Tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, is a congenital disorder that limits tongue movement because the tongue is tethered by a short, thick, or tight band of tissue called the lingual frenulum. With tongue-tie, the tip of the tongue is often attached close to the floor of the mouth, which can interfere with breastfeeding.

Babies with tongue-tie may also struggle to stick out their tongue, eat, speak, and swallow. Tongue-tie can be corrected with a simple surgical procedure, but what are the consequences if it isn’t treated?

Signs of Tongue-Tie

Tongue-tie is commonly marked by:

• Difficulty lifting the tongue toward the upper teeth or moving it side to side

• Trouble extending the tongue past the lower front teeth

• A notched or heart-shaped appearance of the tongue tip when protruded

• Breastfeeding challenges

• Frequent hunger

• Problems gaining weight

• Noisy or effortful sucking during breastfeeding

Risks When Tongue-Tie Goes Untreated

In some situations, to address tongue-tie, doctors may perform a small incision procedure to release the lingual frenulum. This approach still has its own pros and cons because it can carry risks of complications such as bleeding, scarring, injury to the salivary glands, and infection during the procedure.

Even so, leaving tongue-tie untreated can also lead to several problems, including:

Breastfeeding Problems

Restricted tongue movement makes it hard for a baby to latch or reach the nipple effectively. Ongoing difficulty nursing can ultimately affect weight gain. Babies with tongue-tie may tire easily and become frustrated during feeds. Mothers may also have to work harder to breastfeed and can experience soreness, pain with nursing, or reduced milk supply.

Poor Weight Gain and Malnutrition Risk

Feeding difficulties from tongue-tie can interfere with both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding. As a result, the baby’s intake of food and nutrients may be disrupted. This can lead to slow weight gain and a risk of malnutrition.

Speech Issues That Affect Language and Speech Development

Challenges in producing clear sounds can impact the development of c their speech and language ability. When the lingual frenulum is too short or tight, tongue movement is restricted, affecting the ability to form sounds and words distinctly. Children with tongue-tie may have trouble pronouncing certain sounds such as “s,” “z,” “t,” “d,” and “l,” which can hinder their ability to speak clearly.

Over time, this may also affect a child’s participation in classroom communication and their ability to follow instructions from teachers and peers. Ultimately, learning progress and overall academic skills can be affected. 

Trouble Eating Certain Foods

Because a very short, tight frenulum limits tongue motion, children may have difficulty handling certain solid or sticky foods.

If you notice your baby struggling to breastfeed and suspect tongue-tie, consider consulting a doctor or a nutritionist through the Ai Care app. Specialists can help confirm whether tongue-tie is present and advise on next steps, including whether a frenulum-release procedure is appropriate.

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