What is tongue-tie?
Tongue-tie is when the piece of skin that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth (the frenum or frenulum) is shorter or tighter than usual. Babies and children with tongue-tie often can’t move their tongues properly. This can lead to breastfeeding difficulties and other problems.
Many children with short or tight frenums don’t experience any problems. These children aren’t considered to have tongue-tie.
The medical name for tongue-tie is ankyloglossia.
What causes tongue-tie?
Tongue-tie is a congenital condition. This means it’s something a baby is born with.
We don’t know why tongue-tie happens in some babies, but it usually isn’t a serious problem.
How do you tell whether your baby has tongue-tie?
Here are the signs of tongue-tie in babies:
- The tip of your baby’s tongue looks heart-shaped when their tongue sticks out.
- The tip of your baby’s tongue can’t reach the roof of their mouth or further than the edge of their lower lip.
- Your baby’s tongue can’t move sideways.
What does tongue-tie look like in breastfeeding babies?
If you’re breastfeeding and your baby has tongue-tie, you might also notice these signs:
- Your baby has trouble attaching or staying attached to your breast.
- Your baby makes a clicking sound when feeding.
- Your baby isn’t gaining enough weight.
- Your nipples look squashed after feeding.
- Your nipples might be sore or damaged.
Should you take your child to a doctor about tongue-tie?
You should take your child to the GP if you notice any of the signs above or if you’re concerned about tongue-tie.
How do you fix tongue-tie?
The aim of tongue-tie treatment is to make sure your child’s feeding, nutrition, growth and development aren’t affected by their tongue-tie.
You might be able to do this by working with various health professionals to manage the issues caused by tongue-tie, like breastfeeding difficulties or speech difficulties. Or your child might need surgery.
How do you breastfeed a tongue-tied baby?
If you’re having trouble with breastfeeding because of your baby’s tongue-tie, advice and support on your breastfeeding positioning, attachment, feed frequency and milk supply might help.
It’s a very good idea to talk with your midwife or child and family health nurse or a lactation consultant.
Can tongue-tie cause speech delay?
We don’t know whether tongue-tie can affect speech development. But if you notice problems with your child’s speech, it’s a good idea to see a speech pathologist. They can check your child for signs of tongue-tie.
Your child might benefit from speech therapy to develop their communication skills.
What is tongue-tie surgery?
If non-surgical treatment strategies don’t work, sometimes a small surgical procedure called a frenectomy is needed. A frenectomy involves cutting the frenum with scissors or a laser.
For a newborn baby, this procedure is often done without anaesthetic. Your baby can usually feed immediately after the procedure.
For older babies and children, doctors will usually use a general anaesthetic to do a frenectomy.
Your health professional can help you decide whether your child needs a frenectomy and which approach is best for your child. Only an experienced health professional should do a frenectomy.