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Tongue-tie, Lip-Tie, Cheek-Ties: What’s a Tie?
Let’s dive into definitions. A “tie” is a functional restriction of motion due to tethered frenulum. A frenula (plural: frenulum) is a strand of connective tissue that anchors a semi-mobile body part (ie. the tongue), to a fixed body part (ie. the floor of the mouth). Ankyloglossia [ang″kĭ-lo-glos´e-ah], more commonly known as a tongue-tie, is an anomaly in which mobility and function of the tongue is restricted by a short or thick lingual frenulum. Lingual frenulum is a membrane connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Buccal frenulum connect the cheek to the gums, and a labial frenula is the soft tissue connecting the lip to the gums. Cheek-ties and lip-ties are similar in that the frenulum are thick or short and tethered to the gums tightly, restricting the proper function of the cheeks and lips. Tongue-tie, lip-ties, and cheek-ties are medically referred to as Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTS). Signs of a Tongue Tie It’s common for ties to negatively impact breastfeeding, bottle feeding, GI function, growth and development of the airway, and the structure and shape of the mouth, face and head. Many babies with TOTS experience difficulty with breastfeeding such as staying on breast, leaking milk from sides of mouth, coughing or gagging, lip blisters, gas pain (from swallowing too much air), noisy breathing/snoring, a shallow or soft latch, or slow weight gain. Other common signs are colic and reflux. When your baby cries, you may notice that your baby’s tongue doesn’t elevate or you may notice that at rest the tongue doesn’t touch the roof of their mouths as it should, or that they breathe from their mouth instead of their nose. Parents may experience pain and unusual discomfort from flattened or damaged nipples, engorgement, and mastitis. Feedings may be long or the breast not fully drained. At about 6 -8 weeks, you may notice a drop in milk production as the signals to increase supply switch from receiving cues from post-delivery hormones instead to a supply and demand where the breast produces in response to how much is extracted. Baby may be frustrated and fussy at the breast, or tiring quickly when feeding, or hungry soon after the last session. Sound familiar? Take a deep breath, I am here to help! How can Craniosacral Therapy help tongue ties? CST cannot make a tie disappear. What CST can do is help your baby (or you) feel better in their body; Less tense and more calm. CST is a whole-body approach that uses a gentle touch to release restrictions and address bodywide compensatory tension patterns. It is quite common to find other restrictions and related asymmetry in a body challenged by TOTS, most commonly in the skull, neck, abdomen, pelvis or feet. During our session, I use CST bodywide to find and unwind abnormal strain in the muscles and connective tissues that limit function, easing tension patterns that prevent the muscles and structures of the face and mouth from functioning effectively and efficiently. CST also helps boost the functions of our body’s most basic systems, all which relate to the tongue: eating, digestion, sleep, sensory, and neuromotor. Typically, the earlier craniosacral therapy is introduced the more rapid the outcomes. Some improvements parents notice in their child after a CST session: less stress, increased tongue and jaw mobility, improved latch, the head or neck move more freely, improved digestion, reduction of reflux or colic symptoms, or more ease when breastfeeding, eating, sleeping, passing gas, or pooping. I love supporting babies with tongue ties! Parents bring their children in for craniosacral therapy (CST) sessions for a wide-variety of issues, and tethered oral tissues, like a tongue-tie, are a very common reason. When I first started working with babies it came up so frequently I became a bit obsessed with the tongue: its anatomy, function, dynamics, and its crucial role in eating and breathing. I’ve taken the Breathe Baby Course at the Breathe Institute, and advanced CST workshops specifically about tongue-tie (medically referred to as ankyloglossia) in infants and children, teens and adults. I’ve always been a breastmilk enthusiast and my fascination with the tongue led me to pursue a certification as a breastfeeding specialist. The tongue! A mighty muscle that not only plays a role in breathing and eating, but has an influence on the entire body. If there is a restriction in the tongue, it is very likely causing tension elsewhere in the body. I am looking forward to supporting you on this journey. You can set up an appointment with me by clicking on this link. Article by Cori Escalante: Craniosacral therapist & certified breastfeeding specialist
