Signs Your Baby Has a Tongue Tie

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What Is a Tongue Tie?

A tongue tie — medically called ankyloglossia — occurs when the frenulum (the small band of tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth) is too short, thick, or tight. This restricts how freely the tongue can move. At Little Smiles Children's Dentistry, we evaluate tongue ties in infants, toddlers, and older children at both our St. Augustine pediatric dental office and our Palm Coast location.

Tongue ties are more common than most parents realize — affecting an estimated 4–11% of newborns. The good news: they are very treatable, often with a quick in-office laser procedure.

Signs of Tongue Tie in Infants

The most common time a tongue tie becomes apparent is during breastfeeding. Look for:

• Difficulty latching — baby slips off the breast repeatedly or can't maintain a deep latch
• Clicking sounds while nursing — a sign that the seal is breaking and air is being swallowed
• Poor weight gain — baby isn't transferring enough milk despite frequent feeds
• Prolonged feedings or constant hunger — baby tires quickly and needs to feed again soon after
• Colic-like symptoms — excessive gas, fussiness, and reflux from swallowing air
• Nipple pain or damage — the mother experiences cracking, blistering, or persistent soreness despite a correct latch attempt
• Heart-shaped tongue tip — visible when the baby cries or tries to extend the tongue

A lip tie — a similar restriction of the upper lip — often occurs alongside a tongue tie and can compound feeding difficulties. Our team screens for both at the same evaluation.

Signs of Tongue Tie in Older Children

Tongue ties that weren't identified in infancy don't disappear on their own. As children grow, they can affect:

• Speech development — difficulty with sounds that require tongue elevation or movement, like L, R, T, D, N, TH, and S
• Oral hygiene — the tongue can't sweep the teeth and gums, increasing cavity risk
• Dental development — a tight lingual frenulum can create a gap between the lower front teeth or prevent proper jaw growth
• Eating and swallowing — difficulty managing certain food textures, chewing efficiently, or licking an ice cream cone
• Sleep-disordered breathing — emerging research links restricted tongue posture to mouth breathing, snoring, and in some cases, pediatric sleep apnea

How We Treat Tongue Ties at Little Smiles

Our tongue-tie and lip-tie release is performed using a soft-tissue laser — no scissors, no general anesthesia, and no referral to a separate facility. The laser release (called a frenectomy) takes only a few minutes in the chair. Benefits of the laser approach include:

• Minimal bleeding — the laser seals blood vessels as it works
• No stitches required
• Lower infection risk compared to scissors-based procedures
• Faster tissue healing
• Most infants can nurse immediately after the procedure

We also provide detailed aftercare instructions and stretching exercises to help the released tissue heal correctly and prevent reattachment. For infants, we recommend coordinating care with your lactation consultant — release plus good latch support gives the best outcomes.

Does Every Tongue Tie Need Treatment?

Not necessarily. A mild tongue tie that isn't affecting feeding, speech, or oral health may not require intervention — especially if the child is compensating effectively. Our goal is never to over-treat. We evaluate each child individually, discuss what we find, and give you the information you need to make the right decision for your family. If a frenectomy is recommended, we walk you through what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.