Burke, Fairfax and Fairfax Station, VA
Research suggests that 10 percent of all babies are born with a tongue tie. Sometimes when people mix up words, they’ll say, “My tongue was tied.” But that’s just a figure of speech. A tongue tie is when the lingual frenum, or the band of tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is either too short or too thick. This can have several health consequences. Since they restrict the tongue’s range of motion, tongue ties can impact speech, eating and swallowing. While some tongue ties may not cause significant issues, others can lead to complications, including difficulty breastfeeding in infants or speech impediments in older children and adults. And now researchers have identified that tongue ties can also cause sleep apnea, a dangerous sleep-breathing disorder.
Thankfully, our Burke family dentist, Dr. Pam Marzban, can easily, quickly and painlessly release a tongue tie via a procedure called a lingual frenectomy. While some people feel frenectomies may be too invasive or aggressive, the health consequences of leaving a tongue tie in place are far too great to run the risk. Dr. Marzban explains one of those risks — sleep apnea — in today’s blog.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. It affects millions of people worldwide, and while its causes vary, recent research suggests a connection with tongue ties.
How might tongue ties cause sleep apnea?
The association between tongue ties and sleep apnea lies in the tongue’s role during sleep. In obstructive sleep apnea (the most common form of sleep apnea), the airway becomes partially or completely blocked, leading to frequent breathing pauses during sleep. Several factors contribute to this obstruction, including the tongue’s position during rest. In individuals with tongue ties, the restricted mobility of the tongue can predispose them to airway issues during sleep.
During sleep, the tongue naturally relaxes, potentially falling back and obstructing the airway, especially in individuals with tongue ties. This obstruction can result in disrupted breathing patterns characteristic of sleep apnea. Tongue ties can also contribute to the development of other risk factors for sleep apnea, such as narrow dental arches or malocclusion, further exacerbating the condition.
Treatment for children and adults
Treatment options for a tongue tie may include lingual frenotomy, a simple procedure to release the tight frenulum and improve tongue mobility. By allowing the tongue to move more freely, a frenotomy can help alleviate airway obstruction during sleep, potentially reducing the severity of sleep apnea symptoms.
The earlier that tongue ties can be noticed and addressed, the better. Frenectomies in infants and young children can mitigate potential long-term complications and improve overall health outcomes. This can minimize the impact of tongue ties on sleep and overall well-being.
Frenectomy and myofunctional therapy can benefit especially adults who have lived with a tongue tie their entire lives.
What is myofunctional therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is a customized form of physical therapy that retrains and strengthens the muscles in the face, neck and mouth, including the tongue, to function in a healthy way. This helps the muscles do their job properly and will influence healthy development of the teeth, jaws and airway.
Releasing tongue ties to treat sleep apnea in Burke, Fairfax, and Fairfax Station, Virginia
The intricate relationship between tongue ties and sleep apnea underscores the importance of comprehensive evaluation and tailored treatment approaches. Dr. Marzban recognizes tongue ties as a potential contributing factor to sleep apnea, and she believes in intervening to improve patients’ quality of life and sleep health. If you or your child have a tongue tie and you’re in the Northern Virginia area near Burke, Fairfax and Fairfax Station, give our office a call at 703-323-8200, or reach us online today to schedule a consultation.
