Unveiling the Impact of Tongue Ties and Oral Health: Insights from North Carolina Tongue Tie Center

October 11, 2024

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In a recent episode of Triangle Dentistry Talk, Dr. Bernstein had the pleasure of interviewing Danielle Carey MS, CCC-SLP, COM®, a speech-language pathologist and Board-Certified Orofacial Myologist™ with over 12 years of experience. Danielle, now working with North Carolina Tongue Tie Center, shared invaluable insights into tongue ties, oral health, and their far-reaching effects on overall well-being.

Meet Danielle Carey

Danielle Carey brings a wealth of experience and specialized training to her role at North Carolina Tongue Tie Center. Her credentials include:

  • MS, CCC-SLP (Master of Science, Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology)
  • COM® (Certified Orofacial Myologist)
  • Board-Certified Orofacial Myologist™, granted by the International Association of Orofacial Myology
  • Specialty training in infant feeding and TOTS: Tethered Oral Tissues Specialty Training
  • Basic DIR/Floortime Certification
  • Advanced training in Childhood Apraxia of Speech, recognized by Apraxia Kids
  • SOS Approach to Feeding certification

Danielle is a member of ASHA, ICAP, and the IAOM. She also serves as a Clinical Instructor for several continuing education companies, including Summit Professional Education, Medbridge, Education Resources Inc., and Northern Speech Services.

Key Insights from Our Conversation

  • Understanding Tongue Ties: Danielle explained that tongue ties can affect individuals from birth, often manifesting in breastfeeding difficulties for infants.
  • Oral Facial Myofunctional Disorders: These disorders occur when there’s inappropriate rest posture of the mouth, affecting breathing, swallowing, and muscle patterns of the face.
  • Signs to Watch For:
    • Mouth breathing (more than 30% of the time is considered severe)
    • Excessive teeth grinding
    • Sleep-disordered breathing
    • Picky eating habits
  • Impact on Speech and Eating: Tongue ties can lead to difficulties with specific sounds (s, z, sh, l, r) and messy eating habits due to reduced lingual and labial muscle control.
  • Holistic Approach to Treatment: Danielle emphasizes a team-based approach, involving orthodontists, allergists, sleep doctors, and other specialists to address the multifaceted nature of these issues.

Quotes from Danielle Carey

“Parents are the experts in their kids. If you have a concern, follow your parent gut, your mama gut, your daddy gut, your caregiver gut.”

“Just because we’re called North Carolina Tongue Center doesn’t mean you’re going to walk in and we’re going to be like, ‘Okay, okay, okay.’ We’re going to be asking you questions.”

The Importance of Early Intervention

Danielle stressed the significance of addressing these issues early. For instance, she noted, “If your child is breathing more than 30% of the time through their mouth, that’s considered severe. So if you have that kiddo that day and night, they’re walking around mouth open, then we’re going to have a really good indication that they might need some support.”

Conclusion

Understanding and addressing tongue ties and oral health issues can have profound effects on a child’s development, from improved sleep and breathing to better eating habits and speech. Danielle Carey and the team at North Carolina Tongue Tie Center are at the forefront of providing comprehensive care for these often overlooked issues.

To learn more about tongue ties, oral health, and how they might be affecting you or your child, we encourage you to watch the full interview with Danielle Carey. Her insights provide valuable information for parents, caregivers, and anyone interested in the intricate connections between oral health and overall well-being.

Don’t miss out on future expert interviews and insights. Subscribe to Triangle Dentistry Talk on YouTube and follow us on social media for more in-depth discussions on dental health and its impact on your life.

About Danielle Carey

Danielle is passionate about providing individualized, neurodiverse affirming care to all clients. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time at the beach with her two children, husband, and dogs. She also loves building her house plant collection, hiking, and reading.