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Flat Head Syndrome, medically known as Positional Plagiocephaly [play-jee-oh-SEF-uh-lee], is when a flat spot develops on the back the head. This happens in infants when pressure on their soft skull causes the skull bones to shift or change shape. It may occur in the womb if their head was hanging out in one spot constantly, or it can be a result of laying constantly with the back of their head on firm surfaces – mattresses, car seats, carriers, strollers, bouncers, etc. Flat spots are also frequently seen in babies with torticollis. Torticollis [tawr-ti-kol-is] is a twist in the neck, caused by a shortened muscle. One sign of torticollis parents notice initially is that their baby constantly tilts its head to one side, with their chin pointing to the opposite shoulder. Another sign is that babies prefer to breastfeed on one side over the other. As baby grows, it becomes more obvious that the movement of their head is limited. They may have a difficult time controlling their head to move it side to side or up and down. A flat spot can develop on the side of the head the baby prefers to look, just behind their ear, and the shape of their head and face may change. They may also develop a soft lump or bulge in their neck muscle. Can Craniosacral Therapy treat Torticollis and Plagiocephaly? Yes! Parents bring their children in for craniosacral therapy to treat a wide variety of concerns and conditions, but flat-head syndrome and torticollis are some of the most common reasons. Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle yet effective way to treat these conditions.  How does it happen? Torticollis happens when one of the neck muscles is restricted and shortened and it pulls the head into a tilt or rotation, or both. The muscle is the sternocleidomastoid, often referred to as SCM, and it connects from the collarbone (clavicle) and sternum (manubrium) to the skull just below the ear (mastoid process of temporal bone). When present at birth it is called Congenital Muscular Torticollis. The most common reason this develops is that the SCM becomes tight or shortened from the way baby was positioned in the uterus, such as being cramped in the womb or sharing a space with a twin. It can also be the result of strain on the muscles of baby’s neck during birth, or more rarely is caused by abnormal bone fusions in the neck. Acquired torticollis is less common and can be caused by trauma to head or neck, abnormalities in the cervical spine, reactions to certain medicines, or other rare conditions. Treatment Craniosacral therapy (CST) helps babies unwind abnormal tensions in their muscles and connective tissues that are holding their neck and head in a twisted position and to release restrictions that prevent the bones of the cranium from moving freely. CST additionally addresses any other restrictions and related asymmetry that can occurs elsewhere in the body. CST also helps booster the functions of all of the important functions of our bodies that babies are learning about: sensory, neuromotor, eating, digesting, and sleeping. Typically, the earlier craniosacral therapy is introduced, the more rapid the outcomes. Other beneficial treatments are chiropractic adjustments and physical therapy. At home, you can take some actions right away that will can make a difference in a short amount of time. First is awareness. Become more aware of your baby’s head position. Second is repositioning. Gently reposition their head to avoid putting pressure on the flat spot. If they fall asleep with their head in their favored position, gently move it while they slumber. Make sure to alternate sides when feeding, or while holding them in your arms or on your shoulder. At diaper changes and during playtime, position yourself opposite to their favored side. This will encourage them engage the less developed muscles and stretch the tight muscle. They love to look at your face and will always try to turn to face you. And third is lots and lots of tummy time! Aim for at least three sessions of tummy time in a day. Increase the frequency and duration as much as your baby will tolerate. Tummy time engages and strengthen the muscles around the neck, arms, and shoulders that are necessary to control their heads as well as to develop the strength needed to roll and crawl. There are some other ways to you can help your baby stretch and strengthen their neck that I’ll be happy to discuss when you bring your baby in for treatment. Can I avoid a helmet for my baby? Yes! One concern regularly brought up by parents is how to avoid a helmet for their baby. Most cases of plagiocephaly and torticollis are mild and do not require a helmet. Doctors usually recommend helmets for more severe cases, but sometimes parents are given the option for a helmet in moderate or mild cases. Helmets are custom fit, with a hard shell and a lightweight but firm foam inside that forms to the baby’s skull to mold it into proper shape. The helmet is worn all-day and night. Many babies adapt to wearing it quickly, hardly noticing it’s there, but some parents report numerous side effects, such as skin irritation, unpleasant smell, sweating, and less commonly, pain. However, the question of a helmet may be entirely avoided if action is taken as soon as the signs of torticollis or a flat spot is noticed. The soft bones of the infant’s cranium become less malleable as they age, so treatment is essential as early as issues are detected to avoid possible complications of untreated torticollis and plagiocephaly, such as delays or issues with big motor skills such as rolling, sitting, crawling and walking. If your baby has a helmet, or once wore a helmet, CST is still highly beneficial. A helmet can change the shape of the head outwardly but it doesn’t necessarily correct the underlying internal issues of the problem. CST addresses those deep internal issues and releases any new internal issues that may arise as a side effect from the helmet itself. When you bring your baby in for treatment, we will review the ways you can help your little one stretch and strengthen their neck.  