A tongue tie, also known as ankyloglossia, occurs when the tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth restricts the tongue's movement.
Many people associate tongue tie only with breastfeeding difficulties in babies.
However, a restricted tongue may also affect oral function in some children and adults.
Depending on the individual anatomy and degree of restriction, a tongue tie may be associated with difficulties involving:
Tongue movement
Swallowing
Oral posture
Breathing
Sleep
Jaw development
Speech
Dental function
If you are wondering whether a tongue tie could be affecting your breathing, sleep or jaw development, a comprehensive assessment may help determine whether the restriction is clinically significant.
What Is a Tongue Tie?
A tongue tie occurs when the lingual frenulum, the tissue beneath the tongue, restricts the movement of the tongue.
Tongue ties can vary significantly.
Some are obvious, while others may be more subtle and only become apparent when the tongue is assessed during movement and function.
A tongue tie may affect:
How far the tongue can extend
How high the tongue can lift
The ability to maintain proper tongue posture
Swallowing patterns
Oral muscle function
The appearance of the frenulum alone does not necessarily determine whether treatment is required.
The function of the tongue is also important.
Can a Tongue Tie Affect Breathing?
In some individuals, restricted tongue movement may make it more difficult to maintain an optimal tongue position.
The tongue normally rests against the palate when the mouth is closed.
If the tongue cannot comfortably achieve an appropriate resting position, some people may develop compensatory patterns such as:
Mouth breathing
Low tongue posture
Open-mouth posture
Mouth breathing can have many possible causes, including nasal obstruction, allergies and airway problems.
A tongue tie may be one contributing factor in selected patients.
A proper assessment is necessary to understand the underlying cause.
Can a Tongue Tie Cause Mouth Breathing?
A tongue tie does not automatically cause mouth breathing.
However, in some patients, restricted tongue movement may be associated with altered oral posture and function.
Mouth breathing may also be associated with:
Nasal congestion
Allergies
Enlarged tonsils
Nasal obstruction
Airway problems
Habitual breathing patterns
If a child or adult regularly breathes through their mouth, the underlying cause should be investigated.
Can a Tongue Tie Affect Sleep?
Some patients with restricted tongue movement may also experience sleep-related symptoms.
These may include:
Snoring
Restless sleep
Mouth breathing during sleep
Dry mouth in the morning
Frequent waking
Poor sleep quality
A tongue tie is not the only possible cause of these symptoms.
Sleep problems can be associated with a range of factors affecting the nose, throat, airway, jaw and overall health.
If sleep-disordered breathing or sleep apnoea is suspected, appropriate medical and sleep assessment is important.
Can a Tongue Tie Cause Snoring?
A tongue tie may be a contributing factor in some patients, but it is not the cause of all snoring.
Snoring may occur when airflow becomes restricted during sleep.
Factors that may contribute include:
Tongue position
Jaw position
Nasal obstruction
Enlarged tonsils
Soft tissue anatomy
Sleep position
Airway narrowing
A comprehensive airway and oral function assessment may help identify relevant factors.
Can a Tongue Tie Affect Jaw Development?
The development of the jaws is influenced by many factors.
These may include:
Genetics
Breathing patterns
Tongue posture
Oral muscle function
Chewing
Swallowing
Growth and development
In some children, altered tongue posture and oral function may be associated with changes in how the jaws develop.
However, a tongue tie alone does not determine the development of the jaw.
Each child should be assessed individually.
Can a Tongue Tie Cause a Narrow Palate?
A narrow palate can have multiple contributing factors.
These may include:
Genetics
Nasal breathing difficulties
Mouth breathing
Tongue posture
Oral muscle function
In some patients, restricted tongue movement may make it difficult to maintain an appropriate tongue posture against the palate.
This may be one factor that needs to be considered as part of a broader assessment.
Can a Tongue Tie Affect Swallowing?
Yes, a restricted tongue may affect swallowing function in some individuals.
A person may develop compensatory movements involving the tongue, lips or facial muscles.
Possible signs may include:
Difficulty moving the tongue
Tongue thrusting
Excessive lip movement when swallowing
Facial muscle tension
Difficulty maintaining proper tongue posture
A functional assessment may help determine whether a tongue restriction is affecting swallowing.
Tongue Tie in Babies
Tongue tie is often identified in babies because of feeding difficulties.
Possible symptoms may include:
Difficulty latching
Poor milk transfer
Clicking during feeding
Prolonged feeding
Maternal nipple pain during breastfeeding
Poor weight gain
Not every baby with a tongue tie requires treatment.
Assessment should consider the baby's feeding function and overall circumstances.
