All Tied Up?
Speech is a complex process involving the tongue, lips, teeth and vocal cords. Some types of speech problems can partly be caused by the tongue. It is often detected in young children just learning to speak, but it can sometimes be missed and carry on into adulthood as well. For some patients, the tongue cannot move normally and cannot even touch the roof of their mouth. The reason for the problem is due to restrictive muscle attachments.
There can be an attachment from the tip of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Sometimes these muscle attachments can also connect from the lips to the gums that can restrict lip movements. Certain words, for example, “thirsty” or “thoughtful “cannot be pronounced properly. There may even be a lisp. In everyday terms, these conditions are referred to as “tongue-tie”.
Fortunately, modern dentistry has a permanent remedy for this issue. The dentist can solve the problem by performing a minor surgical procedure to release these attachments that could also be done with a laser. The muscle attachment is partially or totally cut to allow free movement of the tongue. Speech will become much clearer and the words well-articulated.
The procedure itself is carried out under local anesthetic and typically only takes a few minutes. The healing process after the procedure is also very rapid and provides instant relief to the patient’s symptoms.
If you’re having concerns with your speech and suspect that you might be having a tongue-tie, make an appointment with the expert team at Acharya Dental to diagnose and resolve your problem today!