How Many Treatments? The amount of sessions will vary by body and by how complex the patterns are. Some babies have mild cases of torticollis or phagiocephaly but respond slowly to treatment, while others have more severe cases but respond quickly, and everything in between. Response to CST varies because every body is unique, with unique healing responses but, on average I see most clients for an average of 6 session when treating these issues. Once the symptoms of the condition are alleviated it is recommended that “maintenance” CST sessions are scheduled as babies reach developmental milestones. Even though symptoms no longer remain, there may be some underlying restrictions that remain. Babies will grow into these restrictions - not out of them. CST make sure that former restrictions are still freed so that their bodies won't be hindered by them as they grow. Article by Cori Escalante: Craniosacral therapist & certified breastfeeding specialist The purpose of this article is to explore how tongue tie affects the functioning of the entire face, mouth, and head physiology. In my experience as a pediatric chiropractor and craniosacral therapist, these issues translate into recurring infections of the tonsils, adenoids, and ears. This issue is not widely discussed and is exacerbated by mainstream medicine's microscopic view of looking at one symptom - whether it be tonsil infection, adenoid infection, ear infection, chronic sinus infections, dysfunctional breathing - and addressing that sole body part versus looking at the root cause. Making corrections with the root cause provides a holistic solution that improves posture, sleep, digestion, immune system, nervous system, and many other critical bodily functions I share my research below to get you started on your own inquiry. An educated, informed person is empowered to make more conscious choices and live a healthier, empowered, and more fulfilling life.  Example of mouth-breathing. In my practice, as an alternative medicine provider, I am often the 3rd, 4th, or 5th opinion people seek after mainstream Western medical care has not provided effective relief. It's very common that I see children put on repeated cycles of antibiotics; and then when that doesn't stop the recurring infections, they remove the body part (tonsil or adenoid) or insert tubes to correct the dysfunction. The result is that while the child may stop having infections in those areas, they still get sick because the dysfunction caused by the root issue has not been addressed. This leaves the child in pain, and the parents feeling frustrated, helpless, and searching for answers. Most parents don't know that there is another way that might support their child's holistic health more effectively and for the long term. This past school year, I had an influx of young children (2 years) through adolescence (14) that had chronic colds and sickness; more so than in all my 13 years of practice. Because there were so many, I started to notice a pattern - they all had a history of back to back rounds of antibiotics and when that didn't solve the issue, tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies, and ear tubes were administered. Yet even after these interventions they were still getting sick! This got my attention. I'm not saying that my findings below are the answer to all adenoid and tonsil dysfunction and susceptibility; but I am sharing my experience and research into this question: If the treatment of the disease is to remove these body parts in service to greater health, then why are kids who've had these treatments still constantly getting sick (e.g., every 3-4 weeks)? As a parent of four kids, I understand that when our kids are sick we just want them to get better...yesterday. No more appointments, no more doctor visits and definitely no more meds - all while navigating health insurance hell. We feel helpless and scared and just do the thing that the expert says will fix it, because they are the authority, right? Well, I for one truly appreciate that, and this article is a means for parents to feel more confident exploring deeper, and seeing the incredible human body from a higher altitude, not just as a collection of separate organs, but a symphony of functions. It offers suggestions of alternative medicines and providers that will be supportive in exploring your child's case from a different lens. Tonsillectomies are a result of repeated illnesses of infected tonsils. Just as adenoidectomies are the surgical removal of adenoids intended to improve breathing. Enlarged adenoids