Signs Your Child Might Have Tongue-Tie and What to Do About It

Tongue-tie happens when the tissue under the tongue is too tight, limiting movement. This can affect feeding, making it more difficult for infants to latch, coordinate swallowing and breathing, and feed effectively. It can also make speaking and oral hygiene more difficult.

If your child struggles with latching, forming certain sounds, or moving their tongue freely, addressing the issue early can help them avoid challenges later.

At Elements Dental Spa, we can assess your child’s condition and recommend the best approach to help them grow and thrive.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help your child with tongue-tie.

What Is Tongue-Tie?

Tongue-tie occurs when the lingual frenulum, the small band of tissue under the tongue, is shorter or tighter than usual. Posterior tongue tie is a specific type of tongue-tie where the frenulum extends further back under the tongue, and it is often a subject of controversy among healthcare professionals.

This limits how the tongue moves, which can affect eating, speech, and oral health. Newborns may have difficulty breastfeeding, while older children might struggle with speech or brushing their teeth properly. Recognizing the signs early allows for the right care.

Signs and Symptoms of Tongue-Tie

Tongue-tie symptoms affect children in different ways depending on their age. Some may struggle with feeding, while others experience speech delays or difficulty maintaining oral hygiene.

Recognizing these signs early can help prevent long-term challenges.

Common Symptoms by Age

• Infants: Difficulty latching, prolonged feeding sessions, slow weight gain, or frustration while nursing or bottle-feeding, which can impact the baby’s ability to feed efficiently.
• Toddlers: Trouble pronouncing certain sounds, frequent drooling, delayed speech, or messy eating.
• Older Children: Difficulty articulating words, restricted tongue movement, or challenges with brushing and oral hygiene.

Common Signs of Tongue-Tie

1. Feeding Difficulties in Infants: Trouble Breastfeeding

Babies with tongue-tie often struggle to latch onto the breast or bottle, which can lead to trouble breastfeeding. This can result in:

• Long and inefficient feeding sessions
• Nipple pain for breastfeeding mothers
• Increased gas, colic, and fussiness
• Poor weight gain or difficulty staying full

These challenges can cause frustration for both the baby and parents. If feeding issues persist, consulting a specialist can help determine the best course of action.

2. Restricted Tongue Movement

A child with tongue-tie may have difficulty performing basic tongue movements, including effective baby’s tongue movement, which is crucial for successful sucking and swallowing. These movements include:

• Lifting the tongue to touch the roof of the mouth
• Sticking the tongue out past the lower teeth
• Moving the tongue from side to side

This restriction can make it harder for children to chew properly, swallow food, or clear food from their mouth, increasing the risk of choking or food buildup between the teeth.

3. Speech Difficulties

Children with tongue-tie may have trouble forming certain sounds, especially “t,” “d,” “l,” and “r.” This can impact a child’s speech and lead to:

• Slurred or unclear speech
• Difficulty being understood by others
• Increased effort required to form words

While speech therapy can help, if tongue mobility is the root cause, treatment may be needed for lasting improvement.

4. Challenges with Oral Hygiene

A flexible tongue plays an important role in keeping the mouth clean. Limited movement can make it difficult for children to:

• Brush and clean their back teeth effectively
• Remove food particles after meals
• Keep their gums healthy

When food debris builds up, it raises the risk of cavities and gum disease. Addressing tongue-tie can help children maintain better oral hygiene.

5. Visible Signs of Posterior Tongue-Tie

Doctors can often detect tongue-tie by examining the baby’s tongue and frenulum. Indicators include:

• A heart-shaped tongue tip when sticking out
• A thick or tight frenulum restricting movement

If your child has trouble with feeding, speech, or oral care and shows these physical signs, a doctor can assess their condition and discuss possible treatment options.

How Tongue-Tie Is Diagnosed

Doctors diagnose tongue-tie by checking how the tongue moves and looking for a shortened frenulum. If your child struggles with feeding, speech, or brushing their teeth, an evaluation can help prevent future problems.

Who Can Diagnose Tongue-Tie?

A variety of specialists can assess and diagnose tongue-tie, including:

• Pediatricians
• Lactation consultants
• Speech-language pathologists
• Pediatric dentists

During the exam, the doctor will look at how well the tongue moves and check if the frenulum is limiting its range. If your child shows symptoms, seeking advice early can lead to better outcomes.

Treatment Options for Tongue-Tie

Treatment depends on how much the condition affects daily life. Some mild cases improve with simple tongue exercises, while more severe cases may need a minor tongue tie procedure.

Non-Surgical Treatments

Some children benefit from:

• Tongue exercises to stretch and improve movement
• Adjusting feeding techniques to help with latching
• Speech therapy for mild speech concerns

These approaches may work for mild cases, but if they don’t, further treatment might be needed.

Surgical Treatment: Frenectomy or Frenuloplasty

If tongue-tie severely restricts movement, tongue tie surgery, such as a frenectomy or frenuloplasty, may help.

These procedures:

• Free up the tongue for better movement
• Are quick, safe, and minimally invasive
• Often improve feeding, speech, and oral hygiene

Both treatments are performed with local anesthesia and have little downtime.

What Are the Risks and Benefits?

While minor risks like slight bleeding or soreness may occur, the benefits usually outweigh them. Many children experience:

• Better feeding and weight gain
• Clearer speech
• Easier brushing and chewing

What to Expect After Treatment

Recovery is usually smooth. Children may experience:

• Mild swelling or redness for a few days
• Quick improvements in feeding and speech
• Simple exercises to help with healing

Following post-treatment care instructions can help prevent scarring and maintain the tongue’s range of motion.

How Tongue-Tie Affects Daily Life

Untreated tongue-tie can create ongoing difficulties with:

• Eating and Nutrition: Trouble swallowing or chewing may lead to poor nutrition.
• Speech and Communication: Challenges with certain sounds, due to restricted movement of the tongue’s tip, can impact confidence and social skills.
• Oral Health: Food buildup may increase the risk of cavities and gum disease.

Taking action early can help children avoid these challenges and improve their well-being.

When to See a Doctor

If your child has trouble eating, speaking, or maintaining oral hygiene due to a tight band, speaking with a specialist is a good step. Early assessment and treatment can prevent long-term problems and support healthy development.

Helping Your Child Thrive

Tongue-tie can make daily activities more challenging, but early diagnosis and treatment can lead to real improvements. Whether through simple exercises or a minor procedure, many children experience better feeding, clearer speech, and easier oral care.

At Elements Dental Spa in Baton Rouge, we provide expert evaluation, treatment, and aftercare to support your child’s health. Call us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward improving your child’s well-being.