Tongue Tie and Breastfeeding: The Hidden Impact on Feeding, Sleep, and Development
- Dr. Dina Chehab
- Aug 24
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 3
Sarah thought she was prepared for everything motherhood would bring. She'd read the books, taken the classes, and felt confident about breastfeeding her newborn daughter, Mia. But three weeks into their journey together, Sarah found herself in tears more often than not.
Mia would latch for a few seconds, then pull away crying. Feedings took hours, leaving both mother and baby exhausted and frustrated. Despite nursing constantly, Mia wasn't gaining weight properly. Sarah's nipples were cracked and painful, and well-meaning relatives kept suggesting she "just wasn't trying hard enough" or should "switch to formula."
What Sarah didn't know was that Mia had a tongue tie, a condition that affects up to 15% of newborns but often goes undiagnosed until feeding problems become severe.
As both a pediatric dentist and a mother, I've witnessed countless families struggle through similar experiences. The heartbreak in a parent's voice when they describe feeling like they're failing their baby is something I'll never forget. But here's what I want every parent to know: feeding struggles aren't your fault, and there is help available.
What Is a Tongue Tie, Really?
A tongue tie, medically known as ankyloglossia, occurs when a short, tight, or thick band of tissue (the lingual frenulum) restricts the tongue's movement by tethering it to the floor of the mouth. Think of it like a guitar string that's tuned too tight, it can't move freely to create the music it's meant to make.
For babies, this restriction affects their ability to:
Create an effective seal during breastfeeding or bottle feeding
Use proper tongue movements for swallowing
Clear milk or food from their mouth
Develop proper speech patterns as they grow
Maintain ideal tongue posture for healthy breathing
Lip ties and buccal ties (restrictions near the upper lip or inside the cheeks) can compound these challenges, creating a perfect storm of feeding difficulties.
Beyond Breastfeeding: The Hidden Impact of Tongue Ties
While most parents first notice tongue ties through feeding struggles, these soft tissue restrictions can cast a long shadow over a child's development. What starts as difficulty latching can evolve into a cascade of issues that affect multiple areas of your child's life.
Tongue Tie and Breastfeeding: The First Signs of a Feeding Crisis
When Mia couldn't move her tongue effectively, she couldn't create the vacuum seal necessary for efficient milk transfer. This led to:
Poor weight gain despite frequent, lengthy feeding sessions
Excessive gas and reflux from swallowing too much air
Maternal pain and potential supply issues
Family stress and bonding challenges
The Growing Child's Struggle
As children with untreated tongue ties grow, new challenges emerge:
Oral Development Concerns:
Persistent mouth breathing, which can lead to significant behavioral problems
Low tongue posture that affects jaw development
High, narrow palates that contribute to crowded teeth
Speech and Communication: Many children with tongue ties develop speech sound errors, particularly with sounds like "L," "T," "D," "N," and "S." They may also develop compensatory swallowing patterns that require myofunctional therapy to correct.
Sleep and Behavior: Perhaps most surprisingly to parents, tongue ties can affect sleep quality. Children with restricted oral tissues often develop mouth breathing patterns that disrupt their rest, leading to daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and behavioral challenges that can be mistaken for ADHD or other conditions.
Sarah and Mia's Turning Point
When Sarah brought Mia to our practice at three weeks old, I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. During our comprehensive evaluation, I assessed not just Mia's anatomy, but how her tongue actually functioned during feeding movements.
The diagnosis was clear: Mia had both a tongue tie and an upper lip tie that were preventing effective feeding. But more importantly, I could offer Sarah hope.
"This isn't your fault," I told her gently. "And this is absolutely treatable."
The Power of Collaborative Care
At Urbana Pediatric Dentistry, we believe that successful treatment requires a village. Tongue ties rarely exist in isolation, and the best outcomes happen when we work together as a team.
Before Mia's procedure, we connected Sarah with:
A certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) who specialized in oral restrictions
Our trusted bodywork specialist to help release any compensatory tension Mia had developed
Clear instructions for post-procedure care and exercises
This collaborative approach ensures that when we release the tie, your baby's entire feeding system can reset and function optimally.
Treatment That Transforms Lives
For babies like Mia, a laser frenectomy can be life-changing. Using state-of-the-art soft tissue laser technology, we can safely and gently release tongue and lip ties in just minutes.
Why We Choose Laser Technology:
Precise tissue removal with minimal discomfort
Little to no bleeding during the procedure
Faster healing compared to traditional methods
No need for general anesthesia
Most babies can feed immediately afterward
The procedure itself took less than five minutes. Mia cried briefly, then settled immediately when placed skin-to-skin with Sarah. Within hours, Sarah texted me: "She's latching! Really latching for the first time!"
The Ripple Effect of Early Intervention
Six months later, Sarah brought Mia back for a follow-up visit. The transformation was remarkable - not just in Mia, but in their entire family dynamic.
Mia was thriving: gaining weight beautifully, sleeping through the night, and beginning to babble with clear tongue movements. Sarah had regained her confidence as a mother and was enjoying the bonding experience she'd dreamed of during pregnancy.
