Why Pre- and Post-Therapy Matter: A Key to Successful Tongue Tie Releases

Tongue ties can affect many important areas of life, like eating, speaking, breathing, sleeping, and how the face and mouth grow. Whether you're a parent helping your baby or an adult who’s had problems for years, it’s important to know that a tongue tie release is not just a quick fix.

At Sip Swallow Speech, our team of tongue tie experts in Brunswick, Maine, helps people through the whole journey, before and after the tongue tie release. This full support helps make sure the treatment really works and lasts long term.

What Is a Tongue Tie?

A tongue tie (also called ankyloglossia) is when the thin tissue under the tongue is too short or too tight. This can prevent the tongue from moving as it should. Tongue ties can cause problems with breastfeeding, speech, swallowing, breathing, and growth of the mouth.

Releasing the tongue tie with a small procedure (called a frenectomy or frenotomy) can help, but it may not be enough. If the muscles (if they haven’t been functioning well prior) and/or if the right support are not provided in the recovery phase, the results may not be permanent or helpful.

That’s why support before and after the release is just as important as the release itself.

Why Pre-Therapy Is So Important

Getting ready for the release is one of the most important steps. Many people don’t realize that the tongue is a muscle, and just like any muscle, it needs practice and training to work well.

If the tongue hasn’t moved properly in a long time (or ever), it won’t automatically start working just because it’s released. It needs to learn how.

At Sip Swallow Speech, we create a plan that fits each person’s needs. We use a holistic, personalized approach to help babies, kids, and adults build muscle strength, learn better movement, and get ready for the release.

Benefits of doing therapy before the procedure include:

● Better tongue movement and control

● Improved feeding and speaking after the release

● A lower chance of the tongue reattaching

● A smoother, easier experience overall

For babies, this might include learning how to latch better during breastfeeding or bottle feeding. For toddlers or older children, it can include fun mouth exercises. For adults, it may help with long-term issues like jaw pain, unclear speech, or poor sleep caused by mouth breathing.

Why Post-Therapy Is Just as Important

After the tongue is released, the work isn’t over. The tongue needs to learn how to move and work the right way. It should be able to lift, stretch, and move in all directions, and it needs to work well with the lips, cheeks, and jaw.

If someone doesn’t get help after the release, they may run into issues like:

● The tongue reattaching

● Slow or poor healing

● Trouble eating or speaking that doesn’t go away.

● New habits that cause other problems

That’s why we provide customized therapy after the release, based on each person’s age, needs, and goals. We guide families through healing stretches, exercises, and feeding support, and work together with other professionals (like doctors and lactation consultants) to help everything come together smoothly.

Our tongue tie consulting services are made to support you every step of the way.

Meet Gina VanDeusen – Helping Families with Care and Experience

Gina VanDeusen, M.A., CCC-SLP, is the founder of Sip Swallow Speech. She’s a licensed speech-language pathologist with over 13 years of experience. She helps people of all ages with speech, feeding, swallowing, communication, and mouth function.

Gina is not only a professional, she’s also a mom. When her own toddler was born with tongue and lip ties, it affected feeding and daily life. That experience led her to study even more about tongue ties, feeding issues, and mouth therapy. She brings both clinical skills and personal understanding to her work.

Gina’s approach is:

● Functional: She focuses on real-life goals like eating better, speaking more clearly, or breathing easier

● Holistic: She looks at the full picture, not just one issue at a time.

● Team-based: She works closely with families and other professionals for the best result.s

She has completed many advanced trainings in areas like:

● Pediatric feeding (Feed The Peds®, AEIOU, GOMAP)

● Mouth muscle therapy and tongue/lip tie care (TOTs)

● Swallowing and voice therapy

● Infant and toddler feeding and growth

● Airway and sleep health

Gina continues to learn and attend national courses so she can bring the latest and best strategies to her clients.

How the Right Support Can Change Everything

Getting a tongue tie released isn’t just about cutting the tissue; it’s about helping the body learn to function better. Families who get support both before and after the release often notice:

● Faster healing

● Better eating or speaking

● Less stress and more confidence

● A stronger foundation for growth and learning

Let Sip Swallow Speech Help You Through It

If you think a tongue tie is affecting your child or yourself, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Sip Swallow Speech provides caring and expert tongue-tie consulting services to help you understand your options and get the help you need.

As trusted tongue tie experts in Brunswick, Maine, we’ll support you every step of the way, before, during, and after the release. You’ll feel informed, supported, and ready to move forward with confidence.

Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation. Let’s work together to improve function, comfort, and lifelong health.