The Benefits of Supporting Infants after Oral Tie Revision with Chiropractic Care
Understanding Oral Ties in Infants
If you’re struggling with feeding challenges, fussy or painful nursing sessions, or feeling like something just isn’t quite right with your baby’s feeding, you’re not alone. Many parents share the same concerns!
Oral ties can make feeding difficult and uncomfortable for both you and your baby. Luckily, there are gentle, natural ways to help your and baby’s feeding journey! Chiropractic care, craniosacral therapy, and fascial work can support your baby’s body before and after a tongue or lip tie release. This will help them feed more efficiently and comfortably!
What Are Oral Ties in Infants?
Oral ties occur when the thin tissues (frenulum) in the mouth are too tight or restrictive, limiting the movement of the tongue, lips, or cheeks. This restriction can interfere with a baby’s ability to latch properly. A poor latch leads to discomfort, inefficient feeding, and frustration for both you and baby.
Types of Oral Ties:
Tongue Tie (Ankyloglossia)
A tight or thick band of tissue connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth, restricting movement.
Lip Tie
The upper lip is tightly connected to the gums, preventing a full, flanged latch.
Buccal Ties
While less commonly discussed, these occur in the cheeks and can influence feeding efficiency.
Identifying and addressing oral ties early can significantly improve feeding success, especially breastfeeding comfort. It’s clear that a baby’s feeding impacts their overall development.
Signs Your Baby May Have an Oral Tie
If you’re wondering whether your baby has an oral tie, here are some of the most common signs to look out for:
- Difficulty latching during breastfeeding
- Clicking or popping sounds while nursing or bottle-feeding
- Prolonged, painful, or inefficient feedings
- Excessive gas, reflux, or colic symptoms
- Poor weight gain despite frequent feedings
- Lip blisters or a curled upper lip while nursing
- Difficulty sticking out the tongue or moving it freely
- Preference for chewing on the nipple instead of sucking
If you’ve noticed these symptoms, it’s important to explore options for support. This includes a lactation consultant, pediatric dentist, and pediatric chiropractor.
How Chiropractic Care Supports Infants with Oral Ties
When a baby has an oral tie, the restriction isn’t just in the mouth, it extends into the fascia, jaw, and nervous system. This creates tension that affects feeding, digestion, and even sleep.
Chiropractic care for oral ties focuses on ensuring the nervous system and musculoskeletal system are functioning properly. These systems are responsible for helping babies move, feed, and thrive more comfortably.
Before an oral tie release, chiropractic care can be beneficial to release tension in the baby’s jaw, tongue, and neck. This helps to set them up for success after the procedure.
After an oral tie release, gentle adjustments and fascial work help release built-up tension. This encourages baby to move their tongue freely and latch more effectively.
How Chiropractic Care Reduces Nerve Interference in Infants
The nervous system controls tongue and jaw movement. When spinal misalignments or tight fascia interfere with the nervous system’s ability to communicate with these muscles, babies can have difficulty controlling the movement of their tongue and jaw. Essentially, when these nerves are pinched, the muscles involved in feeding don’t work very efficiently. Chiropractic care for babies helps by:
- Improving nerve communication to the tongue, jaw, and swallowing muscles
- Reducing tension in the neck and jaw caused by compensatory movements
- Releasing fascial restrictions that contribute to discomfort and tightness
- Encouraging better feeding mechanics for a more comfortable nursing experience
This approach allows babies to feed more effectively and reduces frustration for both parents and infants.
Why Choose Bloom Well Family Wellness for Infant Chiropractic Care?
At Bloom Well, we understand how stressful feeding challenges can be, and we are committed to providing care that supports the entire family. We don’t just treat symptoms, we focus on your baby’s whole-body health so they can eat, sleep, and grow comfortably.
Learn more about our pediatric chiropractic approach:
- Gentle, baby-focused care where every adjustment is tailored to your baby’s needs.
- A nervous-system-first approach, because when the nervous system thrives, so does your baby.
- A comfortable, family-friendly environment, because we know you need the support!
Book your baby’s first adjustment online or call us to book!
