Understanding Tongue Tie and How Chiropractic Care Can Help Your Baby Thrive

At Evol.v Chiropractic in Boulder, CO, many parents come to us looking for answers when their newborn struggles with breastfeeding, latching, or oral development. One common and often misunderstood challenge is tongue tie, or ankyloglossia.

A tongue tie occurs when the small band of tissue (the frenulum) under the tongue is too tight, short, or thick, limiting tongue movement. This can lead to:

• Difficulty latching or nursing

• Clicking sounds during feeding

• Gassiness or reflux

• Fussiness during feeding

• Difficulty transitioning to solids later on

  
  

While tongue ties are real and sometimes require a frenectomy (tongue tie release), it’s important to know that frenectomies are often overdiagnosed. Many babies show tongue restriction due to neck, jaw, or cranial tension that mimics the symptoms of a tongue tie, and not necessarily because the frenulum itself is too tight.

🧠 The Connection Between Tongue Tie and the Nervous System

The tongue is deeply connected to the cranial nerves and upper cervical spine. If there’s tension or misalignment from birth, especially from a difficult labor, C-section, or position in utero, it can create stress in the baby’s jaw, neck, and mouth.

This affects the nervous system’s ability to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Chiropractic care helps restore balance to these systems, allowing for more natural tongue movement and improved feeding, which sometime eliminates the need for a frenectomy altogether.

🌿 Why Chiropractic Care Should Come Before a Frenectomy

At Evol.v Chiropractic, we recommend gentle pediatric chiropractic care before a tongue tie release whenever possible. Here’s why:

• 🌀 It helps determine if a release is truly needed. Many babies who appear to have a tongue tie actually have compensations caused by birth stress or spinal tension. Gentle chiropractic adjustments can often resolve those restrictions naturally.

  
  

• 🌬 It creates the best possible foundation for a release. If a frenectomy is required, chiropractic care ensures that the muscles, fascia, and nervous system are balanced, making the procedure easier and the results longer-lasting.

  
  

• 💫 It reduces the chance of relapse. When the underlying structural tension isn’t addressed, the body can revert to its old patterns after a release, creating the same feeding or tension issues all over again. Chiropractic care helps integrate new mobility and prevent this cycle from repeating.

  
  

🍼 Chiropractic Care After Tongue Tie Release

For babies who do undergo a frenectomy, gentle chiropractic care plays a crucial role in recovery. By relieving residual neck, jaw, and cranial tension, your baby’s body can adapt to its new mobility and learn to feed comfortably.

Paired with lactation support or oral therapy, this approach helps your baby:

• Improve latch and feeding efficiency

• Reduce muscle tightness

• Sleep more comfortably

• Support healthy development of the jaw and airway

❤️ Supporting Your Baby’s Natural Growth and Comfort

Your baby’s nervous system is the control center for feeding, digestion, and development. When it’s functioning clearly and free of tension, your baby can adapt, grow, and thrive naturally.

That’s why families across Boulder, CO trust Evol.v Chiropractic for gentle, neurologically focused pediatric care that supports the body’s innate intelligence.

🌸 Ready to Support Your Baby’s Best Start?

If your baby is struggling with feeding, latch, or suspected tongue tie, gentle chiropractic care can help uncover what’s really going on, and support your baby’s comfort and growth every step of the way.

📍 Evol.v Chiropractic | Boulder, CO🌿 Align. Adapt. Thrive.