Tongue Tie & Lip Tie Treatment

What Are Tongue and Lip Ties?

The frenum — the small band of tissue connecting the tongue or lip to surrounding structures — is something most people never think about. But when it's too short or too tight, it can create real challenges: a baby who struggles to latch, a toddler with speech delays, a child with recurring cavities because flossing in certain areas is difficult.

These restrictions are called tongue and lip ties, and they're addressed through a procedure called a frenectomy. At our practice, we use CO2 laser technology for precise, minimally invasive treatment.

Common Signs of Tongue and Lip Restrictions

Tongue and lip tie symptoms vary depending on the child's age and the severity of the restriction. In newborns and infants, the most common signs include difficulty latching, weak suction, slow weight gain, excessive gassiness, reflux, and maternal pain or nipple trauma during breastfeeding. In older children, ties may appear as speech challenges, spacing issues in the front teeth, recurring cavities in areas that are difficult to clean, and discomfort when chewing certain foods.

Long-Term Effects of Untreated Ties

We take a thoughtful, conservative approach to tongue and lip tie treatment. Not every restricted frenum requires intervention — sometimes the restriction is mild enough that monitoring is the right choice, and some children compensate naturally as they grow. When a tie is causing real functional difficulty, however, addressing it early can prevent downstream problems. Untreated restrictions can contribute to speech and articulation challenges, orthodontic complications, gum recession, difficulty chewing certain foods, and poor oral hygiene in areas the tongue or lip can't clean effectively.