Tongue Tie Therapy: Untying the Knot with a Whole Body Approach

Many parents don’t know that oral ties affect the whole body. That tight tissue in your infants mouth impacts more than just the mouth. This is because the tissue that forms the frenulum is connected to the web of tissue called fascia. Fascia is a thin connective tissue that encapsulates the structures of the body. It runs all the way from the top of the head to the toes.

Tongue ties impact the range of motion, tension, and strength throughout the body. This is why head turning and tilting preferences are common with tongue ties. Babies with imbalanced head tension may demonstrate the following signs:

Only feeding from one breast
Arching at the breast
Difficulty maintaining latch
Narrow latch
Gas, colic, and reflux

These babies often benifit from a holistic approach. Whole body providers can address the impact of oral ties beyond just the oral symptoms. In this post, we'll delve into the different types of interventions that can improve your baby’s oral and gross motor development and overall well-being, with a special focus on addressing tongue ties and promoting whole body function.

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Bodywork for Tongue Ties

But first, what exactly is bodywork? It's an umbrella term for manual therapy that encompasses a variety of gentle and effective techniques specially designed for babies. These therapies include

Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral Fascial Therapy
Chiropractic Work
Massage Therapy
Reflexology
Infant Total Motion Release

The beauty of manual therapy lies in its ability to address various conditions in infants, such as muscle tension, head-turning preference, torticollis, cranial molding, tongue tie, reflux, colic, and asymmetries.

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The Power of Functional Movement for Oral Ties

While bodywork is incredibly beneficial, let's not forget the importance of functional movement in supporting your baby's overall development and oral health. Due to the interconnectedness of the fascial web, oral ties also impact a baby’s flexibility and strength. This can lead to compensations that can impact development. Often overlooked when discussing therapies for tongue ties is that functional movement plays a key role in addressing the impact of ties on a babies motor skills. These include flexibility, strength, coordination, and promoting healthy movement patterns. Occupational and physical therapists specialize in functional movement, so that a babies whole body is also addressed.

There are different functional movement approaches to facilitate better movement. Some of these include:

Neurodevelopmental Treatment

Tummytime! Method

Sensory Motor Approach

Sensory Integration and Praxis Approach

TummyTime! Method

Whole Body Tongue Tie Therapists

Now, let's take a deeper dive into the skilled professionals who specialize in addressing your baby's whole body:

Physical Therapists (PT): PTs who specialize in infants may have post professional training in manual therapy techniques, such as craniosacral therapy, or craniosacral fascial therapy. They also offer functional movement and developmental support, ensuring comprehensive care for your little one.
Occupational Therapists (OT): OTs specializing in infants undergo similar training as PTs. They excel in functional movement and developmental milestones, assisting your baby in reaching their developmental goals.
Massage Therapists: Trained in infant massage and other manual therapies, these therapists provide soothing techniques that address muscle tension.
Chiropractors: With a focus on identifying and correcting musculoskeletal imbalances and misalignments in the spine and joints, chiropractors offer specialized care that promotes overall well-being, including healthy oral function.
Osteopaths: Utilizing gentle and non-invasive techniques osteopaths assess and address musculoskeletal imbalances and restrictions in your baby's body. They consider the interconnectedness of the body's structure, promoting overall health and well-being through gentle manipulations, stretches, and mobilizations.

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Whole Body Training

Expert professionals, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, and osteopaths, may have infant training in these modalities these therapies to provide the best care for your little one. It’s important to know that not all providers are trained to work with infants, so do ask about their infant specific experience. It’s also important to be aware that these modalities require post-professional training, so not every therapist will have infant specific training or offer the manual therapies that are most effective with oral ties.

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The Benefits of Manual Therapy and Functional Movement

The benefits of these therapies may vary depending on the specific technique. Soothing techniques like massage can help alleviate muscle tension, imbalances, and support healthy weight gain. These techniques can relieve gas, associated colic, and can support improved sleep.

Holistic Tongue Tie Therapy

Interested In whole body services for your baby? I offer the following manual therapies: