Therapy for Tongue and Lip Ties
What is a Tie?
A tie is when there is thick or tight tissue in the mouth, typically seen at the tongue, lip, and cheeks. Ties, also called tethered oral tissues (TOTs), leads to decrease movement and function of the baby's tongue, lip, and cheeks causing difficulty feeding. This can also cause increased tension and tightness.
Baby's Symptoms
Mother's Symptoms
Why PT + OT?
Physical therapist's are known for decreasing pain, improving motion, increasing strength, and improving posture. A baby with ties needs all these things too. Occupation therapist's are known for helping with everyday activities which includes breast or bottle feeding.
Both PTs and OTs can further specialize in tethered oral tissues and treat the whole-body effects. Therapists teach your baby how to use their muscles and move their body for improved feeding before and after a tie release. They can perform body work, provide infant massage, mobilize joints, release fascia, and help choose which bottles, pacis, and toys are best.
Does therapy help?
Ties can lead to weakness and tightness of the face muscles, uncoordinated movement of the tongue and jaw, decreased movement of the neck and shoulders by increased tension, a head tilt, head flattening, and body asymmetry. Therapists treats these common effects of having a tie through stretches, exercises, fascial therapy, infant massage, muscle retraining (neuromotor reeducation), and choosing appropriate bottles, toys, and pacifiers.
Do I see a therapist first?
Seeing a TOTs Therapist improves the way your baby moves, decreases tension and tightness, improves tongue motion, and introduces suck training. The first time your fingers are in your baby's mouth shouldn't be directly after surgery. The therapist guides you through the stretches you'll be doing post-release, making it less scary for you and baby. Seeing a therapist first improves the surgical outcome- meaning less risk of reattachment.
What's the goal of therapy?
To educate you on all your options and guide you through the process. We want to optimize movement of the tongue, neck, and body, make sure you are comfortable with oral exercises and baby gets used to having fingers/toys in their mouth, address conditions like torticollis, plagiocephaly, and tension, discuss surgical options and local release providers, provide appropriate developmental movement, and provide wound care.
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Need breastfeeding help?
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Tied Together, Lactation + PTThe Tie Guide.
Start here by downloading an 8 page guide on all things ties, therapy, and lactation.
Why milestones therapy + wellness
Dr. Cheyenne, our PT, has gone through excessive training to safely and effectively treat infants with tethered oral tissues. She completed the prestigious mentorship program with Dr. Gigi along with multiple in person and online courses.
The ability to feed depends on the ability to move the tongue and the body. MTW addresses everything from suck training and proper latch to improving movement and coordination. This is all done in a treatment plan made specifically for your baby to reach your goals.
Get your questions answered
If you are frustrated, have any concerns, or not sure what to do next, MTW is here for you.
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