can affect the tubes that connect the middle ears and the back of the nose, so when adenoids are infected and become enlarged, they can impact ear drainage. This is why an adenoidectomy can be performed to decrease ear infections. It is quite often now that doctors recommend putting ear tubes in and taking adenoids out while the child is under anesthesia, a 2 for 1 if you will. But the question remains: why are the adenoids getting so enlarged that they are impacting breathing and ear drainage? And why are the tonsils getting infected? What are they a symptom of? What is the dysfunction that is causing these organs to become so infected and are not healing, so that they impact normal physiological activity? Ok, so I am going to back up a little bit and show you how I came to some conclusions. In my practice, I support many families who are challenged with nursing. It is a very common experience early on, as the learning is happening for both mother and baby. When a baby is brought in, there is consideration of why the baby is holding tension and where they are holding it in their body. The most common reason is the baby's experience in the womb and their birth. Often times I will see a baby with a tight jaw. This is a great example of residue from the birth process. However, if the baby's function improves only temporarily, the tension is typically coming from an internal pull and one common possibility is due to a tight tongue frenulum. I wrote an article about tongue ties here -https://www.rosewoodhealing.com/blog/the-growing-trend-of-frenectomy - within the article are a lot of links for some fantastic resources. Since I have seen many babies go through the frenectomy procedure, I have seen just as many families decide that the frenectomy route was not the right choice for them. I am blessed to have had long-term care with both groups, and I've seen the difference between babies who had the frenectomy compared to those that did not. The babies who have worked with significant tongue ties and not had the frenectomy, switched to bottles, received regular chiropractic and craniosacral care, stayed with pureed food for a long time, did speech therapy, etc. I've seen how even with long-term work, the fascial pulls are present, albeit there are less symptoms in that original area. The pulls often shift direction as the cranium, throat and thoracic cavity expand as the child grows, causing the symptoms to shift slightly. Sure the child does not gag every time something is placed in their mouth, but now we see teeth grinding or cavities along the gum line or chronic congestion...catch my drift? Let's start with the basics. Fact #1: We don't grow out of things, we grow into them. Fact #2: Everything is connected. Not only in the body, but the emotions, spirit, and thoughts as well (but this is for another article all together). So, the baseline is - the tongue is connected to other parts of the body and when a baby or child is diagnosed with a tie, it doesn't just go away. The fascial pull or tension symptoms can be found elsewhere in the body and these lead to compensatory movement patterns. The tongue is the only muscle(s) in the body that has one end that is unattached and freely movable while the other end has attachments on the hyoid bone, mandible, temporal bones, and other parts of the cranium. When the tongue is "tied" it means that the frenulum (which is designed to be reabsorbed at 7 weeks prenatally) limits the full range of motion and function that the tongue is designed to have. And let's be clear, there are 4 levels of the tie so it is quite common, and the tighter the tie, the greater the inhibition/dysfunction. This article is geared towards the higher levels of the untreated tie in the pediatric population. The tongue tie will pull on the fascia associated with it and will often pull the hyoid bone up higher under the mandible. This can pull on the trachea and esophagus as well. By producing so much tension in the front of the body, it often pulls the body downs to a kyphotic posture, pulling the shoulders forward. In a baby, this is demonstrated as stiffer torsos with extending their necks back, lots of arching of the back and neck. As a grown up, it looks like forward neck carriage (poor posture) that is difficult to correct. It is difficult because of the tight fascial pull that they have grown into since they were babies. As a chiropractor, I know that there are MANY reasons for this posture for an adult, but for a young child, this is definitely something that needs to be checked out by a pediatric body worker. https://www.daniellopezdo.com/assess-impact-tongue-tie-patients-osteopathic-considerations/ **Fun fact, most of the babies that I see with torticollis that doesn't resolve within a couple of sessions have a tongue tie. This is because the pull is coming from an internal structural source that pulls the neck back into the torticollis.  