Do You Recognize These Common Signs of Tongue or Lip Ties in Yourself or Your Child?

Many individuals go years without realizing that issues like feeding difficulties, speech delays, or chronic breathing problems might be caused by a hidden oral restriction known as a tongue or lip tie. Conditions such as a posterior tongue tie or tongue tie in adults frequently go undiagnosed, leading to persistent health struggles.

Tongue and lip ties frequently run in families, so if you or an older child have experienced a tie, your infant may also be affected. At our clinics in Fort Wayne and Granger, we offer comprehensive evaluations for children and adults experiencing these symptoms. Our goal is to work closely with you, providing clarity, relief, and personalized care so that you or your child can thrive.

Tongue Tie Symptoms in Infants and Young Children

Recognizing tongue tie symptoms (infants) early can prevent ongoing discomfort and support healthy development. Here’s what parents commonly observe:

Feeding Issues:

Difficulty Latching or Breastfeeding: Your infant may struggle to latch correctly, feed excessively long, or make clicking noises during feeding.
Milk or Formula Leaking: Frequent spilling or dribbling of milk out of your child’s mouth.
Upper Lip Curling Inward: The upper lip consistently curls under, interfering with feeding.
Infant Falling Asleep During Feeding: Your infant might become exhausted and fall asleep prematurely while nursing.
Persistent Fussiness After Feeding: Your infant remains dissatisfied or irritable after feedings.

Maternal Issues:

Painful latch or nipple pain: Poor tongue or lip movement can make nursing uncomfortable and lead to soreness.
Cracked or bleeding nipples and blocked ducts: Inadequate latch puts extra stress on breast tissue and may cause clogged milk ducts.

Low milk supply and exhaustion: Constant feeding or pumping without effective milk transfer can deplete a mother’s energy and reduce supply.

Emotional stress, guilt or frustration: Ongoing feeding problems often leave mothers feeling upset or blaming themselves.

Functional Issues:

Acid Reflux (GERD): Persistent spit-up, reflux symptoms, or discomfort after meals.
Mouth Open at Rest: Your infant frequently has their mouth open even during sleep.
Extreme Gas or Colic-like Symptoms: Excessive gas, fussiness, or crying due to swallowed air during feeding.
Slow or Poor Weight Gain: Difficulty gaining weight despite adequate nutrition.
Pain or Tightness: Visible or noticeable discomfort in the facial area.
White Coating on the Tongue: Often mistaken for thrush, this can indicate milk pooling from restricted tongue movement (see white tongue pictures).
Swollen or Blistered Lips: Visible irritation and swelling around the lips due to feeding difficulties (see swollen tongue pictures).

Tongue Tie Symptoms in Older Children and Adults

Adults and older children often live with unresolved symptoms for years. Identifying tongue tie symptoms can significantly improve quality of life:

Speech Delay or Articulation Issues: Common difficulties pronouncing specific consonants (t, d, l, r, s), causing frustration and reduced confidence in speech.
Persistent Facial or Neck Tension: Chronic discomfort and tension affecting daily comfort.
Forward Head Posture: Compensatory posture often leading to neck strain, headaches, and even TMJ issues.
Difficulty Chewing or Swallowing: Challenges swallowing pills, sticky foods, smoothies, or thick liquids, causing daily inconvenience.
Tightness Under the Chin: Persistent discomfort beneath the chin area.
Base of Skull Pain: Ongoing headaches or tension at the back of the head.
Difficulty Speaking or Voice Fatigue: Struggles with clarity or endurance while speaking.
Mouth Breathing: Habitual mouth breathing during the day or while sleeping.
Snoring and Sleep Issues: Breathing difficulties at night, leading to chronic fatigue.

What Is a Posterior Tongue Tie?

A posterior tongue tie is located deeper beneath the tongue, unlike more visible anterior ties. Posterior ties significantly limit tongue mobility but frequently go unnoticed during routine checkups. Identifying these ties early is crucial to preventing long-term issues.

How Do We Diagnose & Treat Tongue and Lip Ties?

Recognizing symptoms is just the beginning. Many families report tremendous relief once they finally understand their ongoing challenges. At our Fort Wayne and Granger clinics, we use a comprehensive functional evaluation rather than a simple “snip-and-go” approach. Our thorough assessments include:

Airway Evaluations: We examine how tongue and lip ties may affect your breathing and overall airway health.
Learn about Airway Evaluations.
Myofunctional Therapy Assessments: Detailed assessments identifying muscular issues impacting speech, breathing, and oral posture.
Explore Myofunctional Therapy.
Functional Oral Evaluations: Precise evaluations to ensure tailored, effective treatment plans.

Tailored Treatment for All Ages

Treatments are highly individualized based on age, specific needs, and developmental stages.

Infants and Young Children

Gentle, early interventions significantly improve feeding experiences, breathing comfort, and speech development, enabling your child to grow and thrive.

Older Children, Teens, and Adults

Minimally invasive laser treatments combined with myofunctional therapies rapidly improve oral function, relieve chronic discomfort, and restore confidence and comfort in daily life.

Explore Adult Tongue Tie Treatments

Patients who receive treatment typically experience immediate improvements, including better feeding, clearer speech, reduced tension, improved sleep quality, and a substantial boost in overall quality of life.