Tongue-Tie

What Is Tongue-Tie?

Tongue-tie, also known as tongue-tie-babies' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' >ankyloglossia, is a condition some babies are born with that limits their tongue movements. To do its job well, your tongue needs to be able to reach almost every part of your mouth. That full range of motion lets you make different sounds when you speak. It also helps you swallow and sweep away bits of food to keep your mouth clean.

But for babies with tongue-tie, there’s a problem with the lingual frenulum. That’s the small stretch of tissue that connects the underside of your tongue to the bottom of your mouth. It might be too short and tight, or attached way up near the tip of the tongue.

Either way, it ties the tongue in place. For some, it’s not much of an issue. For others, it can lead to problems breastfeeding. Later on, it can affect eating and speaking.

Doctors don’t always check for it, and it’s not always easy to notice. But even if your child’s pediatrician doesn’t find it until later, it can be treated.

Tongue-Tie Causes and Risk Factors

Usually, the lingual frenulum separates from the tongue before your baby is born. But sometimes, it doesn’t. Doctors aren’t sure why. It may run in families. Boys are 3 times more likely to get it than girls.

Tongue-Tie Symptoms

It’s often found because of problems breastfeeding. You may notice that your baby:

Along with your baby’s symptoms, you may have:

• Pain during and after breastfeeding
• Sore or cracked nipples
• Mastitis, or inflammation or infection of the breast
• Low milk supply

But tongue-tie isn’t the only reason there may be breastfeeding problems. So if you’re having them, talk to your doctor.

You might also notice that your baby’s tongue:

• Can’t move far from side to side
• Can’t reach the upper gums or roof of the mouth
• Can’t stick out past the gums
• Has a V shape or heart shape at its tip when it’s sticking out

Tongue-Tie Diagnosis

A physical exam is all it takes to see what’s going on. The doctor will:

• Ask how feeding is going
• Check your child’s tongue, mouth, and teeth
• Use a wooden stick called a tongue depressor to look under your child’s tongue and check the range of motion

The doctor may ask older kids to move their tongue around and make certain sounds, like of an r or l.

Tongue-Tie Treatment

There are two ways to take care of tongue-tie:

Frenotomy. This basic procedure happens in a doctor’s office. Sometimes, you don't even need numbing drugs.

The doctor takes a pair of specially cleaned scissors and clips the frenulum, which doesn’t have many nerves or blood vessels. That means there’s not much pain. And if there’s any blood, it’s a drop or two at most.

Your baby can breastfeed right away, which can be soothing and healing.

Frenuloplasty. When the frenulum is too thick for a quick snip, your pediatrician will choose this option.

The doctor will:

• Give your child drugs so they sleep through the whole thing
• Use special tools to cut the frenulum
• Put in a few stitches that dissolve on their own as the wound heals

Some hospitals may use a laser instead. In that case, your child won’t need stitches.

Tongue-Tie Treatment Risks

Both treatments are usually very successful and prevent any speech, dental, or eating problems. It’s rare for either one to cause issues.

As with any medical procedure, though, there are risks, such as:

• Bleeding
• Damage to the tongue or the glands that make saliva
• Infection

A frenuloplasty can also lead to scarring. And your child could have a reaction to the drugs used to help them sleep.

Tongue-Tie Complications

Not all doctors agree that tongue-tie needs to be treated. Some say to take care of it right away to ward off any issues. Others think it’s better to wait. That’s because it might not cause any problems or may loosen up over time.

There’s no way to know for sure what’ll happen.

Without treatment, it can also lead to:

• Dental problems like tooth decay, swollen and irritated gums, and a gap between the lower two front teeth
• Gagging or choking on foods as your child starts to eat solids
• A hard time with basic things, like licking an ice cream cone and kissing
• Trouble saying d, l, n, r, s, t, th, and z sounds. Rolling an r can be especially hard.

Talk it through with your doctor to learn what’s best for you and your baby.

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