#Fascial Tongue Tie

[tonguetie25]

In our practice we use the Functional Frenuloplasty procedure to release tongue ties for toddlers, children and adults. This approach has been adapted from Dr. Soroush Zaghi of The Breathe Institute, Los Angeles who is an ENT& globally renowned sleep surgeon who has established this functional approach to tongue ties. Dr.Ankita had got the opportunity to observe Dr. Soroush Zaghi, a renowned ENT & Sleep Surgeon perform Functional Frenuloplasty tongue tie surgeries at his practice in Los Angeles. She is The Breathe Institute’s First Indian Ambassador.

[draaroncwik]

The TAO Method - An Airway-Centric Approach to Dentistry

An airway-centric approach in dentistry is one that doesn’t simply emphasize the teeth and gums, but also focuses on the craniofacial respiratory complex (CFRC). This is the anatomical region that oral surgeons, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physicians, and speech language pathologists focus on.

In treating snoring and sleep apnea, many dentists fit patients with custom mandibular advancement devices (MAD). These temporarily shift the tongue and jaw forward, such that throat constriction is eased and airway space increased. They may also recommend continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, which place a mask around the nose and mouth, providing mild air pressure that helps the airways remain open during sleep. Unfortunately, both solutions require cumbersome equipment that, while providing welcome relief, may seem burdensome and interfere with one’s quality of life. They are also typically only applied after the symptoms have already manifested to such a degree that major medical intervention is necessary.

A pioneer of the airway-centric approach to dentistry, NYU professor and author Dr. Michael Gelb has developed the multifaceted TAO (TMJ, airway, and orthodontics) method of treating patients with complex issues that require increasing the size of airways, resolving temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues, and utilizing innovative orthodontic device therapies. Instead of treating these distinct issues in silos, they are integrated within one holistic way of viewing how patients breathe, sleep, and function from an early age.

When the TAO method is applied with young patients as a diagnostic and treatment journey, the hygienist takes on responsibilities as a de facto “oral PA.” Using the fascial, swallowing, and tots (FAST) approach, they conduct myofascial screening that looks at speech and swallowing together in identifying orofacial myofunctional disorder.

The airway-centric team approach begins with the discover that an infant lacks the “suck, swallow, and breath” reflex. They are not able to swallow and breathe simultaneously, which can impact successful feeding, whether on breast or bottle. Airway-focused therapists apply techniques that tie the oral motor and sensory systems together and grow the airways. This enables infants to breath nasally as they move beyond sucking to swallowing soft foods (at around 3 months). Similar issues also occur with the transition to solid foods at around 6 months of age. Through the use of a FAST pediatric feeding screener, issues with breast feeding can be identified early and steps can be taken to ensure that they are corrected.

Changes to infants’ faces in the first couple years of life are also monitored. Issues such as mouth breathing, combined with nasal resistance, can indicate a likelihood of potential airflow issues such as sleep apnea developing later in life. As early as two and a half or three years of age, TAO-trained professionals may recommend non-invasive myo-training oral appliances, such as HealthyStart or Vivos, as a way of training the tongue to go up and the lips to press together. This helps convert kids from mouth breathers to nasal breathers at night. This contrasts with traditional approaches, in which professionals would typically wait until around 12 years before introducing orthodontic appliances to the oral health care matrix. The key with the TAO method, as Dr. Gelb describes it, is “intervening as early in life as possible for those at risk.”

[springintegrativehealth]

Wise words from Josh Overcash, Spring’s resident bodyworker:

Sleep.  Eat.  Poop.  Repeat.

This is the life of a newborn baby.  In a perfect world, there are no problems with the functioning of these basic needs but oftentimes I see babies in my practice at Spring Integrative Health who are struggling with quality sleep, feeding issues, and constipation and/or gas.

Positioning in-utero and birth trauma can and do contribute to tight fascia in the newborn, which can contribute to the fulfillment of these basic needs being compromised.  Fascia is one big web of soft connective tissue that wraps throughout the body.  Unwinding fascia tension in newborns using the Gillespie Approach of Craniosacral Fascial Therapy leads not only to healthier, smarter, stronger, and happier babies, it also helps relieve and resolve common complaints such as breastfeeding difficulties (latch, suck, and swallow), reflux, colic, constipation, indigestion/gas, and napping issues, as well as strabismus, torticollis, pyloric stenosis, stridor, and clubfoot.  

