What Is a Tongue-Tie?

A tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a medical problem often seen in babies where a tight piece of skin exists between the underside of their tongue and the floor of their mouth.

It is a congenital condition that occurs more often in males.

A tongue-tie can impede breast feeding, tongue mobility, proper oral hygiene, and the ability to communicate and be understood. It can cause difficulty chewing food or swallowing liquids and solids and can also impact nighttime sleep breathing. 

Some signs of tongue-tie in babies include clicking sounds, requiring more feedings, falling asleep at the breast, biting down on nipple, trouble latching, and a struggle to gain weight. 

Red flags in toddlers, school-aged children, and teenagers include being messy eaters or picky eaters, pocketing food in their cheeks, an increase in oral sensitivities (hyperactive gag), stomachaches due to extra air in the stomach, taking a long time to complete a meal, and difficulty pronouncing certain sounds and letter combinations.

Listen in as Nicole Archambault Besson EdS, MS, joins Dr. Susanne to share more about what a tongue-tie is, as well as some of the warning signs you can be on the lookout for.