Introduction: A Small Structure with Big Impact
Tongue tie—or ankyloglossia—is more than a local issue. It affects not only how the tongue moves but how the body breathes, how the head and neck align, and how a person functions across their lifespan.
At BreatheWorks, we don’t just ask whether a tongue can reach the palate—we ask what else is compensating. Because when a tongue is tethered, the whole body works harder. And the result often shows up in posture, breathing, chewing, and sleep.
What Is Tongue Tie (Ankyloglossia)?
Tongue tie is a restriction of the lingual frenulum that limits the mobility of the tongue. While some ties are visibly obvious, others are submucosal or posterior, requiring functional evaluation by a trained speech-language pathologist or myofunctional therapist.
Signs may include:
- Difficulty elevating the tongue
- Mouth breathing or open-mouth posture
- Poor suck/swallow in infants
- Slurred or unclear articulation in children
- Jaw fatigue or improper chewing in teens and adults
- Forward head posture and neck tension from compensation
The Posture Connection
When the tongue cannot rest on the palate:
- The jaw may hang open, disrupting natural craniofacial development.
- The head shifts forward to maintain an open airway.
- The shoulders collapse and the cervical spine overcompensates.
- The diaphragm’s role in breathing is minimized, shifting respiration to the chest.
Over time, this creates a global postural pattern that restricts breathing, strains muscles, and contributes to sleep disturbances and fatigue.
The Breathing Connection
The tongue plays a pivotal role in nasal breathing. When restricted, it tends to sit low in the mouth, encouraging mouth breathing and altering the development of the palate and airway.
This pattern is linked to:
- Increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea
- Shallow, dysfunctional breathing
- Snoring, gasping, or disrupted sleep in both children and adults
- Reduced nitric oxide uptake from nasal breathing
This is why BreatheWorks clinicians evaluate both structure and function when tongue tie is suspected.
What Happens If It’s Not Addressed?
Unresolved tongue tie can affect:
- Feeding in infants
- Speech clarity in children
- Sleep quality in adolescents
- TMJ strain and chronic pain in adults
- Neck, shoulder, and upper back tension
- Emotional dysregulation and anxiety due to poor oxygenation and poor sleep
This is why treatment must go beyond clipping the tie.
How BreatheWorks Treats Tongue Tie—Without Surgery First
Our approach to oromyofunctional therapy addresses the underlying compensations and prepares patients—when necessary—for release procedures.
We offer:
- Functional evaluations by certified speech-language pathologists
- Myofunctional therapy before and after any release to retrain muscles
- Postural retraining to support cervical and cranial stability
- Breathing therapy to restore nasal airflow and diaphragmatic use
- Collaboration with trusted ENTs, dentists, and bodywork providers
In many cases, we see resolution without the need for surgery especially when the patient is supported early and comprehensively.
Who We Serve
We treat patients of all ages:
- Infants struggling to latch or feed
- Toddlers with speech delays and open-mouth posture
- Children and teens with sleep and behavior issues
- Adults with chronic fatigue, TMJ pain, and poor sleep
- Geriatric patients seeking better function and quality of life
If you’re looking for speech therapy near you for yourself or a loved one, BreatheWorks offers a full-body, collaborative solution rooted in evidence and compassion.
Key Takeaways
- Tongue tie affects more than speech—it alters posture, breathing, and function.
- Poor tongue mobility leads to compensation throughout the body.
- Myofunctional therapy and postural retraining can resolve many issues without surgery.
- BreatheWorks offers non-invasive, whole-patient care across the lifespan.
