Understanding Tongue-Tie As a Parent

Article reviewed by:
Dr Ho Kok Sen • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon

Our tongue plays a vital role in everyday activities like swallowing, eating, and speaking, all of which rely on the coordination of its muscles.

Ankyloglossia or tongue-tie, is a condition where tongue movement is restricted due to an unusually tight or short lingual frenulum (a small tissue extending from the floor of the mouth to the midline of the underside of the tongue). According to the National Library of Medicine, tongue-tie affects approximately 8% of infants under the age of one.

When newborn babies present symptoms of tongue-tie, they may struggle with breastfeeding, which can lead to poor weight gain and frustration for both the baby and the mother. If left untreated, tongue-tie can also result in speech difficulties, particularly in articulating certain sounds as the child ages.

What are the symptoms of tongue-tie?

Signs of tongue-tie in babies include:

• trouble latching on while breastfeeding.
• make a clicking sound while breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.

Signs of tongue-tie in older children include:

• a heart-shaped tip of the tongue when sticking out.
• struggling to extend the tongue beyond the lower front teeth.
• difficulty raising the tongue to the upper teeth or moving it side to side.
• trouble speaking clearly and pronouncing certain sounds such as d, l, s, t, and th.

What are the treatment options for tongue-tie?

If you’re concerned that your newborn is having trouble latching due to a possible tongue-tie, consult a pediatrician to review your baby’s feeding history and perform a thorough examination to assess the situation better. You may also consider visiting a lactation specialist for proper breastfeeding guidance and advice.

In cases where tongue-tie surgery is recommended, an oral surgeon or doctor corrects it with frenectomy. This minor surgical procedure can be performed under local anaesthesia. For children who are still very young (between 2 and 6 years old), the surgical procedure is recommended to be done under general anaesthesia.

The oral surgeon will carefully remove the soft tissue (lingual frenum) using a surgical blade, electric knife, or laser. Once the tissue is removed, the area will be closed with resorbable sutures, and a pressure pack will be applied to ensure proper healing. The procedure takes around 30 to 60 minutes to complete.

Is tongue-tie surgery safe?

Tongue-tie surgery is a low-risk procedure with rare complications. However, as with any surgery, there are potential risks, including bleeding, infection, scarring, and the possibility of damage to the tongue or salivary glands.

Some parents may be concerned about their child’s wounds or potential bleeding after surgery. However, modern technology, such as electric knives or lasers, can reduce discomfort. Following the surgery, consulting with a speech therapist can help improve your child’s speech, especially if they have already begun developing speech patterns.

If the symptoms mentioned above of tongue-tie are consistent with your baby or child, consult our dental specialist team for a professional diagnosis today.