Tongue tie

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hello Dr. Austin and Dr. Jordan,

My son is 1.5 years old and generally healthy, but one concern is that his mouth is constantly open. We consulted with an ENT, and they found his nose to be fine. However, my wife came across a myofunctional therapist who suggested that the issue might be due to a tongue tie. The therapist mentioned that if left untreated, it could lead to several other problems, such as throat infections, and potentially affect the shape of his face and jaw. The recommended treatment plan includes some tongue exercises, followed by a procedure to release the tie.

I just wanted to ask if a tongue tie could actually be the reason for this issue and if it’s worth pursuing the treatment plan.

2

I can’t speak to whether or not seeing the “myofunctional therapist” is a good idea, as I’m unsure what licensure or expertise they possess. Rather, if you have concerns related to your son, I would strongly recommend speaking to their pediatrician about these concerns.

Ankyloglossia, i.e. “tongue-tied”, can show up a number of different ways, though it’s not usually just the mouth being open. Problems with feeding early in life, along with speech and other issues later during development are characteristic. One of a number of surgical procedures +/- speech therapy is typically recommended.