What I find to be particularly incredible about the human design is that the positioning of the tongue at rest in the mouth affects the shape of the maxilla (upper jaw). A well-developed upper jaw has a broad palate and low arch. The tongue’s natural resting place is up against the palate, where the tip of the tongue rests behind the front teeth. The teeth develop around the tongue and the upper jaw develops to the front and sides, stimulated by the tongue’s position behind the teeth and against the upper palate. When a mouth has a "tight" frenulum, often only the tip of the tongue will rest on the palate (behind the upper teeth). On the picture to the left, below, the solid blue bar represents the frenulum; the red arrow represents the pull of the frenulum; the yellow vectors represent the resultant pull of the frenulum in the horizontal and vertical planes; the blue arrow is one of the eventual effects where the posterior tongue sits low and back, which produces an array of sucking, breathing, speech and TMJ difficulties. At rest, the middle and back parts of the tongue should nestle up against the back of the hard palate." http://www.paragonhealth.net.au/blog/tongue-tie-in-adults  When the tongue is tethered to the bottom jaw, children suck on pacifiers, fingers or other things in order to stimulate the release of endorphins, which should happen during proper tongue rest posture and proper swallowing. (I highlight children, because as babies they typically can't hold the pacifier in their mouths, they don't like it because they can't create a vacuum with the back of their tongues to hold it in.) In the absence of correct tongue posture and swallowing, habits like finger-sucking meet the need for the pressure on the roof of the mouth. Studies also show that when the palate does not get pressure from the tongue, there is an increase in adrenaline in their systems. Mukai, Mukai & Asaoka (1993) It is very common for these kids to have a harder time regulating their behavior and have more challenges with maintaining attention.  In medicine, “form follows function” is a basic premise where abnormal function leads to abnormal structural development. Therefore when the tongue position is tethered down and there is tongue thrusting, the upper jaw does not get the natural pressure and the arch becomes high and the face takes a longer shape. The teeth become cramped, the bite is not closed tightly when biting down, the sinuses become compressed and there is continuous congestion. Swallowing is affected and often times so is speech. When swallowing is dysfunctional, the ears become more susceptible to infection. Think about when you need to clear your ears while on a plane, you swallow (or yawn or chew). When you can't swallow correctly or your jaw is tight, your ear canals are not getting the regular massage that they should get each time one swallows. In addition to all that has been mentioned, it is the mouth breathing that directly affects the child's immune system. There is often mouth breathing due to the tongue's resting position, which is tethered to the lower jaw. When people don't breathe through their nose, they miss out on the first filtration system that our body has in the design. During mouth breathing, it is the tonsils that get constant exposure to environmental viruses, bacteria, etc that would normally be filtered out by the nose. The constant exposure of these foreign substances to the tonsils leads to increased tonsil infections. Interestingly, nitric oxide, a gas needed for blood pressure regulation, fighting bacteria & viruses, immune health, pain reduction, energy production, and other beneficial functions, is produced in high amounts in the nose. Therefore nose breathing increases available nitric oxide. Nose breathing supports immune function. Finally, it is shown that there is a correlation with mouth breathing and challenges with restful sleep, bed wetting and as mentioned earlier, the ability to regulate one's behavior. https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4001-bed-wetters-could-breathe-easier/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3400898/ The upper palate is one part of the maxilla bone which runs from the teeth up to the eyes. The maxilla also holds 85% of the nasal sinuses. And here is the common slippery slope that I have been seeing - The restriction of the tongue impacts the growth of the face, creating compression in the sinuses, causing difficulty breathing through the nose, causing mouth breathing, causing the tonsils and adenoids to become the primary filter of toxins, causing them to be infected. Are you with me? So even though the organs have been removed, the cause of why they were so infected was not addressed. So yes, no more tonsillitis, but if the breathing or swallowing haven't been corrected, the next level of symptoms get louder - snoring and poor sleep, behavioral disregulation, etc. Again, this is one scenario; allergies, obesity, orofacial genetic malformations are not considered with this trajectory. What I am trying to say is if your baby has a tongue tie, it's not just about breast feeding. You don't grow out of it. You grow into it. Does that mean you must have a frenectomy? Well, that depends on who you ask. There is still quite a bit of controversy on this one in different fields. I personally have seen miraculous changes post-frenectomy and seen cases