Tongue & Lip Tie Support in Eden Prairie
If your baby is struggling to latch, seems extra gassy or fussy, or feeding just doesn’t feel right, you’re certainly not alone. At Real Health Chiropractic Clinic, we help families navigate tongue and lip tie concerns with gentle, neurologically focused care designed specifically for newborns.
What Is a Tongue or Lip Tie?
A tongue tie (ankyloglossia) occurs when the frenulum—the band of tissue under the tongue—is tight, thick, or restrictive, limiting tongue movement. A lip tie involves the tissue connecting the upper lip to the gums. When mobility is restricted, babies may have difficulty latching or staying latched, make clicking sounds while nursing, cause painful breastfeeding for mom, or show signs of gassiness, reflux-like symptoms, slow weight gain, a preference for one side, or torticollis (tight neck muscles).
It’s worth noting that not every tie causes problems, and not every feeding issue is a tie. That’s why a thorough evaluation matters.
Why Consider Chiropractic Care?
Feeding is not just about the mouth. It’s a full-body process involving neurological and muscular coordination. Birth, especially long labor, fast deliveries, or assisted births, can create tension patterns in a newborn’s neck, jaw, and cranial bones. Even when a tie is present, restricted body movement and nervous system stress often contribute to feeding challenges.
Eden Prairie Chiropractor Dr. ShaRhae Matousek shares, “I always assess the whole baby, not just the frenulum. When we gently release tension in the neck, jaw, and upper spine, we often see feeding become smoother and more comfortable.”
With over 25 years of experience and a Fellowship in Pediatrics and Obstetrics through the ICPA, Dr. ShaRhae uses light-touch pediatric techniques and craniosacral therapy. There is no forceful twisting or cracking involved.
What to Expect at Your Visit
At your newborn’s appointment in our practice, Dr. ShaRhae will review your pregnancy and birth history, assess latch challenges and feeding patterns, evaluate neck mobility, jaw motion, and cranial alignment, and check nervous system tone and reflexes. From there, she creates a personalized care plan tailored to your baby.
Adjustments for infants use gentle fingertip pressure, about the amount you would use to test a ripe tomato. Care is calm, precise, and always tailored to your baby’s comfort.
Do You Diagnose or Release Ties?
Dr. ShaRhae evaluates oral function and tension patterns but does not perform frenectomies. If a release is appropriate, she collaborates with trusted pediatric dentists, lactation consultants (IBCLCs), midwives, and other providers in the Eden Prairie and Twin Cities area.
Chiropractic care can be helpful before a release to reduce tension, after a frenectomy to support healing and improve mobility, or in cases where conservative care may improve feeding without surgical intervention. The goal is always functional improvement, not just appearance.
How Many Visits Are Needed?
Every baby is different, of course. Some families notice improvement quickly. Others benefit from a short series of visits to help retrain coordination and reduce nervous system stress. We regularly reassess progress and always explain care recommendations clearly.
Ready to Support Your Baby’s Feeding Journey?
If latching feels like a struggle right now, know that help is closer than you think. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation and take the next step toward calmer, more comfortable feeds for your baby!