Tongue Tie in Children
As children grow, a tongue restriction may become more noticeable through functional difficulties.
Possible signs may include:
Difficulty elevating the tongue
Mouth breathing
Low tongue posture
Snoring
Difficulty swallowing
Speech concerns
Oral muscle compensation
A multidisciplinary assessment may be appropriate depending on the symptoms.
Tongue Tie in Adults
Tongue tie can also affect adults.
Some adults may have lived with a restricted tongue for many years without realising it.
Possible symptoms may include:
Difficulty maintaining tongue posture
Mouth breathing
Snoring
Sleep concerns
Jaw tension
Neck tension
Swallowing difficulties
Speech concerns
TMJ symptoms
A tongue tie may be one contributing factor among several.
Can Tongue Tie Cause TMJ Problems?
A restricted tongue may affect oral muscle function and swallowing patterns in some patients.
This may contribute to compensatory muscle activity in the jaw, face and neck.
Some patients with tongue restrictions also experience:
Jaw tension
Teeth grinding
Jaw pain
Headaches
TMJ symptoms
However, TMJ disorders have many possible causes.
A tongue tie should not automatically be assumed to be the cause of jaw pain.
A comprehensive assessment is important.
What Is a Tongue Tie Release?
A tongue tie release is a procedure designed to release or modify the restrictive tissue beneath the tongue.
The procedure may be performed using different techniques depending on the patient's age, anatomy and clinical circumstances.
In selected cases, laser treatment may be considered.
The suitability of a tongue tie release depends on:
The degree of restriction
The functional symptoms
The patient's age
The overall treatment goals
The patient's medical history
Is Tongue Tie Release Always Necessary?
No.
Not every tongue tie requires treatment.
The decision should be based on the patient's symptoms and functional limitations rather than appearance alone.
A thorough assessment should consider:
Tongue movement
Tongue posture
Breathing
Swallowing
Sleep
Oral function
Is Myofunctional Therapy Needed After Tongue Tie Release?
In selected patients, myofunctional therapy may be recommended.
The purpose may be to help the patient develop improved patterns involving:
Tongue posture
Tongue movement
Swallowing
Breathing
Oral muscle function
The need for therapy depends on the individual patient.
A tongue release may address the physical restriction, while therapy may help address functional patterns that have developed over time.
Can Tongue Tie Release Improve Sleep?
Some patients may report improvements in breathing or sleep after appropriate treatment.
However, sleep problems have many possible causes.
A tongue tie release should not be considered a guaranteed treatment for snoring or sleep apnoea.
Patients with suspected sleep-disordered breathing should receive appropriate assessment.
How Is a Tongue Tie Assessed?
A comprehensive assessment may include:
Examination of the tongue
Assessment of tongue movement
Evaluation of tongue posture
Assessment of swallowing
Review of breathing patterns
Discussion of sleep symptoms
Examination of the jaw and oral structures
Depending on the patient's symptoms, referral to other healthcare professionals may also be recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a tongue tie affect breathing?
A tongue tie may affect tongue posture and oral function in some patients. However, breathing problems have many possible causes and require individual assessment.
Can a tongue tie cause snoring?
A tongue restriction may be one contributing factor in some patients. Snoring can also be caused by many other factors involving the nose, throat and airway.
Can a tongue tie affect jaw development?
Tongue posture, breathing and oral function may influence jaw development, but jaw growth is affected by many different factors.
Does every tongue tie need to be released?
No. Treatment should be based on symptoms, function and the overall clinical assessment.
Can adults have a tongue tie?
Yes. Some adults have a restricted tongue that may affect oral function, breathing, swallowing or sleep.
Is myofunctional therapy needed after tongue tie release?
Some patients may benefit from therapy to help improve tongue posture and function. The need for therapy depends on the individual situation.
Tongue Tie, Breathing and Sleep Assessment in Sydney
A tongue tie may affect more than just tongue movement.
In selected patients, restricted tongue function may be associated with altered tongue posture, mouth breathing, swallowing difficulties, snoring, sleep concerns or jaw symptoms.
However, these symptoms can have many possible causes.
At Pain Free Dentist Sydney, we assess babies, children and adults with concerns about tongue tie, oral function, breathing, sleep and jaw development.
Depending on your individual needs, assessment may include evaluation of tongue movement, oral function, breathing patterns and related dental and jaw factors.
If you are concerned about a tongue tie affecting breathing, sleep or jaw development, contact us to arrange an assessment.
📞 Call Pain Free Dentist Sydney on 9558 8988.
Serving patients in Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park and Sydney's Inner West.