Welcome to our first ever blog post! We decided to start with something verrrrry scary — Posterior Tongue Ties!!! SCREAM.
Just kidding! Many people — patients and even some providers — feel uncomfortable and even afraid of posterior tongue ties and getting a posterior tongue tie release. But there's nothing to be afraid of!
What exactly is a "posterior" tongue tie?
A posterior tie is just a sub-classification of a tongue tie diagnosis. A posterior tongue tie is not inherently anything new or worse than any other classification of tongue tie. A posterior tongue tie affects the function, movement, and freedom of just the back third or so of the tongue (hence the word "posterior"!).
Why a functional assessment matters
Usually, posterior tongue ties are not as easily seen just by looking at the tongue, therefore having a FUNCTIONAL assessment and diagnosis from an experienced provider is especially important with posterior tongue ties. While there are some release providers who can feel uncomfortable performing posterior tongue tie releases — there are many providers who are experienced experts, and who understand just how impactful a posterior tongue tie can be to their patients.
Common symptoms of a posterior tongue tie
- Chronic shoulder tension
- Chronic lower back pain and hip pain
- Difficulty inhaling deeply/easily
- Difficulty exhaling totally/easily
- Chronic headaches and migraines
- TMJ pain
- Sleep issues and snoring
- Difficulty swallowing (sometimes just certain kinds of foods)
- …and more
What to do if you suspect a posterior tongue tie
If you suspect that you could have a posterior tongue tie, I recommend you speak with an experienced provider; my personal suggestion would be a qualified myofunctional therapist/orofacial myologist and/or an airway-focused dentist — as these are two groups of professionals who see and/or treat tongue tie most frequently.
Take a quick self-assessment of tongue mobility, or watch a visual description of posterior tongue ties on the @OpusOM channel.