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Why Your Airway Collapses — and How to Fix It
Most people treated for sleep apnea are given a solution: a CPAP machine or an oral appliance. Both work. But for many patients, they're treating the effect, not the cause. The question worth asking is: why is your airway collapsing in the first place?
The answer is often structural and muscular. Your airway depends on your tongue resting in the right place, your muscles staying toned, and your breathing happening through your nose. When any of those break down, the airway suffers — especially during sleep.
The Tongue's Role in Your Airway
Most people don't think about where their tongue rests. It should be resting gently on the roof of
the mouth, pressed against the palate, with the tip just behind the front teeth. That position
creates a natural seal, supports nasal breathing, and holds the airway open.
When the tongue rests on the floor of the mouth instead — which is far more common than
most people realize — it falls back toward the throat during sleep. That's one of the primary
causes of airway obstruction, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea.
A tongue tie makes this much worse. If a band of tissue under the tongue is restricting its
movement, the tongue physically cannot reach the palate to rest properly. The result is a tongu
that defaults to the floor of the mouth, a compromised airway, and disrupted sleep — often for
years before anyone connects the dots.
What Is A Tongue Tie?
A tongue tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition where the frenulum — the small band of tissue attaching the tongue to the floor of the mouth — is too short, too thick, or too tight, limiting how freely the tongue can move. Tongue ties are often dismissed as a minor issue or something that only affects infants and nursing. In reality, they affect people across all ages and can drive a wide range of symptoms including:
• Chronic snoring and sleep apnea
• Mouth breathing and chronic congestion
• Jaw pain, teeth grinding, and TMJ symptoms
• Dental crowding and narrow palate development
• Speech difficulties
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or opening the mouth fully
• Forward head posture and neck tension
I Have A Tongue Tie, Now What?
Step 1: Tongue Tie Release (Frenectomy)
A frenectomy is a quick, minimally invasive procedure that releases the restrictive tissue under the tongue. Dr. Ousley performs frenectomies at her dental office, using a laser under local
anesthesia. Most procedures take only a few minutes, and patients return to normal activity the same day.
Step 2: Myofunctional Therapy
Releasing a tongue tie is only the first step. Muscles that have been restricted for years need to be retrained. Without therapy after a frenectomy, the tongue often reverts to its old position,
reattachment is more likely, and the airway impact remains.
Myofunctional therapy is a structured exercise program — like physical therapy for the tongue, lips, and airway muscles. It retrains the tongue to rest correctly, builds nasal breathing habits, corrects swallowing patterns, and improves the muscle tone that supports a stable airway during sleep.
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We partner with Jennifer DeJonge, RDH, OMT, of OMT of Oklahoma for this work. Jennifer is a registered dental hygienist with over 22 years of clinical experience, advanced myofunctional therapy training, and a deep focus on airway-related care. She sees patients ages 4 and up,
both in-person and virtually throughout Oklahoma.
Who Should Consider This Approach?
A tongue tie evaluation may be worth discussing if you:
• Have sleep apnea or snoring that hasn't resolved fully with an appliance or CPAP
• Have been told you have a tongue tie, even if you were told it's "minor"
• Struggle with mouth breathing, especially at night
• Clench or grind your teeth
• Have chronic jaw pain, neck tension, or headaches
• Are a parent of a child with speech delays, breathing issues, or sleep problems
You don't need a diagnosis to have a conversation. Talk to Dr. Ousley at your next appointment, or reach out directly to OMT of Oklahoma for a myofunctional evaluation.