# Adult Tongue Ties: The New Clinical Fad or a Real Issue? **URL:** \ **Category:** MBBS\ **Tags:** general, futuredoctors, explore, medical\ **Created:** [July 13, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/adult-tongue-ties-the-new-clinical-fad-or-a-real-issue/21200 "2026-07-13T18:16:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Susangpatil](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/susangpatil/32/5101_2.png) [@Susangpatil](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Susangpatil)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/adult-tongue-ties-the-new-clinical-fad-or-a-real-issue/21200/1 "2026-07-13T18:16:23Z")
Tongue-tie ( **ankyloglossia** ) is often associated with infants, but more adults are now seeking evaluation and treatment. Is this a genuinely underdiagnosed condition, or has it become a growing clinical trend? ## THE CLINICAL REALITY While it is not a magical panacea, severe adult ankyloglossia _does_ cause genuine functional issues that need attention: - **MYOFACIAL PAIN:** Compensatory swallowing patterns lead to chronic TMJ disorder and cervical neck tension. - **AIRWAY POSTURE:** Restricted tongue posture contributes to mouth breathing and airway narrowing. - **ORAL HYGIENE:** Limited tongue mobility makes plaque control on the lingual mandibular anterior incredibly difficult. However, not every tongue-tie requires treatment. Many adults have a short frenulum without any symptoms. Procedures such as **frenotomy or frenuloplasty** should only be considered when there are clear functional problems and after a thorough clinical evaluation. As a dentist, I believe treatment should be guided by symptoms, function, and evidence—not social media trends. ![Adult toungue ties](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/uploads/medbound/original/2X/b/b4c0a83ab5bd0898a65dc0a409f2f1d5119e87fd.jpeg) ## 🎯 THE TAKEAWAY The truth lies in the middle. A frenectomy is a highly valuable clinical tool, but only when it is part of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment plan (often involving an ENT and myofunctional therapy). **Do you think adult tongue-ties are underdiagnosed, or are they becoming an over diagnosed trend? Share your thoughts in the comments!** MBH/PS ---
**Author:** ![Shija\_raj](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/shija_raj/32/5058_2.png) [@Shija\_raj](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Shija_raj)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2026, 7:43pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/adult-tongue-ties-the-new-clinical-fad-or-a-real-issue/21200/2 "2026-07-13T19:43:24Z")
Adult tongue ties are primarily viewed as underdiagnosed. Many adults live with completely functional speech but still suffer from long term neck tension, jaw pain which need to be addressed. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Mandru](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/dr.mandru/32/5619_2.png) [@Dr.Mandru](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Dr.Mandru)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/adult-tongue-ties-the-new-clinical-fad-or-a-real-issue/21200/3 "2026-07-15T16:59:15Z")
Clinical conditions like these are definitely underdiagnosed. The functional issues patients face are real and this highlights the fact that it is a condition is a potential concern which needs to be addressed. With the rise of social media, tongue-tie may seem like a “new” topic of discussion. But the truth is, it has been recognized as a clinical concern for a long time. Social media has simply brought more awareness to something that healthcare professionals have known for years. ---
**Author:** ![Susangpatil](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/susangpatil/32/5101_2.png) [@Susangpatil](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Susangpatil)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/adult-tongue-ties-the-new-clinical-fad-or-a-real-issue/21200/4 "2026-07-16T20:43:40Z")
Spot on, Shija! The absence of speech issues often masks the real physical toll it takes on the neck and jaw. Thanks for highlighting this! ---
**Author:** ![Susangpatil](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/susangpatil/32/5101_2.png) [@Susangpatil](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Susangpatil)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/adult-tongue-ties-the-new-clinical-fad-or-a-real-issue/21200/5 "2026-07-16T20:44:55Z")
I completely agree, Dr Mandru. Clinical knowledge has always been there, but public awareness is finally catching up. It is a great thing, as long as it leads to proper, comprehensive evaluations! ---
**Author:** ![mansyy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@mansyy](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/mansyy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/adult-tongue-ties-the-new-clinical-fad-or-a-real-issue/21200/6 "2026-08-01T17:22:25Z")
Being a mbbs student, i have a limited knowledge of this topic but it was a good read and a great informative post! ---
**Author:** ![Susangpatil](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/susangpatil/32/5101_2.png) [@Susangpatil](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Susangpatil)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 2:12pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/adult-tongue-ties-the-new-clinical-fad-or-a-real-issue/21200/7 "2026-08-05T14:12:46Z")
Thank you so much, @mansyy. Glad you found it informative and enjoyed the read!