This information is approved and/or reviewed by U-M Health System providers but it is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for medical treatment. You should speak to your physician or make an appointment to be seen if you have questions or concerns about this information or your medical condition. Exención de responsabilidad en Español | Complete disclaimer
Tongue-tie is when the tongue cannot move properly because the band of tissue under the tongue is tight. A newborn has an abnormally tight tongue if the band under the tongue attaches near to the tip of the tongue. A child older than 1 year has an abnormally tight tongue (or tongue-tie) if:
Tongue-tie is a rare condition.
Sometimes a baby with a tight tongue has trouble sucking, latching on, and breastfeeding. This can cause inadequate milk transfer and poor weight gain for the infant. It also causes sore nipples and painful breast-feeding for the mother because the shortened tongue cannot cover the lower gum line and protect the areola from chewing.
A tongue with less movement than normal usually does not cause delay or difficulty with speech. If your child is 3 years of age, however, and more than half of his speech is not understood outside of the family, he should be evaluated.
The treatment for tongue-tie that interferes with nursing is to clip (cut) the tight band under the tongue (called frenulum release). This is usually done in the first 3 months of life. Otherwise, clipping is rarely done because it is usually unnecessary. Clipping also carries a small risk of bleeding, infection, and tight scar tissue.
Call your healthcare provider during office hours if breast-feeding is painful.