without much change in the ability to nurse. However, the provider's skill level and amount of body work before and after has to be taken into consideration. https://www.atlantaperiodontics.com/frenectomy/tongue-tie-tied-children-sleep-apnea/  Here is an anatomical demonstration of how fascial tension in the tongue affects the kinemaic chain throughout the body. In addition to the dental challenges and mouth breathing patterns noted above, another clear indicator of myofunctional issues in the mouth and head with children (ages 2-5) is difficulties with food and eating. Children with ties often deal with symptoms directly related to eating, such as the inability to chew age-appropriate solid foods, gagging, choking or vomiting foods, slow weight gain, cavities at the the top of the front teeth, and persistence of drooling. Problems can also include the child gagging or even throwing up when eating, or being an extremely messy eater. If your child is sensitive to food texture, or seems to be a picky eater, this can indicate a problem with their swallowing. This occurs when the child cannot form a proper bolus with their tongue correctly to move the food to the center of the tongue and then push it back. In extreme cases, children may even choke on food if they cannot swallow correctly. Children may also store food in their cheeks and then spit it out, also demonstrating their challenge with coordinating swallowing. https://tonguetie.net/consequences/ Another possible indicator of myofunctional issues is a delay in your child’s speech, or other speech problems. This article is not going to go into this, but luckily for Rosewood, our incredible craniosacral therapist, Sara Mangano, is also a speech pathologist. Please check this video on mouth breathing in children by Dr. German Ramirez. It brings everything all together and is a fantastic comprehensive short video that demonstrates the physiology of the mouth- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h0JgmmLj_Q Treatment -When a fascial pull is coming from the base of the tongue, whichever way you slice it, the entire body, anatomically and physiologically will benefit tremendously from releasing the tension. And getting checked and cared for is ALWAYS better sooner than later. Getting a team of a providers that range from lactation consultants, chiropractic, craniosacral, myofunctional, occupational therapy and of course a holistic dentist or ENT rounds out the types of care one would explore. Considering that a baby’s jaw is almost 50% of its adult size at birth, a child's bite position is apparent by about 18 months to 2 years. By 6 years old, jaws are almost 80% of their adult size, with most of the growth occurring in the first 4 years. https://www.todaysdental.net.au/importance-of-jaw-growth-and-develpment. Ideally, if a family is considering getting a frenectomy, the sooner the better. Not only because of the opportunity to influence facial growth, but also the earlier it is performed the less synapses in their motor control have been developed using a dysfunctional movement pattern. Basically just because the frenulum has been released doesn't mean that the tongue now knows how to use all of the space that has been made. (Body work saves the day with this one.) If you discover your child has tension in their mouth that is causing breathing, swallowing, posture, etc challenges - have no fear! Frenecomies are safely and effectively performed on kids and adults. Also, I see tremendous shifts from chiropractic and craniosacral therapy with these kids. After the initial block of time that is focused on addressing their subluxations and releasing fascial pulls, coming in for regular maintenance care supports their body's nervous system during growth and developmental spurts.  If your doctor has recommended an adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy because of diseased tissue, it will make a difference in their breathing, sleeping, sinus cavity, hearing, and overall well-being to remove them. AND I want to be clear that this is addressing the SYMPTOM of the dysfunction. In fact, studies show that the surgery's initial improvement with breathing efficacy, the structure, space to breathe is still constricted for 5-12 years. (Tasker, 2002) Body work is a necessity to release the root cause of the tension and pulling. The relapse rate for sleep apnea and airway constriction after tonsils and/or adenoids removal is greater than 50%, as immune tissue often regrows and airway becomes a problem again. I am going to be bold and make the assumption that the rate is so high because most parents aren't aware that the root cause has not been treated, thus the body is going to maintain it's dysfunctional pulls. In conclusion, one of the easiest and most effective things we can do for our kids is have them checked for myofunctional issues as young as possible, so that therapy can begin before more serious problems develop. In many cases, chiropractic, craniosacral, and myofunctional therapy can be used to reverse hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids, as well as correcting issues that lead to chronic ear infections. This is