What is a tongue tie?
Tongue tie (‘ankyloglossia’) prevents the tip of the tongue from protruding beyond the lip or from being able to touch the top of the mouth. This is because the thing band of tissue under the tongue, called the ‘frenulum’ extends too far towards the tip of the tongue.
What problems can tongue tie cause?
Speech can be impaired.
Occasionally breast feeding can be affected because of difficulty latching on. Tongue tie does not affect swallowing because this is performed by the back of the tongue.
What is the treatment?
Surgical release of tongue tie is a quick operation performed under a general anaesthetic.
What to expect after the operation
Recovery is usually very quick. Any discomfort or pain can be controlled with paracetamol.
What are some of the possible complications?
- Bleeding
- Recurrence
- Injury to nearby structures
All these are very uncommon.
