Tongue Tie Treatment

Understanding tongue tie and knowing when treatment is needed can feel overwhelming for parents.

At Valley Advanced Tongue Tie Center, we help you understand tongue tie treatment in simple terms and guide you toward the best care for your family.

What is Tongue Tie?

Tongue tie, medically called ankyloglossia, happens when the small piece of tissue under your tongue (called the lingual frenulum) is too short, thick, or tight.

Think of it like a tether that restricts how well your tongue can move. This tissue is supposed to be flexible and allow your tongue to move freely, but when it’s restrictive, it can cause real problems with everyday activities like eating, speaking, and even breathing.

Everyone is born with this piece of tissue, but in some people, it just doesn’t develop in a way that allows normal tongue movement.

It’s not anyone’s fault – it’s simply how some babies develop in the womb.

The good news is that tongue tie is very treatable, and with the right care, the problems it causes can be resolved.

How Tongue Tie Affects Daily Life

Tongue tie can impact people differently depending on their age and the severity of the restriction.

For Babies and Infants: When babies have tongue tie, feeding often becomes a struggle.

You might notice your baby has trouble latching during breastfeeding, makes clicking sounds while nursing, or seems to work very hard but doesn’t seem to get enough milk.

Many mothers experience pain during breastfeeding because the baby can’t create a proper seal with their tongue.

For Children: As children grow, tongue tie can affect how they learn to speak. Certain sounds become difficult to make clearly, particularly sounds like “t,” “d,” “l,” and “r.”

Some children develop a lisp or their speech sounds unclear.

Eating can also be challenging – you might notice your child has trouble with certain textures or avoids foods that require a lot of tongue movement.

For Adults: When tongue tie goes untreated into adulthood, it can cause ongoing challenges.

Many adults experience jaw pain, headaches, or neck tension because they’ve been working extra hard to compensate for limited tongue movement.

Speech difficulties may persist, affecting confidence in social and professional situations.

Signs That Tongue Tie Treatment Might Be Needed

Recognizing the signs of tongue tie helps families know when to seek professional evaluation.

Physical Signs: The most obvious sign is limited tongue movement.

If your child can’t stick their tongue out past their bottom lip, can’t lift their tongue to touch the roof of their mouth, or if the tongue tip looks heart-shaped when extended, these could indicate tongue tie.

Functional Challenges: More important than how tongue tie looks is how it affects daily activities.

Persistent feeding difficulties in babies, ongoing speech challenges in children, or chronic jaw pain in adults are all functional signs that tongue tie treatment might help.

Our Advanced Treatment Approach

At Valley Advanced Tongue Tie Center, we use state-of-the-art CO2 laser technology for tongue tie release because this method offers significant advantages over traditional surgical approaches.

Why Laser Treatment is Better: The laser is incredibly precise, which means we can release exactly the right amount of tissue without affecting surrounding areas.

Most importantly for families, laser treatment is much more comfortable – many patients experience minimal pain during and after the procedure.

The laser also seals blood vessels as it works, resulting in very little bleeding and faster healing.

Age-Appropriate Care: We understand that treating a newborn baby requires a very different approach than treating a teenager or adult.

Our techniques are carefully adapted for each age group, ensuring comfort and safety for patients of all ages.

What to Expect During Treatment

The Procedure: Tongue tie release using our CO2 laser typically takes just a few minutes. The laser gently releases the restrictive tissue, immediately improving tongue mobility.

Most patients are surprised by how quick and comfortable the procedure is.

Immediate Results: One of the most rewarding aspects of tongue tie treatment is that improvements are often noticeable right away.

Babies may latch better during their very next feeding.

Children and adults typically notice increased tongue movement immediately after the procedure.

Recovery: Recovery from laser tongue tie treatment is typically very smooth.

Most patients return to normal activities within 24-48 hours.

We provide detailed care instructions to help ensure optimal healing, including gentle exercises that help maintain the improved tongue mobility.

Benefits of Tongue Tie Surgery

Proper tongue tie treatment can be truly life-changing, providing benefits that extend far beyond resolving the immediate challenges.

For Families with Babies: Successful treatment often transforms the feeding experience.

Breastfeeding becomes more comfortable for mothers and more efficient for babies, reducing stress for the entire family.

For Children: When treatment helps children speak more clearly or eat more comfortably, it often boosts their confidence significantly.

Children become more willing to participate in conversations and more adventurous with different foods.

For Adults: Adults who receive treatment often describe feeling like they finally understand what “normal” tongue function feels like.

Chronic pain may resolve, speech becomes clearer, and daily activities become more comfortable.

Why Choose Valley Advanced

Our specialized focus on tongue tie treatment means families receive care from providers who truly understand these conditions.

Our board-certified dentists maintain specialized credentials in tongue tie treatment, and our investment in the most sophisticated CO2 laser systems available reflects our commitment to providing the best possible treatment experience.

We understand that tongue tie treatment affects entire families, not just the individual patient.

Our approach emphasizes clear communication, thorough education, and ongoing support that helps families feel confident throughout their treatment journey.

Do you or your child need a tongue-tie or lip-tie release? Call us at (717) 253-9839 or fill out our contact form to schedule your consultation today!