Tongue-tie is a condition where there is a short frenulum (string of tissue) under the tongue that stops the tongue from moving well.
Tongue-tie can improve by the age of two or three years. Severe cases of tongue-tie can be treated by cutting the frenulum. This is called a frenectomy.
Frenula are little strings of tissue found in various parts of the mouth, such as underneath the tongue, inside the cheeks, near the back molars and under the top lip. While an embryo is developing in the womb, these strings guide the growth of some mouth structures. Once the baby is born, the frenula are largely unimportant, although they seem to help in positioning the baby teeth.
Symptoms of tongue-tie
The symptoms of tongue-tie can include:
the tongue can’t poke out past the lips
the tongue tip can’t touch the roof of the mouth
the tongue can’t be moved sideways to the corners of the mouth
the tongue tip may look flat or square, instead of pointy, when extended
the tongue tip may look notched or heart-shaped
a baby with tongue-tie may have difficulties breastfeeding or bottle-feeding
the front teeth in the lower jaw may have a gap between them.
Causes of tongue-tie
There are two main causes of tongue-tie:
the frenulum is too short and tight
or it failed to move back down the tongue during development and is still attached to the tongue tip
In the second case, a heart-shaped tongue tip is one of the obvious symptoms. It is not clear whether or not tongue-tie is inherited.
Tongue-tie and feeding problems for babies
Many babies with a tongue-tie can breast and bottle feed successfully. However, a significant tongue-tie that restricts the movement of the tongue can interfere with a baby’s ability to breastfeed and, in severe cases, bottle feed.
Mothers may experience sore or damaged nipples, engorgement or mastitis due to poor attachment caused by a significant tongue-tie. As the breast is not drained effectively when the baby’s attachment to it is incorrect, these babies are often slow to gain weight, and are very unsettled.
Tongue-tie can be hard to diagnose in newborn babies and many of the symptoms of a tongue-tie also occur with other feeding issues. Therefore, it is important to see your doctor, midwife, maternal and child health nurse or lactation consultant if you are having trouble breastfeeding. Seek assistance if you are experiencing any of the following, as your baby may have a tongue-tie:
sore nipples during and after breastfeeding
squashed or flattened nipples after breastfeeding
a compression mark, line or ridge on the nipple after breastfeeding
the baby has difficulty latching on to the nipple, or appears to latch on and off repeatedly
the baby’s mouth makes a clicking sound while feeding
the baby is slow to gain weight.
Tongue-tie and speech problems
Tongue-tie in toddlers seems to be less common than in babies, which suggests that a short frenulum can normalise itself as the child grows. In persistent cases of tongue-tie, the child may have certain speech problems. Difficulties can include creating sounds that need the tongue or tongue tip to:
touch the roof of the mouth (to pronounce sounds such as t, d, n, l, s, z)
arch off the floor of the mouth (to pronounce sounds such as r).
Treatment for tongue-tie
In the past, the frenulum under the tongue was routinely cut in babies or children with tongue-tie. Today, doctors are more inclined to wait and see what happens to the frenulum with growth.
Frenectomy
The surgical procedure performed to cut the lingual or labial (tissue in the centre of the upper and lower lip) frenulum is called frenectomy. The technique differs according to the age of the person. For babies less than 12 weeks old, the procedure may be done with local or topical anaesthesia, or occasionally using general anaesthesia. If using local or topical anaesthesia, the area is numbed, the baby’s head is held firmly and the frenulum is simply snipped (divided) with surgical scissors or a laser. Babies can be breastfed immediately after the procedure. Studies of this procedure have found few risks and problems. Problems are likely to be very rare, but can include bleeding, infection, ulcers, pain, and damage to the tongue and surrounding area. Reports suggest tongue movement is normal within three months of the procedure. For older children and adults, a local anaesthetic may be given beforehand. The frenulum is simply snipped (divided) with a laser. Exercises are provided both before and after the frenectomy, to help thin out the frenulum, increase range of motion, and push back nerves and blood vessels.
*Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/tongue-tie
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