A band of tissue known as the lingual frenulum holds the tongue partially toward the front of the mouth. A small frenulum may limit your tongue’s range of motion. This is known as a frenulum.

A child with a brace cannot touch the top of his upper teeth with his tongue when his mouth is open or extend his tongue beyond his lower lip. Their tongue appears to be heart-shaped or notched when extended. A baby’s tongue can get tied if they can’t get a finger under it, since they don’t normally stick their tongue out.

How often do braces occur?
Tongue knots are common. People’s definitions of this condition vary; therefore, it is difficult to determine its true prevalence. About 8% of babies under one year old may have a mild tongue tie.

Is it a problem to have a tongue tie?
It is important to remember that braces are not always a problem. Many babies, children, and adults have braces that don’t cause any problems.

There are two main ways that braces can cause problems:

They can make it difficult for some babies to latch on to their mother’s nipple, which can cause breastfeeding problems. Both the mother’s and the baby’s nipples are painful when breastfeeding due to this. Not all babies with a tongue tie experience it; a good number of them can breastfeed. When a breastfed baby gains weight well, gas or restlessness is not the result of braces. Bottle feeding does not present any difficulties for babies with lingual ties.

They can cause speech problems. Some children with lingual problems may have trouble saying some sounds, such as t, d, z, s, th, n, and l. Speech delay is not caused by braces.
How should you respond if you think your child or baby has a tongue tie?
See your doctor if you think your baby’s poor latch is the result of a tongue tie. A baby may not latch on well for a multitude of reasons. To better understand the problem, your doctor should carefully record all past events and examine your baby.

For help with breastfeeding, you should also consult a lactation consultant. This is because there are numerous reasons why babies have difficulty latching on, and with proper care and assistance, many children with braces can breastfeed effectively.

If you think your child’s difficulties pronouncing words might be related to a tongue tie, see your doctor. For many children it simply takes some time to learn pronunciations of specific sounds. To make sure the problem is not the frenulum, it is also a good idea to get an evaluation from a speech therapist.

What can I do with a brace?
When necessary, a doctor can use a frenulum (a surgical incision) to relieve a frenulum. A frenulum can be performed with a laser or simply by cutting the frenulum.

Still, there is no need to take any action regarding a frenulum that is not causing problems. Although a frenotomy is a relatively simple operation, problems such as bleeding, infection, or difficulty feeding can occasionally occur. For this reason, doing it simply to avoid later problems is never a good idea. Only in situations where the frenulum is obviously causing problems should surgery be considered.

It is also vital to understand that removing the frenum does not usually solve the problem, especially while breastfeeding. Research indicates that not all moms or newborns will clearly benefit from it. For this reason, consulting with a lactation specialist is essential before opting for a frenotomy.

A frenulum should be considered if a newborn with a frenulum is not gaining weight and latching on effectively, despite important assistance from a lactation expert. If it is done, it must be done quickly and by a professional with the necessary training.

What other information about tongue-tie procedures should parents keep in mind?
Many doctors are willing to prescribe a frenotomy even if the evidence of its advantages it is not clear. If your child is recommended to have one, find out about it:

Check the precise reasoning behind the recommendation.
Find out if there are other options, such as waiting.
Seek advice from another medical professional or talk to other members of your child’s care team.