Bloomy's Laser Dentistry

Do We Need an Evaluation?

What to Watch For

A tongue tie or lip tie shows up differently at every age — and it affects nursing parents too. The lists below are the signs we look at during a consultation. You do not need to check every box: if something here sounds like your experience, that is reason enough to be seen.

Symptoms in Babies

Your baby may benefit from an evaluation if they experience:

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Difficulty achieving or maintaining a good latch

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Sliding off the breast during feeding

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Falling asleep while nursing

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Frequent or prolonged feedings

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Poor weight gain or slowing weight gain

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Reflux or frequent spit-up

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Milk leaking from the sides of the mouth

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Clicking sounds while nursing or bottle feeding

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Excessive gas or fussiness

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Gagging easily

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Difficulty using a pacifier

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Morning congestion

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Difficulty sleeping flat

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Noisy breathing, snoring, or pauses in breathing (apnea)

Symptoms in Children & Adolescents

As children grow, untreated tethered oral tissues may contribute to:

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Slow or picky eating

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Speech delays

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Difficulty pronouncing certain sounds

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Difficulty being understood

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Lisp

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Strong gag reflex

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Teeth grinding (bruxism)

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Snoring

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Sleeping with the mouth open

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Restless or poor-quality sleep

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Waking frequently or feeling tired after sleep

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Bedwetting

Symptoms Experienced by Mothers

Tongue and lip ties can also affect breastfeeding mothers and may contribute to:

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Painful latch

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Cracked, creased, or blanching nipples

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Bleeding or damaged nipples

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Baby chewing or gumming the nipple

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Difficulty achieving a successful latch

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Incomplete breast drainage

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Plugged ducts

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Mastitis

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Overproduction or low milk supply

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Flattened nipples after nursing

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Prolonged feeding sessions

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Decreased milk production

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Forceful letdown

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Increased stress or postpartum emotional challenges

Recognizing a symptom is the starting point, not the diagnosis. Read what a tongue tie and a lip tie actually are, or see what happens at the initial consultation.

Sound familiar?

Bring what you are seeing at home to a consultation. We review pregnancy, birth, and feeding history before we examine anything.