Lip Tie & Tongue Tie

What Are Tongue- and Lip-Ties?

Some children are born with extra tissue called frenum under their tongue or upper lip. These are called tongue-ties and lip-ties and can cause difficulty with speech, breastfeeding, weight gain, and even dental decay.

If not treated during childhood, the adverse effects of tongue and lip-ties can follow children into adulthood. Headaches, neck and shoulder pain, sleep issues, and speech problems are all signs of untreated tongue and lip-ties.

Why Should My Infant Undergo a Frenectomy?

Infants with tongue and lip-ties may:

Have difficulty nursing or taking a bottle
Drip milk out of their mouth when eating
Have trouble gaining weight
Click their tongue or smack their lips when eating
Have reflux or symptoms of colic
Be continually fussy, often due to gas

Older children with tongue and lip-ties may:

Have trouble sleeping
Experience a strong gag reflex
Have delayed speech
Speak softer than average or have difficulty being understood
Choke when eating or drinking
Be a picky eater or eat their food slowly
Sleep with their mouth open, snore or grind their teeth

According to the National Institutes of Health, between four and ten percent of infants are born with a tongue-tie. We’re learning now more than ever why breastfeeding is so crucial to a child’s development. If your baby has difficulty latching on to the breast, they may be experiencing a tongue- or lip-tie.

However, there’s no reason for the bonding between a mother and her child to be disrupted. Frenectomies can improve latch, allowing babies (and mothers) to have a better nursing experience.

Experience Almost Instant Benefits

Thanks to this quick and nearly painless treatment, your child or infant can resume their daily routine right away. Many older children return straight to the playground after their procedure.

Since breast milk contains many healing properties, breastfed infants are encouraged to nurse immediately following the procedure. Our experience has also been that older children who may be picky eaters or children who have difficulty gaining weight will often experience better appetites.

Some smaller children introduce new words to their vocabulary the day of their procedure. Older children will speak clearly with fewer restrictions, boosting their confidence. You can also expect infants and children to sleep throughout the night, improving their behavior during the day.

Our office believes oral restrictions shouldn’t hold children back, and tongue and lip-ties are entirely treatable. We invite you to schedule a consultation today to learn how a frenectomy can positively impact your family’s future.

Parent Testimonials

We had such a great experience for our little baby’s first visit. Lots of happy kids coming out of their appointments which was great to see!

We first met with the treatment coordinator Belsa and she walked us through expectations for the appointment as well as answered any questions we had! She also gave us a great welcome bag with a tooth brush for my 6 months old two front teeth! And she held our little guy and made him smile 😃

Next we met with Dr. Kelsey; she was so upbeat and her positive energy filled the room! She had some good tips for us, answered more specific questions regarding tongue tie issues. She was so gentle and thorough with the exam! We loved coming here!

Whenever someone asks me where I plan on taking my son for regular dental care, I’m excited to tell them Little Teeth Big Smiles.

My son was born at 29 weeks and 3 days and has had gastro issues for a while. We thought it was a sign of his prematurity, but we suspected he had a tongue and/or lip tie. My husband and I were able to get an appointment for a consult very quickly and got the frenectomy soon thereafter. I am cautiously optimistic that we will seen an improvement in his feeding and overall demeanor. I want to thank the absolutely amazing staff at LTBS for listening to our concerns, validating our feelings, and taking great care of our sonshine. I’m excited to make this place my son’s primary dental location when his teeth start coming in!

Everyone is incredibly kind and caring. Office is run well and appointments go smoothly. We went in for a tongue/lip tie assessment. Dr was straight up by saying there wasn't enough of a tie to do anything about. Office is clean and tons of interesting things to keep kids busy.

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