Beyond the Snip: Why Tongue Tie Releases Should Always Be Paired with Myotherapy

When parents hear about tongue ties, the focus is often on one thing: the release procedure. While this step is important, a release alone doesn’t guarantee success. In fact, without proper follow-up care, many patients experience lingering issues or even a relapse of symptoms. That’s where orofacial myofunctional therapy comes in.

What is a Tongue Tie Release?

A tongue tie release is a minor surgical procedure (often performed with a scalpel or laser) that frees restrictive tissue under the tongue. This restriction can impact breastfeeding, speech, chewing, swallowing, posture, and even breathing. Releasing the tie helps the tongue move more freely—but movement alone isn’t enough.

Why Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is Essential

Think of it like physical therapy after surgery. If you have knee surgery but don’t exercise your muscles, you won’t regain full function. The same is true for the tongue. Myofunctional therapy retrains the tongue, lips, and facial muscles to work properly, ensuring the release actually leads to long-term improvements.

• Pre-release therapy: Prepares the muscles and ensures the release is effective.

• Post-release therapy: Helps the tongue heal correctly, prevents scar tissue from limiting movement again, and teaches proper function.

• Whole-body impact: Supports better breathing, posture, speech, and swallowing after the procedure.

What Happens If You Skip Therapy?

Without OMT, a release can feel like “one step forward, two steps back.” Reattachment can occur, symptoms may return, and underlying dysfunctional habits—like mouth breathing or poor swallowing patterns—can remain unchanged. Pairing the two is what creates lasting results.

The OroGlow Approach

At OroGlow, we never view a tongue tie release as a quick fix. We combine education, exercises, and customized therapy plans to help patients retrain their muscles and achieve the outcomes they’re looking for—whether that’s easier breastfeeding, clearer speech, or functional breathing and sleep.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about a snip—it’s about healing and restoring function for life.

OroGlow Myofunctional & Speech Services in Abilene, TX specializes in pairing tongue tie releases with myofunctional therapy for lasting results. Our holistic approach helps children and adults improve oral function, breathing, speech, and overall wellness. Keywords: tongue tie release Abilene, myofunctional therapy Texas, tongue tie and speech, pediatric tongue tie, adult tongue tie therapy.