What Is Tongue Tie?
A tongue tie (also called ankyloglossia) occurs when the band of tissue under the tongue (the lingual frenulum) is too tight, short, or thick. This restriction limits tongue movement and can interfere with feeding, swallowing, speech, and even airway function.
Some children and adults adapt, but many experience ongoing challenges. Treatment often involves a frenectomy or frenuloplasty (surgical release of the tie), followed by orofacial myofunctional therapy to retrain the tongue and oral muscles.
How Tongue Tie Affects Health
Tongue tie can impact patients differently depending on age:
Infants
- Difficulty latching to breast or bottle
- Poor weight gain or fatigue during feeds
- Clicking sounds, leaking milk, or swallowing air
Children
- Speech difficulties (especially with sounds like t, d, l, r, s, z)
- Mouth breathing due to low tongue posture
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing solid foods
- Orthodontic issues (narrow palate, misaligned teeth)
Adults
- Persistent speech issues
- TMJ pain or tmj headache
- Sleep-disordered breathing and snoring remedies
- Postural strain from altered tongue and jaw position
Why Therapy After Tongue Tie Release Matters
A surgical release corrects the restriction, but without therapy, the tongue may not automatically learn new movement patterns. At BreatheWorks, we provide:
- Pre-release therapy to strengthen oral muscles and prepare for surgery
- Post-release therapy to prevent re-attachment and retrain tongue function
- Swallow and speech retraining to improve long-term outcomes
- Breathing and posture exercises to support airway health
How Therapy Helps Beyond Surgery
Even if surgery isn’t performed, therapy can still:
- Improve tongue mobility within the current range
- Reduce mouth breathing and support nasal breathing
- Support safe feeding and swallowing patterns
- Strengthen lips, jaw, and facial muscles for better oral function
In-Person and Virtual Care Options
BreatheWorks offers the same level of care virtually as in person. Families who live far from our clinics—or prefer to receive care from home—can access:
- Virtual evaluations for infants, children, and adults
- Teletherapy sessions for feeding, swallowing, and speech
- Home exercise coaching with real-time guidance from our therapists
Our secure telehealth platform allows us to serve families not only in Portland, Eugene, Lake Oswego, Bellevue, and Amarillo, but also across the U.S.
When Providers Should Refer
Dentists, ENTs, orthodontists, pediatricians, and lactation specialists often refer patients for tongue tie evaluation when they notice:
- Feeding difficulties in infants that don’t resolve with standard strategies
- Persistent speech challenges in toddlers or school-aged children
- Orthodontic relapse or malocclusion despite treatment
- Snoring, mouth breathing, or airway concerns
- Parents reporting ongoing frustration or stress at mealtimes
FAQs About Tongue Tie
Can my baby outgrow a tongue tie? Not usually. A restrictive frenulum rarely stretches enough to resolve on its own. Evaluation is recommended if feeding is affected.
Does every tongue tie need surgery? No. Some mild restrictions can be managed with therapy alone. Each case is unique.
How soon should therapy start after release? Ideally, within a few days. Early therapy helps prevent scar tissue and retrains proper tongue movement.
Can therapy be done virtually? Yes. Our teletherapy program delivers the same exercises, guidance, and results as in-person care.
Local + Virtual Care
BreatheWorks provides specialized tongue tie therapy in-person at:
- Portland, Oregon
- Eugene, Oregon
- Lake Oswego, Oregon
- Bellevue, Washington
- Amarillo, Texas
…and virtually for patients nationwide.
Next Steps
If you suspect a tongue tie is affecting feeding, swallowing, or speech, early evaluation and therapy can make all the difference.
- Schedule a tongue tie evaluation with BreatheWorks
- Refer a patient to our team
