Why Pre-Release Chiropractic is a Game-Changer for Tongue Tie Release
You’ve navigated the challenges, sought answers, and now you have a plan: your child is scheduled for a tongue or lip tie release. For many parents in Bismarck, this moment brings a wave of relief and hope for smoother feeding, better sleep, and a more comfortable baby.
The release procedure itself, especially with a skilled provider like our colleague Dr. Renz at All Smiles Bismarck, is a pivotal moment. But what if you could make that moment even more effective? What if you could lay the groundwork for a faster, smoother, and more successful recovery before the procedure even happens?
That’s the goal of pre-release therapy. It’s the essential first step that addresses the tension and compensatory patterns your baby has already developed. Here at Maximized Chiropractic, we dig deep into this prep work because we’ve seen firsthand how it transforms outcomes.
More Than Just a "Snip": Understanding Your Baby's Patterns
From birth (and even in the womb), your baby's body has been working around the restriction of a tongue or lip tie. To latch, to swallow, and to breathe, their muscles have developed clever, but inefficient, workarounds. Think of how you would feel if you were born with your fingers glued together. That’s all you would know! If someone were to come in and unglue your fingers, it would be like learning to use your hand for the first time. Your baby’s tongue is no different.
This compensation creates a cascade of tension. Tightness in the tongue is rarely an isolated issue. It's often connected to:
A tight jaw: The inability to open the mouth wide for a deep latch.
A tense neck: Babies may favor one side or seem uncomfortable having their head turned.
Stiff shoulders and upper back: Their whole body tenses up to compensate during feeding.
Simply releasing the tie without addressing this built-up tension is like unlocking a door that's still stuck in a warped frame. The latch is there, but the muscles haven't yet learned how to use it effectively. Pre-release therapy is how we fix the frame before unlocking the door.
Our Gentle & Collaborative Approach to Pre-Release Preparation
When you come to our office for pre-release care, you gain a team that works together to gently prepare your baby’s body and empower you as a parent.
Foundational Care: Pediatric Chiropractic
Our pediatric-certified chiropractic care is the cornerstone of our pre-release protocol. We uses incredibly gentle and specific adjustments—often just the pressure you could comfortably place on your eye—to release tension. The focus is on:
The Cranial System & Jaw (TMJ): To improve mobility and allow for a wider, more comfortable gape. This makes the release procedure easier for your baby and gives Dr. Renz better access.
The Upper Cervical Spine (Neck): To relieve tightness that impacts head turning and latching comfort.
The Nervous System: To calm the body’s overall stress response, helping your baby feel more relaxed and regulated going into the procedure.
Feeding Support: Lactation Counseling
Our lactation counselors provide immediate support for the primary challenge: feeding. They work with you now to:
Find Comfortable Positions: Implement new nursing or bottle-feeding positions that reduce strain on both you and baby.
Manage Symptoms: Provide strategies to make feeding less stressful and more efficient, even before the release.
Create a Plan: Help you prepare for post-release feeding, setting realistic expectations and goals.
Investing in pre-release care provides tangible benefits:
For Baby: They enter the procedure with less tension, which can lead to a more comfortable experience and a smoother recovery.
For the Dental Provider: A less restricted oral environment allows for a more complete and effective release of the problem.
For You: You are empowered with knowledge, exercises, and a solid support system. You are no longer a passive observer but an active, crucial part of your child’s care team.
Take the First Step Toward a Successful Release
Your child's wellness journey is a partnership, and preparation is the key to success. By dedicating time to pre-release care, you are giving your child an incredible head start on healing and function.
If your child has been diagnosed with a tongue or lip tie, let's work together to build the foundation for the best possible outcome!
