One of the most common questions I get is “why are tongue ties and lip ties such a hot topic these days?”


They are not a new diagnosis but they have become more common since people started calling them a “fad” in 2017. It’s very important to recognize ties and treat them for the well being of infants. So let’s talk about why ties are very important in the world today.


Recently more studies have been completed and it is now known that oral ties have significant impacts on our little ones. Symptoms of ties are not the same for everyone. We are used to looking for a set of signs and symptoms to diagnose a specific problem. This is not the case here because oral ties can produce some obvious symptoms for mom and baby and some not so obvious symptoms. Some ties can produce; acid reflux, colic, difficulty latching, gumming or chewing when nursing, gasping for air or clicking while nursing or excessive drooling.


Many infants get releases for their ties but the truth is a release alone does not fix most oral ties. A multidisciplinary approach to treatment is mandatory for success and this is where body work, specifically chiropractic comes into play.


You may be wondering “what is body work?”
This term is all encompassing for different types of gentle therapeutic touch or manipulation of the body, including chiropractic. The goal of body work is to help the body function by increasing range of motion, improving body control, relieving tension in muscles, joints, the central nervous system and fascia. Accompanied with an oral tie release, baby can start to learn new motor patterns they lacked pre-release.


Supporting babies and families through oral ties and releases is something I’m passionate about, let me know if you have any questions. See you at Dalhousie Health & Wellness and your next appointment!


- Dr. Stav 💖

Try these 3 Techniques to Manage the Stress Response!

Maybe hosting events and dealing with crowds while shopping just leads to you feeling overwhelmed? Perhaps you’ve had a recent traumatic event, family conflict, or loss of a loved one and the holidays cause you to feel especially sad or lonely? Rest assured there are coping skills and techniques to help manage stress and get through the holiday season.

Try these easy techniques:

4-7-8 Breath – Dr. Weil’s 4-7-8 breathing technique is based in the yogic traditions and widely used to help fall asleep faster and can activate the parasympathetic nervous system or the relaxation response in the body. This response helps you to shift back towards a state of tranquility. Practice inhaling through the nose for 4 seconds, holding the breath in for 7 seconds and then exhaling through the mouth for a count of 8 seconds. Practicing this twice a day for a few rounds is ideal.

5,4,3,2,1 Grounding – This grounding technique is an excellent way to bring you back to the present moment when your mind is racing. Focus on 5 things you can see around you, 4 things you feel in your body, 3 things you hear in your environment, 2 things that you can smell and then 1 thing you can taste. Allow yourself to focus on each of these things for 10-15 seconds and gently guide your mind back if it wanders.

E.F.T. Tapping – Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a psychological form of acupressure that involves tapping on 14 acupressure points on the face/hands and engaging in some eye movements for bilateral stimulation of the brain. EFT is known to reduce cortisol levels in the body, shift negative emotions and turn on the relaxation response as well. To learn the basics of EFT you can follow along in these videos: https://carolcowan.ca/videos-%26-blog or book an appointment with Carol Cowan at Dalhousie Health and Wellness today to learn more!