Tongue-Tie

Tongue-tie is a birth defect that occurs when the strip of skin (lingual frenulum) connecting a baby’s tongue to the floor of their mouth is shorter than usual. Typically, this strip of skin separates before birth, allowing the tongue free range of motion. With tongue-tie, the lingual frenulum remains attached to the bottom of the tongue.

Tongue-tie is a very common condition that, if addressed quickly, will not hinder a child’s development. However, if left untreated, tongue-tie can result in malnourishment, speech difficulty, or poor oral hygiene.

Signs of tongue-tie include:

• Restriction of the tongue’s movement, making it harder to breastfeed
• Difficulty lifting the tongue up or moving it from side to side
• Difficulty sticking the tongue out
• The tongue looks notched or heart-shaped when stuck out

Treatment of Tongue-Tie

The treatment of tongue-tie for infants is a simple surgical procedure called a frenectomy. Your child’s doctor examines the lingual frenulum and then uses a laser to release the frenum. Stitches are usually not necessary. Since there are few nerve endings or blood vessels in the lingual frenulum, only a local anesthetic is used.