Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia)

Symptoms & causes

Diagnosis & treatment
Doctors & departments
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Overview
Tongue-tie and release of lingual frenulum
Tongue-tie
Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition present at birth that restricts the
tongue's range of motion.

With tongue-tie, an unusually short, thick or tight band of tissue (lingual

frenulum) tethers the bottom of the tongue's tip to the floor of the mouth, so it
may interfere with breast-feeding. Someone who has tongue-tie might have difficulty
sticking out his or her tongue. Tongue-tie can also affect the way a child eats,
speaks and swallows.

Sometimes tongue-tie may not cause problems. Some cases may require a simple
surgical procedure for correction.

Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of tongue-tie include:

Difficulty lifting the tongue to the upper teeth or moving the tongue from side to
side
Trouble sticking out the tongue past the lower front teeth
A tongue that appears notched or heart shaped when stuck out
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if:

Your baby has signs of tongue-tie that cause problems, such as having trouble
breast-feeding
A speech-language pathologist thinks your child's speech is affected by tongue-tie
Your older child complains of tongue problems that interfere with eating, speaking
or reaching the back teeth
You're bothered by your own symptoms of tongue-tie
Causes
Typically, the lingual frenulum separates before birth, allowing the tongue free
range of motion. With tongue-tie, the lingual frenulum remains attached to the
bottom of the tongue. Why this happens is largely unknown, although some cases of
tongue-tie have been associated with certain genetic factors.

Risk factors
Although tongue-tie can affect anyone, it's more common in boys than girls. Tongue-
tie sometimes runs in families.

Complications
Tongue-tie can affect a baby's oral development, as well as the way he or she eats,
speaks and swallows.

For example, tongue-tie can lead to:

Breast-feeding problems. Breast-feeding requires a baby to keep his or her tongue

over the lower gum while sucking. If unable to move the tongue or keep it in the
right position, the baby might chew instead of suck on the nipple. This can cause
significant nipple pain and interfere with a baby's ability to get breast milk.
Ultimately, poor breast-feeding can lead to inadequate nutrition and failure to
thrive.
Speech difficulties. Tongue-tie can interfere with the ability to make certain
sounds � such as "t," "d," "z," "s," "th," "r" and "l."
Poor oral hygiene. For an older child or adult, tongue-tie can make it difficult to
sweep food debris from the teeth. This can contribute to tooth decay and
inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). Tongue-tie can also lead to the formation of
a gap or space between the two bottom front teeth.
Challenges with other oral activities. Tongue-tie can interfere with activities
such as licking an ice cream cone, licking the lips, kissing or playing a wind
instrument.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

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Diagnosis & treatment
May 15, 2018
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References
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Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia)
Symptoms & causes
Diagnosis & treatment
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