Infant and Toddler Laser Frenectomy

in Orlando

During early development, the tongue is initially fused to the floor of the mouth. By around the eighth week in utero when the tongue is fully formed, it begins to separate from the base of the mouth, allowing for greater movement. The lingual frenulum is the small band of tissue beneath the tongue that remains, helping to support and control its movement. EVERYONE is born with this structure!

For optimal nasal breathing, the tongue needs to rest gently against the roof of the mouth. Breathing through the nose helps the body by filtering, warming, and humidifying the air, which can improve oxygen flow. However, a tongue tie can restrict the tongue’s natural movement, pulling it downward and preventing it from contacting the palate. This low tongue position can interfere with proper breathing and may contribute to snoring or sleep disordered breathing.  

When the tongue rests correctly against the palate, and the lips are properly sealed, the pressure helps guide the natural development of the upper jaw. Research shows that children with untreated tongue ties can experience abnormal tongue function, which may impact facial development and increase the risk of sleep-related breathing issues.

In the early weeks and months of life, a baby’s tongue needs to move freely in order to effectively create suction to draw milk from the breast. The front and middle parts of the tongue help cup and compress the breast tissue, while the middle-to-back portion creates the vacuum needed to pull milk out.

When a baby has a tongue tie, they may struggle to get a deep latch, which can cause nipple pain or damage to the parent. If the tongue can’t reach up and over the lower gums, latching might feel uncomfortable, and staying latched can be difficult. As a result, some babies may spend long periods nursing without actually getting enough milk.

Poor suction due to a restricted tongue can lead to frequent loss of the seal at the breast or bottle, causing milk to leak from the sides of the mouth. This may also cause the baby to swallow air, which can lead to gas, discomfort, fussiness, and signs of reflux or colic. Tongue ties can interfere with the coordination of oral muscles and make feeding less effective, whether nursing or bottle-feeding.

All babies are born with a small band of tissue under the upper lip called the labial frenulum. This connective tissue helps keep the lip in place, anchoring it to the upper jaw, and plays a role in proper lip movement and facial development. It's completely normal for the frenulum to attach low on the gums near the front teeth—this is seen in nearly 90% of newborns. As a child grows and the jaw continues to develop, this attachment point often moves higher up naturally over time.

If the tissue under the upper lip (labial frenulum) is too tight, it can interfere with a baby’s ability to form a proper seal around the breast or bottle nipple. This may cause the baby to swallow excess air during feedings, which can lead to gas, reflux, or nipple pain/damage for breastfeeding mothers due to added tension from the upper lip.

Ideally, the upper lip should stay relaxed and gently curved around a breast or bottle nipple to help keep milk from leaking out. As children grow, a tight upper lip tie may also make it harder for toddlers to drink from a straw, clean food off a spoon, or adequately brush the front teeth leading to cavity formation.