Importance of Tongue-Tie: What Parents Should Know

Are you concerned that your child has a tongue or lip tie? Have you been told tongue ties “rarely cause issues” or that “treating tongue ties is a fad”? There’s a lot of misinformation around the importance of tongue-tie and how much it can affect a child. It’s important to know the facts and follow your gut. If you’re concerned there’s a problem, reach out and have a qualified professional do an evaluation.

What Is a Tongue-Tie?

A tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, is a condition present at birth. An abnormally tight frenulum, the small attachment between the floor of the mouth and the tongue, causes this condition and restricts the tongue’s range of motion. As a result, a person with a tongue-tie often has a tongue that appears short or restricted. Because this condition affects the tongue’s ability to move properly, it can also affect other areas of oral function. The degree to which a tongue can be tethered varies from person to person. In addition, lip ties and buccal (cheek) ties can have a similar impact.

Why Is the Importance of Tongue-Tie Often Overlooked?

Because there’s so much misinformation out there, it’s important to consult a trained, knowledgeable provider. Specifically, providers should diagnose and treat a tongue-tie based on function, not appearance. According to the International Affiliation of Tongue-Tie Professionals, tongue-tie can affect many areas of functioning in both children and adults. For instance, some areas that may be affected include:

• Breastfeeding and bottle-feeding
• Colic or excessive gassiness (due to poor feeding or latch)
• Pain and discomfort for breastfeeding mothers
• Difficulty with tongue movement and range of motion (moving side to side, sticking the tongue out, lifting up, retraction, etc.)
• Aversions to certain food textures
• Hypersensitive gag reflex
• Frequent choking
• Poor weight gain
• Poor dental hygiene (difficulty cleaning or clearing food from teeth)
• Food pocketing, caused by lip or buccal ties
• Difficulty producing speech sounds
• Poor intelligibility in connected speech
• Speech placement errors
• Tongue thrust
• Saliva management
• Tongue rest posture
• Dentition
• Restful sleep
• Snoring
• Teeth clenching
• Headaches
• Shape of the palate

Who Can Benefit From Support With Tongue Ties?

It’s important to find a knowledgeable provider you trust to evaluate your child and make a plan. Because every person’s anatomy is different, symptoms and outcomes vary from person to person. So, if you have concerns that your child may have an oral restriction, please reach out and have your child assessed.