Tongue-tie in adults often hides in plain sight for decades. This condition, where the thin tissue connecting your tongue to the floor of your mouth is too short or tight, can cause problems you’ve probably chalked up to other causes. From persistent speech issues to chronic jaw pain, the symptoms you’ve lived with may trace back to a restrictive lingual frenulum that was never addressed in childhood.
Understanding tongue-tie matters because treatment exists. At Lotus Dental Associates in Fort Mill, Dr. Nhung Phan specializes in frenectomy procedures that release restricted oral tissues in patients of all ages.
How Tongue-Tie Shows Up in Adulthood
You might assume tongue-tie only affects infants who struggle with breastfeeding. Many adults carry undiagnosed tongue-tie into their 30s, 40s, and beyond without realizing it explains years of frustration.
Speech difficulties represent one of the most noticeable signs. You may struggle with certain sounds, particularly “r,” “l,” “th,” or “s.” Some adults compensate so well that their speech sounds normal to most listeners, but the extra effort required causes fatigue during long conversations. Others notice they mumble or that people frequently ask them to repeat themselves.
Dental problems frequently accompany tongue-tie. The restricted tongue can’t sweep food particles and bacteria away from teeth and gums effectively. This creates an environment where decay and gum disease flourish despite regular brushing and flossing.
The Connection to Sleep and Breathing
Your tongue plays a crucial role in maintaining an open airway during sleep. A tied tongue sits lower in the mouth, which can contribute to airway obstruction. This restriction may manifest as chronic snoring, frequent nighttime waking, or diagnosed sleep apnea.
Many adults with tongue-tie describe feeling tired regardless of how many hours they spend in bed. They wake with headaches or a dry mouth. Their partners report loud snoring or alarming pauses in breathing during the night. Dr. Phan’s focus on airway health means she evaluates how restricted oral tissues affect your breathing patterns during sleep.
Physical Discomfort You Might Attribute to Other Causes
Tongue-tie frequently causes jaw and neck tension. Your body compensates for the restricted tongue by positioning your jaw forward or tensing surrounding muscles. Over time, this compensation pattern leads to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, chronic headaches, and neck pain that radiates into your shoulders.
Eating challenges are common but often overlooked. You might avoid certain foods because they’re difficult to chew or move around your mouth. Steak, raw vegetables, or chewy bread may stay in your mouth longer than they should. Some adults with tongue-tie can’t lick their lips, stick their tongue out very far, or touch the roof of their mouth with their tongue tip.
Treatment Options for Adults
Frenectomy treatment in adults offers significant benefits with minimal recovery time. At Lotus Dental Associates, Dr. Phan uses precise techniques to release the restrictive tissue safely and effectively. The procedure typically takes only minutes, and most patients return to normal activities quickly.
Modern treatment often involves laser technology, which promotes faster healing with less discomfort compared to traditional methods. The Solea laser system allows for precise tissue release while minimizing bleeding and post-procedure swelling.
Following the release, many adults work with myofunctional therapists to retrain tongue posture and movement patterns. Your tongue has developed compensatory habits over years or decades, and therapy helps establish healthier patterns that maximize the benefits of the procedure.
Get Help at Lotus Dental Associates
You don’t have to accept speech difficulties, chronic pain, or poor sleep as unchangeable facts of life. Dr. Phan’s expertise in airway dentistry and tethered oral tissues means she understands the full scope of how tongue-tie affects adults. Her training in advanced techniques and commitment to addressing root causes rather than just symptoms sets her apart.
Contact Lotus Dental Associates today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Phan. Her experienced team can assess whether restricted oral tissues contribute to your symptoms and create a personalized treatment plan that addresses your unique needs.
