Signs of tongue tie in newborn often include trouble latching, clicking sounds during feeding, difficulty breastfeeding, long feeding sessions, nipple pain, and slow weight gain. Tongue tie happens when the tissue under your baby’s tongue is too short or tight, limiting tongue movement. Early recognition can help prevent breastfeeding challenges and discomfort for both mother and baby. Learn how to spot the signs and what treatment options are available.
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Signs Of Tongue Tie In Newborn: What You Notice First
One of the first signs of tongue-tie is trouble latching during breastfeeding. Babies with tongue-tie may have a hard time getting a good seal on the breast, which leads to weak suction and can slow down weight gain. Mothers might notice cracked nipples or feel pain during feeding because the baby cannot latch well. These babies may also make a lot of noise while feeding and swallow extra air, which can make them fussy, uncomfortable and sometimes cry during feeds.1
Other key signs include:
- Limited tongue movement: trouble lifting the tongue to the roof of the mouth or moving it side to side.
- Heart-shaped tongue tip when the baby tries to lift the tongue.
- Posterior tongue tie: frenulum attached further back under the tongue, harder to detect but still affects feeding.
- Mouth breathing during feeding.
- Prolonged feeding times.
- Inadequate milk intake leading to poor nutrition.
Not every symptom means your baby has a tongue-tie. To find out for sure, a healthcare professional like a speech-language pathologist, lactation consultant, or another clinician needs to do a full physical exam. Sometimes, tongue-tie can be missed if the assessment is not thorough.
Sometimes, doctors will also check the mouth and nose. Tongue-tie can affect speech for some children, but not always, and not every child needs treatment to avoid speech problems. Finding and treating tongue-tie early, often with a simple procedure called a frenotomy, can help with breastfeeding and lower the risk of other issues. Careful evaluation is important because some tongue-ties can be missed.
What Percent Of Children Are Tongue Tied At Birth?
Tongue tie, also called ankyloglossia, affects about 4-11% of newborns and infants. Some studies say it might be as common as 10%. It happens more often in boys than girls. Tongue tie happens when the lingual frenulum, the tissue connecting the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is too short, thick, or tight. This limits how much the tongue can move and can cause problems with feeding and development for the baby.2
Long term effects of tongue tie
Untreated tongue ties can have long-term effects, including difficulties with a child’s speech. A tongue tied baby may initially experience feeding challenges, while older children with tongue tie might struggle with difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, especially those requiring tongue elevation or movement such as “l,” “r,” “th,” and “s.” In some cases, untreated tongue ties contribute to dental issues like a high palate or misaligned teeth. 3
Because tongue and lip ties can sometimes be missed altogether during routine check-ups, it’s important for parents and healthcare providers to be vigilant for signs and symptoms.
What Causes Posterior Tongue Tie In Newborn?
Tongue-tie is a congenital condition that develops before birth and limits the tongue’s range of motion, making it difficult for the baby to lift or move the tongue properly. One common sign in newborns is a heart-shaped tip of the tongue when they try to lift it.
How To Fix Tongue-Tie Naturally: Treatment Options?
While a procedure called a frenotomy is the most common and effective treatment for tongue-tie, some parents seek natural approaches to help their baby before considering surgery. Natural methods focus on improving feeding techniques and supporting tongue mobility through exercises and professional guidance.4
- One natural approach is working with lactation consultants, who can help with early feeding assessment, positioning, and latch support to improve breastfeeding experiences despite tongue-tie. Proper positioning can sometimes help the baby achieve a better latch, with good suction as one goal, and reduce nipple pain for the mother.
- Oral motor exercises guided by a speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist may help strengthen the tongue muscles and improve range of motion. These exercises often involve gentle stretches and movements to encourage the tongue to lift and extend more effectively.
- Massage techniques around the mouth and tongue can also support flexibility and comfort. Parents can be taught how to gently massage the baby’s upper lip and tongue to encourage movement.
However, it’s important to note that natural methods may not fully resolve the restriction caused by a tongue tie. If a baby continues to have trouble breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or does not get enough milk, a comprehensive evaluation by a healthcare provider is essential. When feeding problems persist, providers may also assess for a lip tie or other oral restrictions.
Early intervention with a frenotomy can relieve symptoms quickly and prevent breastfeeding issues and speech difficulties later in childhood. Some providers also worry a lip tie may be linked to later dental issues, though the evidence is mixed.
