Tongue Tie 101: What Every Parent Should Know

If your baby struggled with latching, if your toddler has speech delays, or if your school-age child breathes through their mouth at night — tongue tie could be playing a role. Here's what you need to know.

What Is a Tongue Tie?

A tongue tie (ankyloglossia) occurs when the lingual frenulum — the band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth — is too short, thick, or tight. This restricts the tongue's range of motion, which can affect feeding, speech, breathing, and oral posture.

Early Signs in Infants

In newborns, tongue tie most commonly shows up during breastfeeding: poor latch, clicking sounds, long or frequent feeds, poor weight gain, or maternal nipple pain. Some babies compensate well and the tie isn't noticed until later.

What Happens If It Goes Untreated?

Untreated tongue ties can contribute to mouth breathing, improper tongue posture (tongue resting low instead of on the palate), speech difficulties, picky eating, and even orthodontic issues as the child grows.

Treatment Options

When a tongue tie significantly restricts function, a simple procedure called a frenectomy (or frenotomy) can release the restriction. But surgery alone isn't always enough — the tongue needs to learn how to use its new range of motion.

The Role of OMT

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is essential both before and after a tongue tie release. Pre-release exercises strengthen the tongue and establish proper patterns. Post-release therapy prevents reattachment and trains the muscles for optimal function.

"A tongue tie release opens the door. Myofunctional therapy walks the child through it."

When to Get an Evaluation

If you've noticed any of the signs described above, a myofunctional evaluation can determine whether tongue tie is contributing to your child's symptoms and what the best path forward looks like.