But the benefits extended even further. By addressing Mia's tongue tie early, we prevented:
Future speech therapy needs
Potential orthodontic complications from poor tongue posture
Sleep-disordered breathing that could affect her behavior and development
The need for more complex myofunctional therapy later in childhood
Tongue Tie Symptoms to Watch For
Every parent's journey is different, but there are common red flags that may indicate your child needs evaluation:
In Infants:
Difficulty latching or frequent unlatching during feeds
Clicking, popping, or smacking sounds while feeding
Excessive drooling or milk spilling from the mouth
Signs of reflux or excessive gas
Poor weight gain despite frequent feeding
Maternal nipple pain or damage
In Growing Children:
Persistent mouth breathing, especially during sleep
Speech sound errors or delayed speech development
Messy eating or difficulty with certain food textures
Snoring or restless sleep that affects daytime behavior
Signs of crowded teeth or narrow jaw development
If any of these signs resonate with your experience, trust your parental instincts. You know your child better than anyone, and early evaluation can prevent months or years of struggle.
Looking Beyond the Procedure: Long-Term Success
The frenectomy itself is just the beginning of your child's journey to optimal oral function. Post-procedure care includes gentle exercises and stretches to prevent reattachment and encourage proper tongue movement patterns.
For some children, especially those who develop compensatory habits before their tie is released, myofunctional therapy may be recommended to retrain muscle patterns and ensure lasting success.
The goal isn't just to release the tie, it's to give your child the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating, clear speech, proper breathing, and confident smiling.
A Message of Hope for Struggling Families
If you're reading this while bouncing a fussy baby at 3 AM, wondering why feeding feels so impossibly difficult, please know that you're not alone. The feeding struggles you're experiencing aren't a reflection of your abilities as a parent, they may be a sign that your baby needs support for an underlying physical restriction.
At Urbana Pediatric Dentistry, we see families like Sarah and Mia every week. We witness the relief in parents' eyes when they realize there's an explanation for their struggles, and the joy when they see their baby feeding contentedly for the first time.
When to Seek Help
Don't wait for feeding problems to resolve on their own or for your child to "grow out of" speech or breathing issues. Early intervention can prevent a cascade of complications and give your child the best possible start in life.
If your baby is showing signs of feeding difficulties, or if your older child is experiencing speech delays, mouth breathing, or sleep issues, schedule a comprehensive evaluation. We'll assess not just anatomy, but function, looking at how your child's tongue actually moves and works.
Your Child's Journey Starts Here
Every child deserves the chance to eat comfortably, sleep soundly, speak clearly, and grow with confidence. At Urbana Pediatric Dentistry, we're committed to supporting your family through every step of this journey.
As a board-certified pediatric dentist with specialized training in infant oral function, I've seen firsthand how addressing tongue ties early can transform not just feeding, but a child's entire developmental trajectory. Combined with our comprehensive approach that may include myofunctional therapy and collaboration with other specialists, we provide the complete care your child needs.
Your story doesn't have to be one of struggle and frustration. Like Sarah and Mia, it can be one of hope, healing, and the beautiful bond that comes when feeding finally feels natural and peaceful.
Dr. Dina Chehab is a board-certified pediatric dentist with advanced training in infant oral function and laser frenectomy procedures. She leads Urbana Pediatric Dentistry with a commitment to compassionate, evidence-based care that addresses the whole child, not just their teeth.
Ready to explore solutions for your child? Contact Urbana Pediatric Dentistry today to schedule a comprehensive tongue tie evaluation. We're here to support your family's journey to better oral health and function.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does tongue-tie cause feeding problems?
A: Yes, tongue ties are a common but often overlooked cause of feeding difficulties in infants. When the tongue is restricted by tight tissue, babies cannot create the proper vacuum seal needed for effective breastfeeding or bottle feeding. This leads to poor milk transfer, lengthy feeding sessions, maternal nipple pain, and inadequate weight gain. The restriction prevents the tongue from performing the wave-like motions necessary for efficient feeding, which is why many babies with tongue ties appear to "work hard" during feeds but still seem hungry afterward.
Q: Can being tongue tied affect eating?
A: Absolutely. Tongue ties affect eating throughout a child's life, not just during infancy. In babies, it impacts their ability to latch and transfer milk effectively. As children grow, tongue ties can cause difficulty with:
Transitioning to solid foods and different textures
Messy eating due to poor tongue coordination
Difficulty clearing food from the mouth
Challenges with self-feeding
Food aversions or picky eating behaviors
Problems with chewing and swallowing coordination
Many parents notice their child continues to struggle with certain foods or eating skills long after other developmental milestones are met, which can often be traced back to tongue mobility restrictions.
Q: How long after tongue-tie release does feeding improve?
A: Feeding improvements typically begin immediately to within the first 24-48 hours after a tongue-tie release, but the timeline varies by child. Many babies show immediate improvement in their latch and milk transfer during their first feeding post-procedure.
However, complete healing and optimal function usually develop over 2-4 weeks as the tissue heals and babies learn to use their newly mobile tongues effectively.
For babies who developed compensatory feeding patterns before their release, it may take longer—sometimes 4-6 weeks—to see full improvement. This is why post-procedure exercises and sometimes working with a lactation consultant are so important for achieving the best long-term results.
Q: Does fixing a tongue-tie help breastfeeding?
A: Yes, releasing a tongue tie can dramatically improve breastfeeding outcomes for both mother and baby. Studies show that laser frenectomy procedures result in:
Improved latch quality and depth
Better milk transfer and weight gain
Reduced maternal nipple pain and trauma
Shorter, more efficient feeding sessions
Decreased reflux and gas symptoms in babies
Improved milk supply (when maternal supply was affected by poor milk removal)
However, success depends on proper diagnosis, skilled procedure technique, appropriate post-procedure care, and sometimes support from lactation professionals. At Urbana Pediatric Dentistry, we work closely with certified lactation consultants to ensure families achieve the best possible breastfeeding outcomes after tongue-tie release.
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