Miami and Coral Gables, FL
There are many adults walking about that are tongue-tied, yet aren’t even aware of it. This is an issue because a tongue-tie can lead to oral health and overall health consequences that can be quite serious, as well as cause an unfavorable profile or appearance. The good news is that a tongue-tie can easily be treated by your Miami Dentists. We will share more about that on our blog today, but here are six ways to tell if you are tongue-tied.
- You have a lisp
Having a lisp as a child is usually thought to be cute, but not so much as an adult. Adults with a lisp often feel embarrassed and aren’t sure what causes it or how to fix it. A tongue-tie can make it difficult to pronounce words beginning with “th,” or “s.” This can be from being tongue-tied because the tongue’s range of motion is restricted, and it isn’t able to move properly when speaking.
- You’re a mouth breather
Mouth breathing has its own set of health dangers. Nasal breathing is preferred, and much healthier, because it allows for better oxygenation in the blood, the nasal passages warm the air before it enters the lungs, and there is a better oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange. It’s also better for your immune system because nasal breathing promotes nitric oxide, which helps fight off harmful bacteria and viruses, as well as regulates blood pressure.
- Your tongue has a limited range of motion
Are you able to open your mouth wide, and then stick the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth? If you aren’t able to, then your tongue may be tied. This means that your tongue’s range of motion is restricted due to tethered oral tissue underneath your tongue.
- You snore
Being tongue-tied increases your risk of sleep apnea, and snoring. This is because the tongue rests too low in the mouth, and you mouth breathe. Neither is healthy for the body. While your snoring may not seem to bother you, it means that your body is struggling to breathe while you sleep, and it likely disrupts your partner’s sleep as well.
- Your tongue rests low in your mouth
Take a moment to focus on where your tongue rests when you aren’t eating or speaking. Proper oral posture means that the lips are gently pressed together, teeth are together, and the tongue rests along the roof of the mouth with the tip of the tongue resting against the back of your upper front teeth. If, on the other hand, your tongue rests low in your mouth, you have what is called improper rest oral posture. This is not good, and probably is occurring because your tongue’s movement is restricted.
- You are a picky eater
You might assume that your picky eating habits have more to do with food aversions, but it could be because of a tongue-tie. When this occurs, the tongue doesn’t move the right way as you chew and swallow. This could result in gagging when you try to eat certain foods, which you might think is because you simply don’t them. While this sign is common among children with tongue-ties, it also is something that could linger into adulthood if you never had your tongue-tied treated.
Tongue-tie Treatment for Adults in Miami
If you are an adult living with a tongue-tie, it’s time to get treatment. At Miami Designer Smiles, we use a dental laser to release the tongue-tie and can provide you with Myofunctional Therapy to help retrain how your tongue moves and rests in the mouth. Laser treatment for a tongue-tie is quite simple and has little to no downtime. Ignoring a tongue-tie can have undesirable health consequences. If you would like to learn more about tongue-tie treatment for adults in Miami or to schedule a consultation, just contact our office by calling (305) 595-4616. Miami Designer Smiles welcomes patients of Coral Gables and Miami.