In infants, the procedure is usually done without anesthesia. For older babies and children, general anesthesia is often used during the surgery.
Parents should discuss all options with their pediatrician or a specialist experienced in tongue-tie to determine the best course of action based on their baby’s unique needs. Tongue-tied children may need team-based care as they grow, especially if feeding or oral function problems continue.
How To Soothe Baby After Tongue Tie Surgery?
After a tongue‑tie surgery “frenotomy or frenuloplasty procedure”, soothing your baby is important to promote comfort and healing. Many newborns recover quickly, often within minutes, but some may experience mild soreness or fussiness for a day or two. Here are effective ways to comfort your baby after tongue tie surgery:
- Breastfeed or bottle-feed promptly: Feeding right after the procedure helps soothe the baby and encourages proper tongue movement. Nursing also promotes bonding and provides natural pain relief through skin-to-skin contact.
- Use sweet-ease or sugar water: Some providers offer a small amount of sweetened solution before or after the procedure, which can help calm the baby.
- Gentle swaddling: Wrapping your baby snugly in a soft blanket can provide a sense of security and reduce fussiness.
- Distraction and cuddling: Holding your baby close, rocking gently, or using a pacifier can help distract from discomfort.
- Follow aftercare exercises: Your healthcare provider will likely recommend simple tongue and mouth stretches to prevent reattachment of the frenulum. Performing these exercises gently and consistently is crucial for successful healing.5
- Monitor for bleeding or distress: While bleeding is rare after the procedure, keep an eye out for any unusual bleeding or signs of distress and contact your doctor if concerned.
- Pain management: Most babies do not require medication, but if your pediatrician advises, you may give infant-appropriate doses of acetaminophen to ease discomfort.
By providing attentive care and following your healthcare provider’s instructions, you can help your baby recover smoothly from tongue tie surgery and improve feeding outcomes.
Does A Tongue Grow Back?
The tongue itself does not grow back once altered, but the tissue under the tongue, known as the lingual frenulum, can heal and sometimes reattach after a procedure to correct tongue-tie. This reattachment can cause symptoms to return, which is why careful aftercare and exercises are important following a frenotomy or frenuloplasty.6
How early can you correct a baby’s tongue-tie?
In babies younger than three months, this often happens in the clinic and takes only a few minutes. Young babies usually heal fast. The area under the tongue can start to heal and form new tissue (scar tissue) within a few days. If parents do not follow the aftercare plan, the healing tissue can sometimes stick down again. When this “reattachment” happens, the tongue may become tight again, and the baby might need more treatment.7
In more complex cases, doctors may suggest a different surgical procedure involving sutures called a frenuloplasty.
In a frenuloplasty, the doctor not only releases the tight tissue but also uses stitches to shape the area and reduce the chance of reattachment. This type of surgery is more common in older infants and a growing child.
It often takes place in an operating room and may require general anesthesia, which means the child sleeps during the procedure so they do not feel or remember it.
A clinical consensus statement has also noted that evidence is limited for some longer-term concerns, such as whether tongue-tie causes sleep apnea.
Conclusion
Tied tongue in newborns, medically called ankyloglossia, restricts tongue movement, causing breastfeeding difficulties and potential speech issues. Signs include poor latch, nipple pain, and a heart-shaped tongue. Early diagnosis and treatment, often via frenotomy, improve feeding and prevent complications. Natural methods help but may not fully resolve the condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can tongue tie cause reflux?
Tongue tie can contribute to reflux symptoms in many babies because restricted tongue movement may affect feeding efficiency. When a baby has difficulty latching or sucking properly due to tongue tie, they often swallow excess air during feeding. This swallowed air can increase gas and pressure in the stomach, leading to spitting up or reflux. Additionally, inefficient milk transfer may cause the baby to feed longer or more frequently, which can worsen reflux symptoms.
However, not all babies with tongue tie will experience reflux, and reflux can have many causes unrelated to tongue tie.
Sources:
- Tongue-tie
- Ankyloglossia
- Speech production in young children with tongue-tie
- How to Treat a Tongue-tie
- Outcomes of stretching exercises after lingual frenotomy in infants
- Identification and Management of Ankyloglossia and Its Effect on Breastfeeding in Infants
- A cross‐sectional study of breastfed infants referred for tongue tie assessment and frenotomy in one Canadian health region