also to say when dealing with facial ties, if the ties are not dealt with, when braces are removed, eventually teeth shift back, imbalanced bites return, mouth breathing and snoring return. Therefore, treating the symptom is never a long lasting option. Thankfully holistic dentistry now offers ALF pieces - widening the palate and airway, unlike traditional braces that only addressed the teeth. http://www.kidstowndentist.com/myofunctional-issues-children-aged-2-5/. It has truly been amazing to work with kids pre- and post-ALF. In conjunction with chiropractic and craniosacral care (ideally scheduled right after an adjustment to the appliance has been made), not only does the child's sleep and breathing and health improve, but behavior shifts due to deep and restful sleep and decreased adrenaline in their system. It's also been found that bed wetting stops and concentration improves. I am so excited that this type of care is out there for kids that are usually just dismissed with labeling the symptoms of ADD, dental ailments, picky eating, etc to have more support. Be sure to find yourself a holistic pediatric dentist! I hope this was helpful, my goal is to at least start the conversation of putting pieces together and addressing these pulls while they still have more growing to do. With all of my love and support, Dr. Maura  Over the past 18 months, I’ve have been supporting an influx of very specific population in my practice, infants that are receiving a frenectomy. A frenectomy is a medical procedure to alleviate excessive tightness of the tissue under the baby’s tongue or up inside the top lip. This condition is commonly referred to as a “tongue tie” or “lip tie.” There are varying degrees of the tie. Many people go their whole lives with one and never know, whereas some people can't even raise their tongue because it's so tight. Lip or tongue tie is typically diagnosed when there is difficulty latching and feeding. Common signs are the baby can't suck at all, falls asleep at the breast because they are tired from working so hard, and the mother gets repeated bouts of mastitis or blistered nipples. It's the worst. There are a whole lot of tears and frustration for all concerned. I have so much to say about this but I am going to keep it brief and relevant to how craniosacral and chiropractic help this situation. Tongue or lip tie is often discovered when a mother’s nursing experience is not quite right. Either the baby is in distress or it becomes very painful to latch the baby onto her nipple. This is when hopefully, she seeks counsel with a reputable lactation consultant (LC) who diagnoses and refers to a professional who can do the frenectomy procedure.  http://www.mommypotamus.com/a-step-by-step-guide-to-diagnosing-tonguelip-ties/
What I’ve noticed after sessions of work on these babies is that they are relaxed, not as stiff, and their belly and neck begin to soften. What is also commonly seen is that they are able to tolerate being in the car seat and the quality of their sleep improves. Basically, the baby is more content and comfortable in their body, demonstrating a healthy nervous system. And this is when their mouths are able to coordinate the latch more efficiently. Tongue and lip ties can be tricky though. For some babies it is diagnosed later on, such as when they have unexplained cavities, when solids are introduced and they have trouble swallowing properly, or even with chronic constipation. It is only until parents try EVERYTHING to no avail that the tongue tie is recognized. And these babies are the ones that need comprehensive care to help their bodies unwind. Think about it - the entire digestive tract starts with the tongue. If that is tense and working improperly, it affects the functioning of the entire digestive tract. This is why tongue tie is often correlated with food allergies. Trippy, right? It needs to be clarified that babies don't just "grow out" of tension. If it is not released, it manifests differently as they grow - TMJ pain, headaches, subluxation, GI distress - all are common manifestations. Like most things in life, it's easier to address sooner rather than later, and checking and correcting any subluxations and tension stored in the tissues allows the body to perform as designed. Interpreting TraumaThere is a third category of babies that have gone through the frenectomy experience and seem to be worse from it. This is when the baby has interpreted the frenectomy as a traumatic experience. I have seen time and time again that certain babies are fine after the procedure and certain babies are in considerable distress, sometimes for many weeks after the procedure. For instance, it’s not uncommon for a mother to come in and say that her baby had a frenectomy and several follow-up appointments where the tie is re-opened so that the tie doesn't grow back. She’ll remark how her baby has not been the same since these procedures. Commonly, the baby develops reflux, is constipated, is clingy, upset, generally not themselves and definitely not happy. This baby is clearly stressed and their body is in a state of fight or flight.  