Tongue and Lip Ties | Oral Stretches

March 25, 2024

Tongue and lip ties are the little band of tissue [ a frenulum ] that connect your tongue to the lower jaw or connect your upper lip to your gum line. These tissues fall under a category of conditions called "thethered oral tissues tissues," or "TOTS" for short.

Our pediatric chiropractor demonstrates some easy oral stretches both inside and outside the mouth to help kiddos with tongue and lip ties, as well as buccal ties, if they exist. These can be performed pre and post frenectomy.

Assessing the Palate

First, start by using the pad of your index finger, then sweep in the middle of baby's palate [ roof of the mouth ] to assess the heigh of the palate [ arch ]. Normal resting tongue posture is at the roof of the mouth, with teeth / jaw slightly relaxed.

Buccal Tie Stretch

First, use the pad of your index finger, in a fishhook-like motion, sweep in-between babe's upper cheek and gum line on one side. Then, perform this lip tie stretch on the other side. This buccal [ meaning cheek ] stretch will aid in decreasing tension in babe's mouth.

Lip Tie Stretch

Using your index finger, sweep under babe's upper lip [ where the lip tie is ]. You can then use both hands to help fold babe's upper lip upwards. Try to stretch the lip towards the nose [ this is shown at 1:10 ]. This then aids in stretching the lip tie [ or frenulum ] that could be tight, impairing proper oral function.

Tongue Tie Stretch

Sweep underneath the tongue to aid in stretching the tongue frenulum. You can then sweep the tongue up, to help curl the tongue away from the floor of the mouth.

Chin Stretch

Start with babe's mouth closed. Then using your thumb, gently traction babes lower jaw open for a two second count before closing the jaw. You can close the jaw by applying gentle pressure under the jaw.

Fishy Lips

With your thumb and index finger [ C-shaped contact ], gently squeeze babe's cheeks together, to approximate the lips in a verticle fashion.

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