Tethered oral tissues are congenital & need to be released with
OPTIMAL TIMING
All around the globe more and more babies are being born with tethered oral tissues.
It is possible to intervene in the toddler years. With a little patience, creativity and persistence, we can act early and avoid costly dental and breathing therapies later on in life.
Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs)
Courtesy of Michelle Emanuel
Tongue Tie
The fascia underneath the tongue restricts tongue elevation, lateralization, protrusion for eating and breastfeeding and disrupts latching on the breast, preventing deep suction and wave like mechanism of the tongue when breastfeeding. It often results in low tongue posture which narrows the craniofacial-respiratory structures and (airway) spaces. This TOT leads to a plethora of orofacial myofunctional disorders.
Courtesy of Michelle Emanuel
Lip Tie
This tissue attaches all the way to the alveolar ridge where the teeth will soon erupt. It often prevents correct lip seal when eating, drinking and disrupts the latch when breastfeeding. It can occur on both upper and lower lips inducing painful breastfeeding and poor salivary control. This TOT leads to orofacial myofunctional disorders.
Courtesy of Dr. Scott A. Siegel, MD, DDS…
Buccal Tie
This tissue attaches all the way to the alveolar ridge where the teeth will soon erupt often resulting in excessive orofacial muscles bracing and mucogingival defects once teeth have erupted. This TOT leads to orofacial myofunctional disorders.
“The tongue is the epicenter of development”
— Michelle Emanuel, creator of The TummyTime!™ Method