Think about when you are stressed or in fear. Generally, your stomach is uneasy, you have sweaty palms, your heart races, you feel jittery...etc. Now imagine what a baby's body feels like, commonly it is a - tight diaphragm, stiff body, needing comfort. Bodywork is the key to relieving this stress; specifically craniosacral and chiropractic care because these modalities support their nervous systems to get out of the constant fight or flight mode and function appropriately. The Polyvagal Theory is a cutting edge description of how this system is triggered when we interpret danger and make adaptive neural responses. The vagal system (Vagus Nerve, Cranial Nerve X) is involved with the regulation and coordination of heart rate, sucking, swallowing, digestion, vocalizations and breathing, among many, many others. Dr. Stephen Porges is the world’s leading expert on this issue. If you are interested in learning more about his work, I highly recommend you watch this lecture of his titled, Human Nature and Early Experience. It’s fascinating. These babies’ bodies have interpreted the frenectomy or the after-care procedures as dangerous. As a result, they drop into the reptilian part of their brain to cope with the trauma. They shut down as a protection mechanism. Imagine a baby who passes out due to serious crying. These babies then develop symptoms above and below the diaphragm, and symptoms of reflux and constipation which can be further explained with the polyvagal theory. In fact, Dr. Porges emphasizes the physiology behind the importance of nursing for comfort and how this stimulates the vagus nerve which supports the baby’s regulation of their nervous system. What Can Parents Do?Find a reputable team of practitioners that you trust, finding one practitioner will lead to others. Talk to your baby; let them know what you are doing, where you are going, what to expect during the visit. And honor how your baby feels around practitioners. It's all about trust and when a baby connects with the practitioner, they can go to vulnerable places together which results in more effective healing work. What you can do at home with your baby is the greatest part. The action of sucking is one of nature’s ways of soothing the nervous system. Nursing your baby (or bottle feeding) stimulates the vagus nerve with each swallowing action. So while feeding your baby, really take advantage of the opportunity to talk to them in a soothing way and touching them with compassion. This will encourage the feeling of safety a baby needs and this helps settle their nervous system.  I understand that the lip and tongue tie is a newer conversation for parents and a real source of healing for those that need it. There are support groups and a lot of quality information online. I’ve included several links in this post that would be great places to start. You are not alone and there are solutions.
From my heart, Dr. Maura For additional information on tongue and lip ties, please visit Dr. Ghaheri’s website. Hey everybody! I wanted to write a quick note in service to helping some parents out in answering the very important question, "How important is it for my baby to crawl?" Here’s the short answer: IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO CRAWL!!! So. Important. Lately I have been seeing little ones whose parents are bringing them in because they are only "army crawling" or "scooting" on their rear ends. This is such an easy movement pattern to correct. Typically it is the sacrum that is subluxated and once adjusted the baby can effectively and gracefully crawl.
I'd like to briefly write about scars and how they inhibit our movement patterns. I have seen so many people lately that are not able to engage their core musculature due to scar tissue inhibiting its neural response. For example, today I treated a wonderful lady and she couldn't hold a pose that engaged her deep abdominal muscles. This fantastic woman works out several times a week doing spin classes, TRX, yoga...all without her core functioning properly. We found some muscles that were compensating for her core, but what turned her abdominals back on was when we released her cesarean scar - BINGO! Her abdominlas now functioned beautifully. Not only was she able to hold the pose but she felt STRONG!! Her scar is 10 years old. [Update on this woman - 5/15/15: One month later my patient feels STRONG. She shared that she has been working on her scar and that when she initially rubbed on the adhesions on her cesarean scar it was painful. She kept at it and with time, the sensation on her scar evened out and felt normal. She also shared that one morning after she had worked on it, she had a lot discharge. She realised that it was coming from the scar! I am so happy for her RELEASING and HEALING. Old injuries are always available to be healed.] I have other patients that had belly button ring scars impact their core functioning, tattoos, teeny tiny old scars on the eyebrow from falling off a bicycle impact neck mobility. So if I can share one tidbit to help you move a bit easier it would be to get your scar tissue worked on. Your body will thank you for it! |
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