Tongue-tie
Overview
Tongue-tie is where the piece of skin connecting the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is shorter or tighter than usual. It's most common in babies. It may not cause any problems, but if it does treatment is available.
Symptoms
If you or your child have tongue-tie, the piece of skin connecting the tongue to the bottom of the mouth usually looks shorter or tighter than usual. The tongue may also look heart-shaped when it's lifted or stuck out. Tongue-tie may not cause any problems, but it can make it difficult to move the tongue. For example, you may not be able to move your tongue from side-to-side, lift it up or stick it out. In babies, tongue-tie can make it difficult for them to breastfeed or bottle-feed. They may: have difficulty attaching (latching) or staying attached to the breast or bottle teatfeed for a long time and need to be fed very oftendribble a lot during feedscough, choke or make clicking noises when feedingonly take a small amount of milk at each feedlose weight or struggle to put on weight If your baby has tongue-tie and you're breastfeeding, you may have sore nipples or painful and swollen breasts.
Treatment
Treatment is not usually needed if tongue-tie is not causing any problems. If it's causing problems, such as difficulty feeding in babies, treatment may include: breastfeeding or bottle-feeding advice from a trained health professionala small surgery to cut the piece of skin connecting the tongue to the bottom of the mouth In young babies, the surgery is usually done without any anaesthetic. In older babies (and children and adults) the surgery is usually done withgeneral anaesthetic. After surgery, most babies get better quickly and are able to feed better.