Tongue Tie Release
For Children and Adults in Philadelphia, PA
Expert evaluation and gentle release procedures that improve breathing, speech, and sleep for all ages.
At Sleep Healthy PA in Jenkintown, Dr. Andrew Cohen provides expert tongue tie evaluations and release procedures for both children and adults. Tongue ties can restrict oral mobility, impair breathing, alter facial development, and contribute to sleep disorders—especially in growing children.
With a focus on airway health, speech improvement, and overall well-being, we help patients across Philadelphia and Montgomery County breathe more easily, sleep more deeply, and thrive.
Concerned About Tongue Tie?
What Is a Tongue Tie (Ankyloglossia) and Why It Matters
A restricted lingual frenulum that limits tongue mobility—a minor tissue issue with major consequences affecting speech, breathing, and sleep from infancy through adulthood.
Improve Tongue Movement and Airway Function
A tongue tie, medically known as ankyloglossia, occurs when the thin piece of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too tight or positioned incorrectly. Dr. Andrew Cohen treats tongue ties in children and adults, understanding that tongue ties significantly restrict tongue movement and airway function.
Functional Impact of a Tongue Tie
The tongue must move freely to support proper breathing, swallowing, speech, and facial development. A tongue tie can prevent optimal oral function, and compensations can strain the airway and surrounding muscles. Tongue ties restrict tongue elevation and forward motion, while impaired tongue posture worsens airway and jaw development.
How tongue tie affects daily function:
- Restricted tongue mobility limits proper oral rest posture
- Compensatory muscle patterns create tension and strain
- Tongue dysfunction is linked to sleep disturbances and tension
- Poor tongue positioning affects breathing efficiency
How It Affects Breathing and Sleep
The tongue plays a central role in stabilizing the airway during sleep. A tethered tongue rests low in the mouth, collapsing the airway and promoting mouth breathing during sleep. Tongue ties contribute to mouth breathing and sleep-disordered breathing, while mouth breathing is linked to reduced sleep quality and snoring.
Sleep and breathing consequences:
- Low tongue posture narrows the airway space
- Increased mouth breathing disrupts sleep quality
- Tongue position abnormalities exacerbate sleep apnea
- Poor airway support leads to sleep fragmentation
Tongue Tie in Children:
Early Signs and Why It Shouldn’t Be Ignored
Early identification is crucial for preventing long-term developmental consequences affecting facial growth, airway development, and overall health.
Common Symptoms in Children
Children with tongue ties often display multiple symptoms that may seem unrelated but stem from restricted tongue function. Tongue tie in children is associated with speech delay and airway collapse, while untreated tongue ties affect facial growth and posture.
Warning signs parents should watch for:
- Speech delay or unclear articulation
- Open-mouth posture and excessive drooling
- Snoring or restless sleep patterns
- Forward head posture and neck tension
- Chronic mouth breathing during the day and night
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or eating certain textures
- Behavioral signs of poor sleep quality
- Tongue tie increases the risk of pediatric sleep-disordered breathing
How Tongue Tie Affects Airway and Facial Development
The tongue serves as a natural growth guide for facial development. When it can’t rest properly on the palate, the jaw narrows, teeth crowd, and the airway becomes compromised. A restricted tongue prevents proper palate expansion, while poor tongue posture causes a high, narrow palate and recessed chin development.
Developmental consequences:
- Narrow palate and crowded teeth alignment
- Recessed jaw and chin development
- Airway growth is influenced by tongue position and function
- Long-term facial asymmetry and breathing difficulties
Adult Tongue Tie:
It’s Not Too Late to Get Help in Jenkintown
Adults often go undiagnosed for years, experiencing chronic tension, poor sleep, and compensatory patterns that tongue tie release can address effectively.
Signs of Adult Tongue Tie Dysfunction
Many adults have lived with undiagnosed tongue ties for decades, developing compensatory patterns that create chronic tension and dysfunction. Adult tongue tie causes muscular compensation and strain, while untreated tongue restriction is linked to TMJ dysfunction and fatigue.
