As a mother in Port Moody, your baby’s health and comfort are top priorities. The debate surrounding infant tongue-tie surgery (“tethered oral tissue”) has grown over the past decade. It’s easy to assume that a tongue-tie might be causing your baby’s feeding issues—and that could be true! However, it’s also important to consider other factors contributing to the problem. In my chiropractic practice, I’ve often encountered tongue, head, or neck issues that affect feeding, regardless of a tongue-tie diagnosis.
You might be asking, how can a pediatric chiropractor help? While it’s not my role to diagnose a tongue-tie, I can provide significant support for feeding difficulties, both before and after any potential surgery. In some cases, chiropractic care might even help your baby avoid surgery altogether. If you think your child has a tongue-tie, here are four key ways chiropractic care can assist.
1. Addressing Nerve Interference to Tongue Muscles With Chiropractic
A tight tongue might not always be due to the frenulum itself. Sometimes, the nerves that control the tongue can be either overactive or underactive, causing the tongue muscles to feel tight or weak. The genioglossus muscle might also have trigger points that pull the frenulum, making the tongue seem restricted. Research shows a direct connection between the frenulum fascia and the genioglossus muscle. If your baby’s tongue is unusually tight, it can lead to breastfeeding pain, difficulty in milk transfer, and frequent spitting up due to incomplete swallowing.
As a certified chiropractor, I can gently adjust the neck, cranial bones, and soft tissue. These adjustments aim to balance the nerve signals to the tongue, enhancing breastfeeding function and possibly preventing surgery. You may be wondering, “How gentle?” Research has shown that only 6 ounces of pressure is needed to perform adjustments in an infant. This is not even enough pressure to wake most sleeping babies.
2. Aligning Bone and Joint Structures Related to the Tongue
The muscles involved in swallowing and tongue movement are connected to the bones of the head and neck. If these bones are misaligned, the connected soft tissues can be pulled out of their proper positions, mimicking a “posterior tongue-tie” and causing feeding issues.
Imagine looking down, tucking your chin to your chest, and turning your head to the right, then trying to suck, swallow, and breathe. This difficulty illustrates what happens when your baby’s skull and neck are misaligned. As a chiropractor, I can correct these alignments, helping to restore proper function and ease feeding difficulties.
3. Identifying True Causes of Tongue Restriction
Even if the tongue appears restricted, the frenulum isn’t always the cause. Sometimes, a tight jaw or a misaligned vertebra can be the underlying issue, leading to ineffective latching or milk transfer. Pediatric chiropractors are trained to spot these structural problems. Before considering surgery, chiropractic care can help determine if the frenulum is truly the issue or if it’s another structural adaptation.
4. Optimizing Outcomes of Tongue-Tie Surgery With Chiropractic
In some cases, tongue-tie surgery is unavoidable. Pre-surgical chiropractic care, or “pre-habilitation,” can significantly improve surgical outcomes. Aligning the head and neck structures before surgery ensures that the surgical area is in its best possible condition, which can prevent future complications and aid in healing.
Before surgery, chiropractic adjustments can improve the alignment and function of the head, neck, and tongue. This preparation can lead to better motor skill development, ideal wound healing, and anatomical optimization post-surgery. Additionally, chiropractic care can support your baby’s overall spinal health and recovery from birth-related stresses.
If you suspect a tongue-tie, seeing a pediatric chiropractor like myself should be a key step towards achieving breastfeeding success and overall well-being for your baby. By addressing these concerns early, you can help ensure the best possible outcomes for your child.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact Dr. Gary Barone, certified by the Academy of the College of Chiropractic Pediatrics (CACCP). Your baby’s health and well-being are my highest priorities.
I want to give special thanks to Dr. Andrew Dorough and Pathways Magazine for heavily inspiring this article. The original article can be found here.