Tongue & Lip Ties are NOT something to be ignored!

Tongue & Lip Ties are Not Something to Be Ignored!

As a pediatric sleep consultant and a mom of two boys who were both severely tongue-tied and lip-tied, I can say this with absolute certainty: tongue and lip ties are not something to be ignored.

These often-overlooked conditions can wreak havoc on a baby’s ability to feed, settle, and sleep well—and the long-term consequences of undiagnosed or untreated ties can extend far beyond infancy, into childhood, adolescence, and even adulthood.

What Are Tongue and Lip-Ties?
A tongue tie occurs when the thin band of tissue that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is too tight, too short, or improperly positioned—restricting the tongue’s range of motion. A lip tie is similar but affects the upper lip, making it difficult to flange or move naturally.

While they might seem like minor anatomical quirks, they can have major impacts on everything from feeding and digestion to sleep and speech development.


How Tongue & Lip Ties Affect Babies
When a baby has restricted oral function due to a tongue or lip tie, it can:

• Make breastfeeding or bottle-feeding difficult, inefficient, or even painful for both baby and parent
• Cause the baby to gulp air or struggle with latch and suction, leading to gas, bloating, reflux, or symptoms often mistaken as “colic”
• Lead to frequent night waking, short naps, and overall poor sleep because the baby is uncomfortable or never truly full
• Result in poor weight gain or failure to thrive in more severe cases
• Cause clicking sounds, dribbling milk, or milk leaking from the corners of the mouth during feeds

I've worked with over 50 families where babies showed classic symptoms of reflux, colic, and sleep disturbances—only to find out, often after multiple missed diagnoses, that the root cause was a tongue and/or lip-tie. Once revised, their demeanour, feeding efficiency, and sleep improved dramatically. I was able to recognize the symptoms as more than just a lack of independent sleep skills and recommend an appropriate specialist to have baby assessed for oral ties. I am proud to say that I have been right every time. 


Misdiagnosis Is Shockingly Common
This is where my personal story hits home.

Four different specialists for each of my sons missed their ties. One child had his ties revised at 13 months (after over a year of struggle), while the other was revised at 9 weeks. And although our experiences were very different due to the class of the ties and the timing of treatment, what was consistent was the dramatic improvement that followed. We had different breastfeeding difficulties, different temperament challenges, other feeding difficulties, and one of my sons was even put on reflux meds he did not need. It was a challenge getting a proper diagnosis, even though I had healthcare nurses, lactation consultants and pediatricians at the hospital and weeks after birth advising on both of their care. 

So many well-meaning pediatricians, lactation consultants, and even ENTs may not be trained to properly assess tethered oral tissues. And this is why I always advocate for families to see the right specialist—often a pediatric dentist or ENT trained in diagnosing and treating ties with laser revision. 


Long-Term Consequences of Untreated Ties
If a tongue or lip tie is left untreated, the effects don't simply “go away” with time. Instead, they can evolve into more complex challenges:

• Speech delays or articulation issues
• Feeding difficulties as they begin solids
• Sleep-disordered breathing or even pediatric sleep apnea
• Picky eating or gagging/choking on certain textures
• Mouth breathing or poor oral posture
• Orthodontic issues, including narrow palate or misaligned teeth
• Persistent digestive issues due to inefficient chewing or swallowing

And in adulthood, these issues can persist as TMJ dysfunction, tension headaches, neck pain, and even sleep apnea.

What You Can Do If You Suspect a Tie
Trust your instincts. If feeding has never felt easy, if your baby is gassy, refluxy, unsettled, or waking every hour overnight—don’t accept “this is just colic” or “they’ll grow out of it” as the final word.

Here’s what I recommend:

1. Document the symptoms you’re seeing (feeding behaviour, weight gain, sleep struggles, etc.)
2. Get an evaluation by a provider with specialized training in oral restrictions (preferably a pediatric dentist who uses laser treatment and works alongside bodywork professionals)
3. Consider a team-based approach that includes lactation support, craniosacral therapy or chiropractic care, and follow-up after revision.

Sleep and Feeding Go Hand-in-Hand
When a baby can’t feed efficiently, they don’t sleep well. When they don’t sleep well, their bodies can’t digest properly, grow efficiently, or regulate emotions. Everything is connected.

If you're in the thick of sleepless nights, reflux struggles, or endless crying—and nothing seems to help--it may be time to look deeper. In many cases, tongue and lip ties are the missing piece of the puzzle.

Having my sons lip-ties and tongue-ties revised via laser revision was the best decision that I could have made for each of them. It changed their little life for the better almost instantly. It saved my breastfeeding relationship with my second son and he was finally able to get the calories that he needed to thrive at 9 weeks old. My first son was unable to eat anything outside of puree at 13 months old and his speech was already behind. On the way home from the revision he "talked" me ear off, using his tongue in so many new and exciting ways he never could before! He also had a huge growth spirt and gained weight he had been missing because breastfeeding and puree does not provide enough calories for a 13 month old. 

I've also helped dozens of families navigate this, and I’m here to help you too.

Need Support?
If you suspect your baby may have a tongue or lip tie—or you're dealing with constant sleep challenges—I offer sleep coaching that looks at the whole picture. Let's connect and find the root cause of what's keeping your little one from getting the restful sleep they deserve.

​Book a free sleep evaluation call with me here.

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