Common adult symptoms include:
- Persistent jaw or neck tension and pain
- Difficulty swallowing pills or certain foods
- Poor sleep quality and chronic fatigue
- Speech fatigue or tendency to mumble
- Frequent tension headaches
- Inability to lift the tongue to the roof of the mouth comfortably
- Tongue tie release in adults improves posture and breathing efficiency
Why adults seek treatment:
- Desire to improve sleep quality and reduce snoring
- Relief from chronic tension and TMJ symptoms
- Better speech clarity and reduced fatigue
- Enhanced overall breathing and airway function
Our Approach to Tongue Tie Evaluation and Treatment
Comprehensive protocol including detailed history, functional examination, airway assessment, and precise treatment planning—not every tongue tie requires release.
Functional Assessment Comes First
Dr. Cohen evaluates tongue mobility, resting posture, and compensations across breathing, speech, and sleep patterns, rather than making decisions based solely on appearance. Tongue tie evaluation includes mobility and functional scoring, while assessment identifies structural and compensatory patterns.
Comprehensive evaluation includes:
- Detailed oral function and mobility testing
- Airway and breathing pattern assessment
- Speech and swallowing function analysis
- Treatment decisions based on total oral function, not appearance
- Coordination with other healthcare providers when appropriate
Tongue Tie Release with Dr. Cohen
When release is indicated, Dr. Cohen performs minimally invasive procedures using advanced LightScalpel laser technology. The focus remains on safety, comfort, and functional outcomes—not simply cutting tissue. Dr. Andrew Cohen performs precision tongue tie releases in Jenkintown, while tongue tie release is guided by function-based evaluation.
Advanced laser release benefits:
- Precise tissue removal with minimal trauma
- Reduced bleeding and faster healing
- Laser procedure enables fast healing and minimal discomfort
- Superior comfort compared to traditional methods
Myofunctional Therapy and Aftercare
Release is only the first step in comprehensive treatment. Re-education of tongue movement, posture, and muscle tone is crucial for long-term success. Post-release therapy improves long-term tongue function, while myofunctional therapy supports breathing and muscle retraining.
Post-release support:
- Coordination with skilled myofunctional therapists
- Exercise protocols to optimize healing and function
- Proper aftercare prevents reattachment and restores balance
- Follow-up monitoring to ensure optimal outcomes
Tongue Tie and Pediatric Sleep Disorders:
The Overlooked Connection
Tethered oral tissues often underlie pediatric sleep-disordered breathing—an important connection for families throughout the Philadelphia area seeking answers.
When to Consider Tongue Tie Evaluation for Sleep Issues
Many sleep problems in children have underlying structural causes that include tongue restriction. Pediatric tongue tie contributes to sleep fragmentation and snoring, while behavioral problems often mask sleep-disordered breathing.
Sleep-related symptoms warranting evaluation:
- Regular snoring in children of any age
- Excessive tossing and turning throughout the night
- Daytime irritability, hyperactivity, or attention issues
- Diagnosed ADHD with documented poor sleep quality
- History of bedwetting beyond typical developmental stages
- Enlarged tonsils with unresolved breathing symptoms
- Children with airway symptoms benefit from functional tongue assessment
The connection to behavior and development:
- Poor sleep quality affects cognitive development and behavior
- Sleep fragmentation mimics ADHD symptoms
- Early intervention prevents long-term developmental issues
- Improved sleep supports better academic and social outcomes
Discover how tongue tie release can enhance breathing, speech, sleep, and overall well-being for you or your child.
Whether you’re concerned about your child’s development, seeking relief from chronic tension, or looking to improve sleep quality, tongue tie evaluation and treatment can provide life-changing improvements. Dr. Cohen’s expertise in airway-focused care ensures comprehensive assessment and optimal outcomes.
Call Sleep Healthy PA Today to Schedule Your Tongue Tie Evaluation
