Ankyloglossia (tongue tie), and other oral ties, is a common problem among infants. The data and research on the cause of oral ties is incomplete leaving the origin of the problem under debate. Most importantly, treatment options and the effectiveness of care has become a sensitive topic for families who are searching for solutions or have suffered with all the problems that accompany oral ties.

We have heard countless stories of trauma from the frenectomy procedure, the stress of the after care, the possibility of “reattachment”, and/or the chance that the frenectomy will be ineffective, all leaving a family stressed, traumatized, and searching for another solution.

This article on ankyloglossia has been written to share our clinical experiences and research with over 3000 patients, of all ages, spanning over a decade. This information is intended to serve as an adjunct to supervised healthcare. Our work, Fascial Matrix Connection Method®/Matrix Energy Healing, is an innovative state-of-the-art approach that is utilized to enhance other methods and procedures, accelerating the healing response.

With that being said, we have found, in our experience and research, that the issue of an oral tie is not the primary problem but is itself a symptom of a different issue – one that can be corrected through addressing the Fascial Matrix.

THE PROBLEM

Are we so focused on the small piece of tethered oral tissue that we are missing the bigger picture?

We believe the “bigger issue” is being overlooked in many cases.

In our ongoing work with infants, we have encountered many infants suffering from ankyloglossia (tongue tie) and/or other forms of oral ties.

An infant who suffers from ankyloglossia may experience breastfeeding difficulties such as latch problems, disorganized tongue, and intraoral restrictions causing difficulties with the suck, swallow, breath coordination. A child who suffers from ankyloglossia as an infant may eventually evolve into speech issues, food aversions, and other restrictions that can impact the formation of the oral cavity extending into the pharynx, causing breathing issues or dental issues.

After evaluating and treating these children, we began to see patterns within the fascial network of the body that warranted questioning the cause of this condition. In searching for the information about tongue tie, we found little mention of the cause, other than a possible genetic link, birth defect, or mutation that occurs during development.

CLINICAL FINDINGS

We began by investigating the fetal development sequence of the tongue and the mandible. During the growth of the embryo, in the first trimester, the connective tissue is significant in that it establishes the arrangement of structures as the embryo grows. The way the embryo/fetus lies in the uterus determines the ultimate pattern of the spine, as well as the blueprint of the entire connective tissue arrangement. i.e., whether the head is to the right or left or how arms are curled or twisted during development. These are all crucial factors in the final architecture of the infant.

The in-utero positioning also influences the development of the oral structures. The tongue and mandible development have common origins. They arise simultaneously from the four pharyngeal/mandibular arches and are coordinated in their development and growth. The tongue begins with the formation of the medial triangular elevation on the top of the mandibular arch, called the median lingual swelling. The tongue does not develop whole, but rather emerges from the sides of the arch.

From each pharyngeal arch derives a section of the mouth and throat anatomy. These tissue layers must slide forward, retract, and bend, and reposition themselves very specifically before the oral cavity development is complete.

After studying the details of the sequence for tongue and mandible development through the lens of a manual therapist, it became clear that there are many opportunities for restrictions or development disruptions to occur within the tongue and oral structures. It appears that if the early mandibular/pharyngeal arch is adversely compressed or twisted, tongue development would be disrupted. The growth of the tongue appears to be sensitive to the growth of the mandible and surrounding structures, including the fascial network of the cranium.

Since each of those layers will give rise to many structures through a complex sequence of cellular differentiation and tissue migration, it is reasonable to suggest that any stress or strain present could potentially affect the success of both function and configuration.

It is also essential to look beyond the lens of the oral structures. As the cranium and oral structures are developing, so is the fascial matrix of the entire body. The soft tissue architecture extends into the core, pelvis, and limbs into one continuous web. The position of the oral structures are in turn directly linked to the position of the core and pelvis. This system is developed through the intricate full body connection, down to the cellular level.

THE FASCIAL MATRIX AND TREATMENT

The Fascial Matrix is both a tissue and a system.

Fascial tissue is a silvery white connective tissue that surrounds every muscle, bone, organ, nerve, and vessel down to the cellular level. This connective tissue forms a three-dimensional web or MATRIX that connects from head to toe, arm to arm, without interruption. This system’s function is to support vital organs in their correct position and provide cohesion to all the body structures. The Fascial Matrix keeps everything separate yet interconnected at the same time.

