Tongue Tie: What It Is, What It Affects, and What to Do About It
A tongue tie — ankyloglossia — is a condition where the frenulum (the band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth) is too short, too tight, or positioned in a way that restricts how freely the tongue can move.
Tongue ties are talked about most often in the context of infant feeding. But the truth is they affect people across every stage of life — and many go undiagnosed for years, or are dismissed as minor, while the downstream effects quietly accumulate.
At OMT of Oklahoma, we assess tongue ties as part of every new patient evaluation. We look not just at the tissue, but at the function: how the restriction affects tongue posture, breathing, swallowing, sleep, and the development of the jaw and airway.
Why A Tongue Tie Is Often Missed
A common misconception is that a tongue tie is only significant if it’s visually obvious — a baby who can’t stick the tongue out, or a child with a noticeable heart-shaped tongue tip. But the most functionally impactful ties are often posterior ties or mid-tongue restrictions that don’t look severe on a quick visual check.
These ties restrict upward mobility of the tongue — the movement needed for the tongue to rest on the palate. Without that, the tongue rests on the floor of the mouth. Mouth breathing follows. Sleep is disrupted. The palate narrows because the tongue isn’t there to shape it. Dental crowding develops. And because no single provider connects all these dots, the root cause goes untreated for years.
A functional assessment — not just a visual check — is the only way to accurately determine whether a tongue restriction is affecting function. That’s exactly what we do at OMT of Oklahoma.
What Does a
Tongue Tie Assessment
Look Like?
Your new patient evaluation at OMT of Oklahoma includes a comprehensive tongue tie and functional assessment. Jennifer will:
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Evaluate the frenulum visually and assess its attachment point and thickness
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Assess functional range of motion — the tongue’s ability to elevate, lateralize, and reach the palate
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Observe resting tongue posture, lip seal, and breathing patterns
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Review sleep history, speech development, dental history, and any relevant symptoms
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Discuss findings with you in plain language and explain what we see and why it matters
If the assessment suggests a tongue tie is present and functionally significant, we will discuss the right referral path for your situation. For adult patients, we refer to Dr. Laura Ousley, DDS at laurabousleydds.com for frenectomy. For children, we work with a network of trained pediatric providers depending on your child’s age, anatomy, and location — we will help identify and coordinate the right provider for your family. In all cases, we will guide you through the myofunctional therapy that should accompany the release for the best outcomes.
The Role of Myofunctional Therapy: Before and After a Frenectomy
Releasing a tongue tie without preparing and rehabbing the muscles is like fixing a door hinge on a door frame that’s been warped for years. The hinge moves — but the door still doesn’t function correctly. The muscles need to learn what to do with the new freedom.
Before the frenectomy
Pre-operative myofunctional therapy prepares the tongue for the release. We build awareness and initial range of motion, establish nasal breathing, and lay the muscular foundation that the post-procedure healing will build on. Research shows that patients who complete pre-op therapy have better outcomes and lower rates of reattachment.
After the frenectomy
Post-operative therapy is where the real work happens. We guide the tongue through progressive exercises that retrain resting posture, swallowing patterns, and breathing habits. We also monitor the healing site and ensure the stretching protocol is followed correctly to prevent reattachment. A full post-op program typically runs 12–14 sessions over several months.
We coordinate directly with your frenectomy provider before and after every procedure to ensure continuity of care. For adult patients that means Dr. Ousley’s office. For pediatric patients that means whichever trained provider we’ve referred your child to. Either way, you will never feel like you’re navigating it alone — we handle the coordination.
Think a tongue tie may be affecting you or your child? Book a free evaluation. We will give you a thorough, honest assessment of what we see and what we recommend.