Adult/Child Tongue Tie Post-Op Exercises

TONGUE-TIE RELEASE

Your goal is to have the area heal and re-form as far back as possible to give the most mobility.

  1. STARTING TOMORROW: With a clean or gloved finger, push down behind the teeth in the floor of the mouth, and swipe/push into and up the tongue (on the diamond), lifting the tongue at the top of the diamond in the middle of the tongue. Your goal is to see the whole diamond open up and lengthen. It may bleed slightly when it is stretched. This is not a concern.
  2. Repeat this 4 times a day for 3 weeks. Quality stretches are the key.
  3. Move the tongue as much as possible by sticking it out and holding for 10 sec, out to the left, right, open wide and lift up and paint the roof, make clicking noises, and clean off the teeth. Do these exercises as often as possible, but try for 3 times a day or as directed by your therapist.

LIP-TIE RELEASE

The goal is for the lip to heal and be able to lift as high as possible.

  1. STARTING TOMORROW: Pull the lip up as high as possible, high enough to press against the nose. You want to see the whole white diamond open up. Press gently but firmly right on the wound to massage it and keep the diamond open. It may bleed slightly when this is done, but this is not a concern.
  2. Repeat 4 times a day for 3 weeks.

The released area will form a wet scab after the first day. It will appear white/yellow and soft because it is wet (not infected). This area is what you will be pressing against. The healing will be happening under the scab, just like a scrape anywhere else on your body. The white area will get smaller each day. Even though the white scab will heal you MUST continue the stretching or the new frenum will not be as long as possible and the surgery may need to be repeated.

Eat whatever foods that can be tolerated. Pain relief maybe needed the first few days. Take Ibuprofen or Tylenol as directed on the package. If the lip-tie was released, it is normal for the lip to swell up slightly. This swelling will go down after a day or two. The wound will be sore for a few days, at one week look much better, and at two weeks look almost normal. A slight fever is normal the first day. If you’re concerned the area is growing back together please come back for a visit. Treatment with a myofunctional therapist is recommended for full rehabilitation.

If you have any questions, please contact us: (319) 472-3282