Does every tongue-tie need to be released?
No. Many tongue-ties cause no difficulties. Whether a release is helpful depends on how the tongue functions, which is why a functional assessment is useful before deciding.
Tongue-tie therapy before and after release in Dubai
A tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a short or tight band of tissue under the tongue that can limit how the tongue moves. In some children it affects feeding, chewing, swallowing, oral rest posture or speech; in others it causes no problems at all.
I provide therapy before and after a tongue-tie release (frenotomy or frenectomy) for children in Dubai. The release itself is carried out by a doctor or dentist; my role is assessing how the tongue functions and the therapy that helps a child make the most of it.
Ask about your child · Parent guide
Signs that tongue movement may be restricted
These signs can have other causes too, so an assessment of function is the first step.
- Difficulty lifting the tongue, sticking it out or moving it side to side
- Difficulty chewing some textures, or a messy or slow eating pattern
- Mouth breathing or a low resting position of the tongue
- Difficulty with some speech sounds that need tongue-tip movement
Therapy before a release
Not every tongue-tie needs to be released. Assessing how the tongue actually moves and functions helps you and your doctor or dentist make that decision. If a release is planned, therapy beforehand prepares the tongue and the child for the exercises that follow.
Therapy after a release
A release gives the tongue room to move, but it does not teach new movement patterns. After the procedure, orofacial myofunctional exercises help your child build strength and range of movement, develop a healthy resting position for the tongue and use their new movement in chewing, swallowing and speech.
I am trained in orofacial myofunctional therapy and oral placement approaches, and therapy is adapted to your child’s age and needs.
Questions parents ask
Will a tongue-tie release fix speech on its own?
Usually not on its own. A release allows more movement, but children often need therapy to learn to use that movement for speech sounds, chewing and swallowing.
Do you perform the tongue-tie release?
No. The release is done by a doctor or dentist. I provide the assessment of tongue function and the therapy before and after the procedure.