The Hidden Link Between Tongue Tie, Sleep Apnoea & The Exhaustion You Can’t Shake
- Yulli Tamayo-Myerson
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Why your “Tiny” tongue tie could be a major cause of fatigue and what to do about it
By Yulli Tamayo-Myerson RDHT OMT BBM
Founder of Glossopostural Integration® | Founder of Myofunctional Therapy UK | Inventor of the YTM Tool and Method | Author & Co-Founder of the MyoBreathe Clubs
Are you tired all the time?
You eat well. You try to sleep for 8 hours. You’ve even cut back on caffeine. But every morning you wake up feeling like you ran a marathon overnight.
What if the real problem isn’t your sleep routine… but your tongue?
That’s right, a restricted tongue (aka tongue tie) or "lingual frenulum alteration" as I like to call it, could be affecting:
Your airway
Your jaw and body posture
Leading to snoring, sleep apnoea, and exhaustion
...and most people, even doctors, might not see it coming.
Could this be you?
If you or your child struggles with:
· Mouth breathing (day or night)
· Snoring, gasping or disrupted sleep
· Waking with a dry mouth, sore jaw, or headache
· Constant fatigue despite 7–9 hours of sleep
…you could have an undiagnosed tongue tie, and a Myofunctional Therapy comprehensive evaluation might be the breakthrough you need.
1. How a “minor” tongue tie can majorly disrupt sleep
Most people think of tongue tie (ankyloglossia) as a baby problem. Something that only affects breastfeeding. However, tongue ties don’t disappear with age. They can affect anyone, children, teens, and adults alike.
Here’s what’s happening:
A tight frenulum (the string under your tongue) limits tongue mobility.
Your tongue is then not able to rest against the palate where it should be.
It drops low in your mouth, adding weight to your lower jaw, propping the mouth open, and in some people, partially collapsing into your airway at night.
You switch to mouth breathing, triggering fragmented and oxygen-poor sleep.
Research shows up to 50% of children with sleep apnoea have an undiagnosed tongue tie. Many adults are affected too, and have no idea.
2. Why Myofunctional Therapy is the missing piece
You may have heard of a frenectomy, a quick procedure that releases the tongue tie. However, without therapy, 40–50% of patients relapse into poor tongue posture.
That’s where Myofunctional Therapy comes in. This series of orofacial exercises retrains your tongue and orofacial muscles to:
✔ Rest properly on the palate
✔ Support nasal breathing day and night
✔ Swallow efficiently
✔ Keep your airway open naturally
It’s non-invasive, child-friendly, and works for adults too.
3. Real Stories: “We Finally Slept Through the Night”
Emma, 7 Years Old
Symptoms: Snoring, mouth breathing, constant colds
Diagnosis: Severe tongue tie + sleep-disordered breathing
Treatment: Myofunctional Therapy, YTM Tool, frenectomy
· No more snoring
· Fewer infections
· Sharper focus at school
“Emma wakes up happy now. We didn’t realise how exhausted she was until she wasn’t anymore.”
James, 35
Symptoms: Fatigue, jaw pain, mild sleep apnoea
Diagnosis: Undetected tongue tie impacting posture and breathing
Treatment: Myofunctional Therapy, YTM Tool, frenectomy
Result:
· 60% fewer apnoea episodes
· Less jaw tension
· Renewed energy and focus
“No one had ever checked my tongue before. It changed my sleep more than my CPAP ever did.”
4. For Clinicians: Why Screening Matters
If you’re an SLT, dentist, ENT, osteopath, or airway-focused practitioner, this is critical.
Here’s why:
· Post-frenectomy relapse is common without neuromuscular retraining
· Myofunctional Therapy strengthens airway tone and reduces OSA severity
· Quick screen tip: Ask patients to lift their tongue to the roof of their mouth. If it feels strained or doesn’t reach, refer for assessment.
This isn’t just “exercises.” It’s a neurological upgrade for lifelong breathing health.
5. Quick Self-Check: Could This Be You?
Take 30 seconds:
1. Close your mouth and breathe through your nose. Is it easy or hard?
2. Press your tongue to the roof of your mouth. Does it feel strained?
3. Do you wake up with a dry mouth, sore jaw, or headache?
4. Has anyone told you that you snore or grind your teeth?
If you said yes to any of these, a tongue tie might be the hidden culprit.
What to Do Next:
For Patients:
Book a Consultation – We’ll assess your tongue, posture, and breathing.
Email us today at info@mftuk.uk
For Clinicians:
Refer a patient – We work with dentists, ENTs, SLTs & osteopaths.
Join our courses – Learn to integrate the YTM® Method, Glossopostural Integration®, and Myofunctional Therapy into your practice.
Final Thought: It’s Not Just About the Tongue
It’s about oxygen.
It’s about sleep.
It’s about waking up with energy, clarity, and health.
That “tiny” tongue tie might be the last thing you expected to affect your sleep, but it could be the first thing to change your life.
Written by: Yulli Tamayo-Myerson RDHT OMT BBM
Founder of Glossopostural Integration®
Founder of Myofunctional Therapy UK
Inventor of the YTM Tool and Method
Author & Co-Founder of the MyoBreathe Clubs
Comments