children developing the habit of thumb/digit or object sucking.