Understanding Ankyloglossia and How a Frenotomy Can Help Your Baby Thrive
For new parents, ensuring your baby is healthy and feeding well is a top priority. When challenges like difficulty latching, poor weight gain, or painful nursing arise, it can be stressful and disheartening. One common but often overlooked cause is ankyloglossia, more commonly known as tongue-tie. This condition restricts the tongue’s movement and can significantly impact a baby’s ability to feed effectively. Fortunately, a simple and effective procedure called an infant tongue-tie release, or frenotomy, can offer a solution, bringing relief to both baby and parents.
What is an Infant Tongue-Tie?
A tongue-tie is a congenital condition where the strip of tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, called the lingual frenulum, is unusually short, thick, or tight. This restriction can limit the tongue’s range of motion, which is crucial for many functions, especially breastfeeding. For a baby to effectively nurse, their tongue needs to extend over the lower gum line, cup the breast, and create suction to draw out milk. When the frenulum is too restrictive, these movements become difficult or impossible.
While some tongue-ties are easily visible at the front of the mouth (anterior), others are located further back and are less obvious (posterior). Regardless of the type, the impact on function is the most important factor in determining the need for intervention.
Signs and Symptoms of Tongue-Tie in Infants
Identifying a potential tongue-tie involves observing both the baby and the nursing parent. Many parents seek help from a lactation consultant when they notice feeding difficulties, which can often be the first step toward diagnosis.
Symptoms in Baby:
- Difficulty latching or maintaining a deep latch.
- Making a clicking sound while nursing.
- Poor weight gain or failing to thrive.
- Falling asleep frequently during feeds or feeding for very long periods.
- Excessive fussiness, gas, or reflux symptoms due to swallowing air.
- A heart-shaped or notched tongue tip when crying or sticking the tongue out.
Symptoms in the Nursing Parent:
- Painful breastfeeding.
- Nipple trauma, including cracking, blistering, or bleeding.
- Nipples that look flattened or lipstick-shaped after a feed.
- Recurrent blocked ducts or mastitis.
- Low milk supply due to insufficient milk removal.
The Infant Tongue-Tie Release Procedure (Frenotomy)
If a tongue-tie is diagnosed and causing problems, a simple in-office procedure called a frenotomy (or frenectomy) is often recommended. This procedure involves precisely releasing the restrictive frenulum to allow for a greater range of tongue motion. At the Center for Orofacial Myology, we perform a gentle infant tongue-tie release using advanced techniques to ensure minimal discomfort and a quick recovery for your baby.
The procedure itself is very fast, often taking less than a minute. A topical anesthetic may be used, but many infants experience little to no pain, as the frenulum has few nerve endings or blood vessels. Most babies can breastfeed immediately after the procedure, which helps comfort them and can immediately demonstrate an improved latch.
Benefits of Early Intervention
Releasing an infant’s tongue-tie goes beyond just improving breastfeeding. Early intervention can have lasting positive effects on a child’s development.
- Improved Feeding: The most immediate benefit is often more efficient and comfortable feeding for both baby and parent, leading to better weight gain and a more positive bonding experience.
- Enhanced Oral Development: Proper tongue movement helps shape the palate and jaw, contributing to healthy facial and airway development.
- Support for Speech: While not all tongue-ties cause speech issues, a restricted tongue can make it difficult to articulate certain sounds like “t,” “d,” “l,” and “r.” Our expert speech therapy team can provide support if needed.
- Better Sleep and Breathing: Correct tongue posture, where the tongue rests on the roof of the mouth, promotes nasal breathing and can contribute to better sleep quality. An airway evaluation can identify any related issues.
Post-Procedure Care and Support
Recovery from a frenotomy is typically quick. You will be given specific instructions for aftercare, which usually involve gentle stretches and exercises to prevent the frenulum from reattaching and to encourage the baby to use their “new” range of motion. A white or yellowish patch will form under the tongue where the release was performed; this is a normal part of the healing process and looks like a scab in the mouth.
At the Center for Orofacial Myology, we believe in a holistic approach. Our integrated team often recommends follow-up care that may include feeding therapy to help your baby learn new, more effective sucking patterns, or craniosacral therapy to release any tension in the head, neck, and jaw that may have developed as a compensation for the tongue-tie.
Expert Tongue-Tie Care for Middleton and Treasure Valley Families
If you’re a parent in Middleton, Star, Eagle, or anywhere in the Treasure Valley and are concerned about tongue-tie, you are not alone. Finding comprehensive, expert care close to home is crucial. The Center for Orofacial Myology in Boise offers a unique, integrated approach, bringing together specialists in orofacial myology, lactation, feeding, and physical therapy all under one roof. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing compassionate, whole-body care that addresses the root cause of your child’s challenges, helping them achieve optimal health and development.
Ready to Find a Solution for Your Baby?
If you suspect your infant may have a tongue-tie or you are struggling with breastfeeding, don’t wait to seek help. An expert evaluation can provide the answers and relief you and your baby deserve. Schedule a consultation with our specialists today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does the tongue-tie release procedure hurt the baby?
The procedure is very quick, and since the lingual frenulum has very few nerve endings, most infants experience minimal discomfort. We often encourage feeding immediately after to soothe the baby. Some fussiness for 24-48 hours is normal, but it is typically manageable.
Will my baby’s feeding improve immediately?
Many parents notice an immediate improvement in latch and comfort. For others, it can take some time as the baby has to relearn how to use their tongue with its new freedom. Follow-up with lactation support or feeding therapy can be very beneficial.
Is it possible for the tongue-tie to grow back?
While the frenulum itself doesn’t “grow back,” the wound can heal in a way that restricts movement again if not properly managed. This is why post-procedure stretches are so important to ensure the area heals openly and maintains its new mobility.
My baby takes a bottle fine. Could they still have a tongue-tie?
Yes. Bottle-feeding requires a different sucking mechanic than breastfeeding. A baby may be able to manage a bottle but still have a restrictive tongue-tie that could affect solid food introduction, speech, or oral development later on. A full functional assessment is key.