Sleep

Both parents and baby need good sleep.  When baby doesn’t sleep well, parents suffer.  Colicky babies don’t sleep well and CFT helps release tension in the digestive system so they can be more relaxed and less fussy.  CFT calms the whole body and allows the brain to “breathe,” calming the nervous system and allowing it to function in a more balanced way.  

Eat

Babies with restricted tongue movement enjoy more tongue mobility thanks to CFT.  It’s been incredible to watch babies be able to stick their tongue out for the first time!  I have noticed increased lift of the tongue, better side-to-side movement of the tongue, and newfound ability to cup the tongue as well.  Latching is more comfortable for mom and there is a decrease in the intake of air as baby feeds and general reduction of gassiness in baby.  Babies who have been referred by their physician to a dentist for a tongue and/or lip tie revision benefit greatly from receiving CFT in the days before the revision and following the revision.  Some mothers have noticed enough of an improvement in breastfeeding following CFT that they choose not to go and get the revision.  

Poop

Fascia strain around the digestive organs or in the sacrum can contribute to constipation and gas.  Parents bring their baby in saying that baby hasn’t pooped in days!  Unwinding this fascia tension usually results in a very full diaper either during the session or in the hours following it.  Within a few sessions elimination happens consistently on a regular basis.  

What else?

Parents have reported their baby’s head shape improving and becoming more smooth and round.  Parents have also reported baby smiles more, baby begins to unclench and unfurl hands, baby becomes more relaxed, baby rolls in both directions, teeth come in with less complaint, life with baby seems easier!  CFT sets babies up to thrive!

The post Basic Needs and the Newborn Baby appeared first on Spring Integrative Health.

[springintegrativehealth]

Wise words from Josh Overcash, Spring’s resident bodyworker:

Sleep.  Eat.  Poop.  Repeat.

This is the life of a newborn baby.  In a perfect world, there are no problems with the functioning of these basic needs but oftentimes I see babies in my practice at Spring Integrative Health who are struggling with quality sleep, feeding issues, and constipation and/or gas.

Positioning in-utero and birth trauma can and do contribute to tight fascia in the newborn, which can contribute to the fulfillment of these basic needs being compromised.  Fascia is one big web of soft connective tissue that wraps throughout the body.  Unwinding fascia tension in newborns using the Gillespie Approach of Craniosacral Fascial Therapy leads not only to healthier, smarter, stronger, and happier babies, it also helps relieve and resolve common complaints such as breastfeeding difficulties (latch, suck, and swallow), reflux, colic, constipation, indigestion/gas, and napping issues, as well as strabismus, torticollis, pyloric stenosis, stridor, and clubfoot.  

Sleep

Both parents and baby need good sleep.  When baby doesn’t sleep well, parents suffer.  Colicky babies don’t sleep well and CFT helps release tension in the digestive system so they can be more relaxed and less fussy.  CFT calms the whole body and allows the brain to “breathe,” calming the nervous system and allowing it to function in a more balanced way.  

Eat

Babies with restricted tongue movement enjoy more tongue mobility thanks to CFT.  It’s been incredible to watch babies be able to stick their tongue out for the first time!  I have noticed increased lift of the tongue, better side-to-side movement of the tongue, and newfound ability to cup the tongue as well.  Latching is more comfortable for mom and there is a decrease in the intake of air as baby feeds and general reduction of gassiness in baby.  Babies who have been referred by their physician to a dentist for a tongue and/or lip tie revision benefit greatly from receiving CFT in the days before the revision and following the revision.  Some mothers have noticed enough of an improvement in breastfeeding following CFT that they choose not to go and get the revision.  

Poop

Fascia strain around the digestive organs or in the sacrum can contribute to constipation and gas.  Parents bring their baby in saying that baby hasn’t pooped in days!  Unwinding this fascia tension usually results in a very full diaper either during the session or in the hours following it.  Within a few sessions elimination happens consistently on a regular basis.  

What else?

Parents have reported their baby’s head shape improving and becoming more smooth and round.  Parents have also reported baby smiles more, baby begins to unclench and unfurl hands, baby becomes more relaxed, baby rolls in both directions, teeth come in with less complaint, life with baby seems easier!  CFT sets babies up to thrive!