While it is a multifaceted entanglement of tissue within each body system, the Fascial Matrix performs a more complex role in the body. 

Within the Fascial Matrix, we find imprints of the stresses of our life experiences, some of them being traumas. These imprints begin during fetal development and include our womb experience. Our birth experience creates an additional imprint within the weave of the fascial tissue.

From there, we may experience other life traumas or stresses. These can be in the form of accidents, surgeries, medical procedures, or emotional wounds, all which result in bracing patterns, scars, adhesions, and crystallizations within the weave of the fascia. 

Over time, the imprints of traumas overlap, layer, and intertwine creating further restrictions. Fascial restrictions can create substantial pressure within the nervous system, the muscular system, the digestive system, the urogenital system, the respiratory system, and the lymphatic system.

Fascial restrictions pull or twist into adjacent or distant areas from the original trauma and have an effect like compressive bands (rubber bands) which limit the function and structure of the body. This effect can leave someone feeling like they are confined in a straitjacket. 

To the untrained eye, these bands are undetectable or seemingly invisible. The result is functional or structural imbalances that can impair pre- and post-natal development, as well as accumulate and affect a person for a lifetime. These restrictions and bands impact the tongue and ALL areas of the oropharyngeal component.

Upon restructuring and elongating the position of the mandible and the throat tissues, through the application of the Fascial Matrix Connection Method® (FMCM)/Matrix Energy Healing techniques, the tongue could then be similarly, successfully restructured and elongated. These techniques access the sublingual frenulum and ALL corresponding tissues that contribute to the “tongue tie”.

Another important aspect that we believe should always be addressed is the restriction and tension found in the soft tissues of the face. The fascial weave of the face is directly impacted during fetal development (from in utero position and compression), as well as from the birthing experience. Additionally, if an infant is premature and receives NICU care, or receives other medical intervention as an infant, he/she will experience a direct impact on the soft tissues of the cranium. These experiences create an imprint of trauma with the network of the fascia of the cranium and face, thus affecting oral function. In our clinical research and experience, we have found that the tension, which is held within the soft tissues/fascia of the face, can directly impact the position and function of the tongue.

CONCLUSION

The fascial strain patterns that become apparent to us in so many of the pediatric cases that we have worked with suggest that the fascial tension and position of the mandible, along with the soft tissue tension in the cranium and face can, in deed, dictate the position of the tongue and its surrounding tissues. This, in turn, can directly affects the function of the tongue.

These patterns are not limited to the oral, face, and throat tissues. The fascial restrictions create pathways and connection points down the midline of the body, connecting to the pelvic structures that result in “fetal” flexion strain. The oral structures are contained within a much larger network of fascia which sits within a full body system.

Through our ongoing work and research, it was determined that restrictions that occur within the tongue are not limited to that area. The restrictions run through the fascial lines of the body, like a runner in a nylon stocking, creating twists and pulls within any structure that fall in its path.

While clipping or lasering the frenulum will sometimes allow for short-term positive changes within breastfeeding and weight gain concerns, the true culprit of all the dysfunction is lurking beneath the surface of the tissues, waiting for the next missed developmental marker to present. The tongue tie is but the tip of the iceberg. In our clinical applications and research, we often find fascial restrictions hiding that can twist and compress any major structure within the throat, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis, all connecting to the fascia of the tongue/surrounding soft tissue.

We have documented these global restrictions, which commonly present in a child who is diagnosed with oral ties. In most cases, these children also presented with one or more of these symptoms: reflux, spitting up, chronic gas, open mouth posture, sleep apnea, toe walking, W-sitting, food aversions, and more.

Our findings point to the initial understanding that in many cases, the tongue tie is not the problem, but itself a symptom. With this in mind, we work closely with healthcare providers to improve patient care. This ongoing collaboration allows for optimization of the healing process and helps children thrive.

ABOUT

The Myers Institute® is a practice based on the Fascial Matrix Connection Method® and Matrix Energy Healing. Matrix Energy Healing is a form of remote intuitive energy work which accesses the physical and emotional stresses that have imprinted in the body. This advanced approach unites the principles of the Fascial Matrix Connection Method® and Quantum Physics to facilitate changes and healing within the fascial matrix.

Matrix Energy Healing/FMCM addresses these global restrictions in the network of the fascial matrix and addresses the oral tie issue as a comprehensive approach rather than isolating and focusing solely on the tethered tissue.

Copyright 2019