Dental Disease and Myofunctional Issues

How Tongue-Tie Affects Dental Health

Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia), a condition where the tongue is tethered to the floor of the mouth, leads to orofacial myofunctional disorders.   Of these, there are three orofacial myofunctional disorders that have a direct effect on dental diseases: low tongue posture, tongue thrust swallowing, and mouth breathing. Due to restricted tongue movement and difficulty with oral hygiene, these can lead to dental problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and misalignment of teeth. Here’s a closer look:

Challenges with Oral Hygiene:
A tongue-tie can make it harder to clean the teeth effectively, as the tongue struggles effectively reach all areas off the mouth to remove food particles from the mouth. This restricted movement can lead to inadequate oral hygiene. Due to the limited ability of the tongue to clean the mouth, plaque and bacteria can build up, raising the risk of cavities and gum disease.

Mouth Breathing:

Low tongue postures, and mouth breathing all go hand-in-hand. When the tongue is resting low in the mouth, it leads. to mouth breathing. When we are mouth breathing it can lead to increased plaque and dental calculus, dry mouth, and altered oral pH, which in-turn alters the oral microbiome (disrupting the balance of good vs bad bacteria) . Each of these can increase the likelihood of cavities and gums disease.

Development and Orthodontia:
Low tongue posture can influence how the upper arch develops and teeth align, which may result in a narrow arch, gaps between teeth or other orthodontic concerns over time.

Difficulties with Dental Procedures:
Children and adults with tongue-tie may experience discomfort or pain during dental visits, leading to increased anxiety. Things that may come up during dental appointments include: gagging easily, choking on water, bleeding gums even with good homecare habits, hypersensitive teeth and/or gum, TMJ discomfort, breaking fillings or crowns, unable to open mouth wide or for very long. Additionally, the resulting poor oral hygiene may necessitate more frequent or invasive dental interventions.

Cascade Effect of Dental Disease:

Difficulty cleaning the mouth in the early years of life leads to a poor dental foundation. Once you begin getting cavities and gum disease, it sets you up for more disease later on. Early tooth loss from cavities, loss of bone from gum disease, or worn down, cracked, and broken teeth from clenching and grinding brings on a pattern of continued tooth loss.