How Do I Know If My Child Has a Tongue or Lip Tie? Everything You Need To Know!

Now that you know what tongue and lip ties are, let’s discuss how you can check for them. While it’s always best to see a board-certified pediatric dentist like Dr. Elias or Dr. Christina for a proper diagnosis, there are a few signs that you may be able to recognize.

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Let’s start with tongue ties. A few of the most common signs of tongue ties include:

• Difficulties lifting the tongue up to the upper teeth or difficulties moving the tongue side to side
• A “heart-shaped” or notched tongue shape when your child sticks their tongue out
• Problems sticking the tongue out beyond the lower front teeth

Both tongue and lip ties can cause issues when your child is feeding, too. Here are a few of the signs you may want to look out for when your child is feeding:

• Infants having difficulty latching onto the breast or bottle to feed
• Excessive crying or restlessness when feeding
• Long feeding sessions, or your baby falling asleep regularly during feeding sessions
• Excessive “gumming” of the nipple or bottle when feeding
• Drooling or clicking noises when your baby is suckling

If left untreated, tongue and lip ties can cause poor weight gain (failure to thrive) in infants, and can lead to oral development problems or speech impediments later in your child’s life. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to see a pediatric dentist for a diagnosis, and to get the help you need.