What Parents Need to Know and How to Check at Home
Imagine being a newborn baby, trying to nurse, but your tongue just can’t quite move the way it needs to. You want to eat, your mom wants to feed you, but every attempt ends with frustration, sore nipples, or a baby who isn’t gaining weight. For many families, this is the hidden struggle of a tongue tie or lip tie—conditions that can be detected and corrected within days of birth, if parents know what to look for.
What Is a Tongue Tie?
A tongue tie happens when the tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too short or too tight. This band of tissue (called the frenulum) restricts the tongue’s movement, making it hard for babies to latch effectively at the breast or bottle. A lip tie is similar, but affects the tissue connecting the upper lip to the gums.
Both conditions can cause challenges that ripple far beyond feeding, from speech development to dental health. But the good news? These ties can be identified immediately after birth, and the sooner they’re treated, the easier breastfeeding becomes for both mom and baby.
How Can Parents Spot a Tongue or Lip Tie?
You don’t need to be a dentist or doctor to do a quick at-home check. Here’s what to look for:
- Lip tie check: Gently use your finger to lift your baby’s upper lip. If you see a tight band of tissue tethering the lip to the gums, preventing the lip from flaring upward, that’s a red flag. Babies need a wide, flanged lip to create a good seal while nursing.
- Tongue tie check: Slip your finger under your baby’s tongue and gently lift it toward the roof of their mouth. If the tongue seems tethered tightly to the floor or can’t move upward easily, that’s another sign.
Other telltale signs include:
- Clicking sounds while nursing
- Inability to stay latched
- Long, exhausting feedings (for both mom and baby)
- A flattened or “heart-shaped” tip of the tongue when lifted
Why Early Detection Matters
Breastfeeding is one of the most demanding skills newborns learn in their first days of life. A tongue or lip tie doesn’t just make latching hard—it can cause poor weight gain for the baby and painful, cracked nipples for the mother. Left untreated, it may also lead to reflux, colic-like symptoms, and, later on, issues with chewing, swallowing, and even speech.
When identified early, ties can be treated quickly and effectively—often with immediate improvement.
How Are Tongue and Lip Ties Treated?
Today, most providers use a laser frenectomy to release the tight tissue. It’s a simple, quick, and nearly bloodless procedure. Babies are often able to nurse right away, and parents can see the improvement instantly.
Some babies only need the release; others may benefit from follow-up with a lactation consultant or bodywork (such as gentle craniosacral therapy) to retrain feeding muscles. But the key is this: the sooner it’s addressed, the smoother breastfeeding will be.
Don’t Wait and See
Parents are often told to “wait and see” if a tie causes problems. Unfortunately, waiting usually means more stress, more pain, and more missed feedings. Early intervention is safe and life-changing for both mom and baby.
Takeaway for Parents
If nursing feels harder than it should be, don’t assume it’s just part of the process. Do the quick at-home checks, and if you see signs of a tongue or lip tie, talk to your pediatrician, lactation consultant, or pediatric dentist right away. The sooner these ties are treated, the faster you and your baby can enjoy the bonding and nourishment that breastfeeding is meant to provide.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Michelle Jorgensen, DDS, is an author, speaker, teacher, biologic/holistic dentist, and health and wellness provider. After practicing traditional dentistry for 10 years, Michelle became very sick. Through her own path to return to health, she discovered she had mercury poisoning from drilling out mercury fillings for her patients.
This path led her to discover ways to improve her family’s and her own health in all facets of life. She found answers in the kitchen, in the garden, and at home. She has found what it takes to Live Well, in today’s world, and now with Living Well with Dr. Michelle, she wants to share those ways to Live Well
with you.
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Cover photo by Yan Krukau
