Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Sarah May's avatar

Thanks for sharing this! I am an IBCLC, and tongue ties are something I deal with a lot. I have personally (with my sons) seen the difference a tongue tie release can make - and not getting one can make. We opted not to get my middle son’s done (very long story) and now he is eight and dealing with sleep apnea, teeth grinding, and other airway issues we are now resolving. Would the tongue tie release have prevented all this? Impossible to say.

Professionally; I have seen the good a tongue tie release can do, and I’ve seen the bad. I’ve seen babies referred for one that did not need one and there were major issues after. I’ve also seen moms breastfeeding with so many issues, doctors telling the parents that tongue ties don’t exist, yet they give no other solution - and then the baby gets a release and there is an immediate improvement. I’ve also seen babies get them done with no negative or positive impact.

My approach is to do a thorough assessment of the oral function of the infant, and if there are issues, I typically recommend body work, suck training, etc first to see if there is improvement. If not, I refer to one of a couple providers in our area (with NO kick backs, I assure you) for further assessment and diagnosis if necessary.

I am of the belief that there are long term effects of tongue ties, but I would never recommend a release based on the potential for future symptoms - only current issues. Of course, I cannot diagnose, and I always try to give parents all the information I can to make a decision. I do believe that far too many releases are done without proper before and after care - the release is only one step.

I also believe tongue ties are over AND under diagnosed. Yes, there are some just “in it for the money” but I don’t see that - at least not within the professional circle I work with. There was a dentist that wanted me to refer to them but I didn’t love their approach as it seemed like “everyone has a tie!”

I do think it’s a very complex issue and there are families hurt from both providers who refuse to acknowledge tongue ties can cause issues as well as providers who release every frenulum they see. I often say - it is the function, not the appearance, that matters.

Expand full comment
Erin's avatar

My experience with tongue ties was that most people who you think would be able to correctly diagnose a tongue tie actually aren't trained and experienced enough to do so - in my area (a major metropolitan area of 2 million with two major medical research universities), there are just two dentists who are well-known as being very experienced and trusted (meaning that they definitely have advised no release needed or wait and see plenty of times) who can diagnose and treat properly. I worked with a couple of excellent lactation consultants who were good at spotting them, but obviously couldn't do the treatment. I also found that with my son follow-up care in the form of helping release tight muscles in his neck that had developed from trying to compensate was also important. It's definitely clear that more research is needed because I feel extremely lucky to have had access to good resources and people who knew what they were doing, including a great breastfeeding support group at one of the local hospitals and online support group, but in a different metro area that would have likely been a very different story. Releasing my son's tongue and lip ties was critical to us being able to breastfeed past a year, which I'm so thankful we go to do.

Expand full comment
15 more comments...

No posts