TONGUE-TIE SUPPORTIVE THERAPIES
Helping babies achieve optimal comfort, feeding, and function
At Best Western Dental Centre, we take a whole-body approach to caring for babies with oral restrictions. Many infants present with tongue ties, lip ties, and buccal (cheek) ties, which may affect feeding, comfort, and oral development. While a Waterlase frenectomy improves mobility of the restricted tissues, many babies also benefit from gentle supportive therapies that address tension and compensations in the jaw, cheeks, neck, and body.
These therapies help prepare babies for treatment, support recovery, and enhance long-term feeding outcomes.
Why Supportive Therapies Are Helpful
Oral restrictions can cause babies to work harder during feeding. When the tongue, lips, or cheeks have limited movement, infants often use surrounding muscles to compensate. This can create tension in the neck, shoulders, jaw, and face.
Babies may struggle to:
Latch deeply and maintain suction
Open the mouth widely
Coordinate sucking and swallowing
Stay comfortable during feeds
Transfer milk effectively
Supportive therapies help release this tension so babies can use their improved tongue, lip, and cheek mobility more efficiently after the release.
How Tongue, Lip, and Buccal Ties Affect the Body
Restricted oral tissues can lead to a range of compensations and feeding difficulties, including:
Shallow latch or sliding off the breast or bottle
Clicking or loss of suction
Preference for turning the head to one side
Cheek tension leading to poor suction
Noisy, inefficient, or tiring feeds
Increased wind, gas, or reflux
Fussiness or arching
Limited mouth opening or jaw tension
These patterns may persist even after release unless the underlying muscle tightness is addressed.
Before and After the Frenectomy
Before the release:
Gentle bodywork can help improve jaw, neck, cheek, and tongue mobility. This often results in a smoother procedure and helps the tongue lift more freely.
After the release:
As babies adjust to their new mobility, supportive therapies assist with:
Coordinating tongue, lip, cheek, and jaw movement
Reducing muscle tension from old compensations
Supporting oral stretching exercises
Improving latch depth, suction, and feeding efficiency
Many parents notice better latch, more comfortable feeds, reduced wind, and a more settled baby.
Our Collaborative Approach
To support your baby’s care, we collaborate with experienced local practitioners who understand infant feeding, anatomy, and oral function. These therapies complement the frenectomy and help achieve the best possible outcomes.
Below are trusted providers who offer:
Osteopathy
Chiropractic care
Physiotherapy
Myotherapy
Orofacial myofunctional therapy
Parents may choose any practitioner they feel comfortable with. This list is provided for convenience and continuity of care.
Recommended Practitioners
Osteopath & Lactation Consultant – Dr Reena Murray
Website:
www.completelyaligned.com.au
Phone:
(02) 4655 5588
Address:
Shop 10 / 180–186 Argyle Street, Camden
Chiropractor – Dr Kara Hayes
BSc (Psychology), DC (Doctor of Chiropractic)
Website:
proformphysiotherapy.com.au
Email:
kara@proformphysiotherapy.com.au
Phone:
(02) 8320 6186
Address:
Shop 8, 11 John Hines Avenue, Minchinbury, NSW 2770
Lactation Consultant – Blissful Babies
Website:
www.blissfulbabies.com.au
Phone:
0400 673 881
Email:
info@blissfulbabies.com.au
Note on Best Outcomes
Supportive therapies, when combined with precise Waterlase treatment and recommended home exercises, provide the best chance for improved feeding, comfort, and long-term oral function.