{"id":43138,"date":"2023-01-11T17:22:26","date_gmt":"2023-01-11T11:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/royalimplant.com\/blogs\/?p=43138"},"modified":"2026-07-06T10:13:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T04:43:45","slug":"can-adults-get-a-tongue-tie-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/royalimplant.com\/blogs\/can-adults-get-a-tongue-tie-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Can an Adult get Tongue Tie Treatment?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, can be a debilitating condition for many adults, causing difficulty speaking, chewing, and swallowing. It can even lead to digestive issues and problems with sleep. Fortunately, there is hope for those affected by tongue ties. While it was traditionally thought that tongue tie was only a condition of infancy, it is now being recognized as a condition that can affect adults, too. In this article, we’ll explore the possibilities of adult tongue tie treatment and how it can help those experiencing the condition. We’ll look at the causes, symptoms, and types of adult tongue tie, as well as the treatment options available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Surgical treatment of tongue-tie may be needed for infants, children or adults if tongue-tie causes problems. Surgical procedures include a frenotomy or frenuloplasty. It’s usually never too late to get tongue-tie treatment. However, the sooner tongue-tie is corrected, the fewer possible side effects this condition will likely cause you. The surgery to correct tongue-tie is called a frenectomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is this article for?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This article is for adults who feel their tongue movement is restricted or who have difficulty with speech, swallowing, tongue cleaning, licking, certain sounds, oral posture, or discomfort under the tongue. It is also useful for patients who were told they had tongue-tie as a child but never received treatment. Adult tongue-tie treatment is possible, but it should be planned only after checking symptoms, tongue movement, oral function, and patient expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is adult tongue-tie?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, happens when the tissue under the tongue is short, thick, or tight and limits tongue movement. In adults, it may affect speech clarity, swallowing, oral hygiene, tongue posture, or comfort. Some adults adapt well and do not need treatment, while others may benefit from a release procedure and exercises. Mayo Clinic describes tongue-tie as a short, thick or tight band of tissue tethering the tongue to the floor of the mouth; treatment may include frenotomy or frenuloplasty when needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Treatment is more than just cutting the tissu<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>e<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In adults, tongue-tie release should be planned with function in mind. The dentist or surgeon may assess tongue lift, forward movement, speech, swallowing, muscle tension, and oral habits. Some patients may need myofunctional therapy or tongue exercises before and after the procedure to retrain movement. Surgery alone may not solve every symptom if the muscles and habits are not addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Causes and Symptoms of Adult Tongue Tie<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Adult tongue tie is caused by an underdeveloped frenulum, the tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. In infants, this is normal and will usually fall off naturally by the baby\u2019s first birthday. However, in some cases, it can remain as an adult. This can cause difficulty in breastfeeding and speech problems. Additionally, the condition may cause a variety of other issues, depending on its severity.<\/p>\n\n\n

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tongue ties in children<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Common symptoms of adult tongue-tie include Difficulty chewing due to a lack of space between the teeth and the tongue Issues with the production of certain sounds Issues with the swallowing of saliva and Chronic pain Swallowing problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

List of symptoms before tongue-tie treatment<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Tiredness, lack of energy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Frequent dry lips<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Snoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Lisp as child<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Sleep apnea<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Jaw pain and audible jaw click and pain on opening<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Mouth breathing (air coming in on teeth)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Teeth grinding<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Anxiety and depression<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Types of Adult Tongue Tie<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Tongue-tie occurs when a string of tissue under the tongue limits tongue movement to the point where it affects functions such as feeding and speaking. Tongue-tie can improve on its own by the age of two or three years.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Type 1<\/strong>: This type of tongue tie is also known as a \u201cfrenulum breve\u201d. In this case, the frenulum that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too short. This means that the tongue is restricted from extending past the front of the mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Type 2<\/strong>: This is the opposite of Type 1 and is called a \u201cfrenulum linguae\u201d. It occurs when the frenulum is too long and restricts the movement of the tongue from the back of the mouth to the front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Is tongue-tie surgery risky?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Complications of a frenotomy are rare \u2014 but could include bleeding or infection, or damage to the tongue or salivary glands. It’s also possible to have scarring or for the frenulum to reattach to the base of the tongue. If left untreated, moderate to severe cases of tongue-tie can cause problems including: Feeding problems, which can cause poor weight gain or malnourishment. (Breastfeeding is usually more difficult in comparison to bottle feeding when a baby has a tongue-tie.) Speech impediments, which can cause problems in school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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