#frenectomy

The worst thing happened today

I had my wisdom teeth taken out

And a frenectomy

So after the surgery

My mom told me not to exert my tongue too much

So you know what loopy, under-the-influence, gay as fuck, planning-to-have-sex-in-college me said?

"So no eating pussy?"

I SAID THAT.

TO MY MOTHER.

Seriously, the tongue tie revision cut or whatever you want to call it took less than a minute. While Camden wasn’t a fan of it or the suctioning, we’re home and she’s already feeding so much better!

She immediately latched on well but my milk came in too fast lol pumped a couple of minutes, she went back on and worked hard, did the second and even drank what I pumped 40mL) but out of a bottle cause I’m tired.

Let’s hope the healing goes quick and we’re on our way to great adventures!

A baby who struggles to latch properly during feeding, or an adult who has always felt their speech was slightly harder to articulate than it should be, may both be dealing with the same underlying condition without ever realizing it. Tongue-tie, medically known as ankyloglossia, restricts the tongue's normal range of motion, and while it is most commonly discussed in the context of infant feeding, it can affect speech, oral function, and comfort well into adulthood if left unaddressed.

Dr. Raj Bhayani, an ENT and craniofacial surgeon at the New York Institute of Otolaryngology and Aesthetic Surgery in Brooklyn and Rego Park, evaluates tongue-tie in both infants and adults as part of a comprehensive ENT practice. This guide explains what tongue-tie actually is, how it presents differently in babies and adults, how it affects feeding and speech, the treatment options available, and what recovery looks like after a frenectomy.

What Tongue-Tie Is

Tongue-tie occurs when the thin band of tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, known as the lingual frenulum, is unusually short, thick, or tight, restricting the tongue's normal range of motion. In a typical mouth, this band is flexible enough to allow the tongue to move freely for feeding, speech, and general oral function. When it is too restrictive, the tongue cannot reach its full range of motion, which can create a variety of downstream effects.

Tongue-tie exists on a spectrum, ranging from mild cases that cause no noticeable problems to more significant restriction that meaningfully limits tongue movement and function. This variability is part of why tongue-tie is sometimes identified immediately after birth and other times not recognized until much later, occasionally not until adulthood.

Signs in Babies and Adults

Tongue-tie presents differently depending on age, since the functional demands placed on the tongue change significantly from infancy through adulthood.

In babies, difficulty latching properly during breastfeeding or bottle feeding

In babies, clicking sounds during feeding or apparent frustration while attempting to feed

In babies, poor weight gain related to feeding difficulty

In older children and adults, difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, particularly those requiring the tongue tip to reach the roof of the mouth

In adults, difficulty with activities such as licking an ice cream cone or playing certain wind instruments

In adults, discomfort or restriction noticed specifically when attempting to stick the tongue out fully

Many adults with tongue-tie have simply adapted their speech and oral habits around the restriction over years, sometimes without ever realizing that a specific anatomical cause was involved.

How It Affects Feeding and Speech

The functional impact of tongue-tie depends heavily on its severity and the specific demands being placed on tongue movement at any given stage of life.

In infants, restricted tongue movement can prevent an effective latch, leading to inadequate milk transfer and, in some cases, maternal nipple pain during breastfeeding

Inefficient feeding patterns can contribute to prolonged feeding sessions and infant frustration

In older children, tongue-tie can specifically affect sounds such as "t," "d," "l," "s," and "th," which require precise tongue tip positioning

In adults, tongue-tie rarely causes major speech problems by that point, since most adults have developed compensatory speech patterns over years, but it can still cause functional limitations and occasional discomfort

Speech difficulties related to tongue-tie are usually most apparent during early speech development, which is why pediatric evaluation often focuses heavily on this specific concern.

Treatment Options

Not every case of tongue-tie requires treatment, and the decision depends on the severity of the restriction and the specific functional problems it is causing.

Mild tongue-tie causing no functional problems may simply be monitored without intervention

A frenotomy, a simple snip of the frenulum, is often used for infants with significant feeding difficulty, sometimes performed with minimal or no anesthesia given how quick the procedure is

A frenectomy, a more complete removal of the restrictive tissue, is typically used for older children and adults, usually under local anesthesia

Speech therapy may be recommended alongside or following treatment for children with speech difficulties related to tongue-tie

The specific procedure recommended depends on the patient's age, the severity of the tongue-tie, and the specific functional problems being addressed.

Recovery After a Frenectomy

Recovery from a frenectomy is generally quick and well tolerated, particularly compared to many other minor surgical procedures.

Infants undergoing a frenotomy typically resume feeding within minutes to hours, often with immediate improvement in latch quality

Older children and adults typically experience mild discomfort for a few days following a frenectomy

Tongue stretching exercises are often recommended after the procedure to prevent the tissue from reattaching too tightly during healing

Full healing of the area generally occurs within one to two weeks

Most patients, regardless of age, notice functional improvement fairly quickly after treatment, whether that improvement shows up as easier feeding in an infant or a wider range of tongue motion in an older child or adult.

Choosing the Right ENT for Tongue-Tie Evaluation

There’s been a growing awareness in healthcare about how much oral function, feeding, and airway health are connected - especially when it comes to tethered oral tissues like tongue tie and lip tie.

More clinicians today are exploring tongue tie training courses and tethered oral tissues training to better understand how these conditions can affect breastfeeding, speech development, and long-term oral function.

For professionals such as dentists, pediatricians, lactation consultants, and speech-language pathologists, advanced education like a tongue tie certification course, laser frenectomy course, or lip tie assessment course can provide deeper clinical insight and confidence in evaluation and treatment planning.

What’s interesting is how interdisciplinary this field has become. A professional tongue tie training program often brings together multiple perspectives - medical, dental, and feeding specialists - all focused on improving patient outcomes.

As awareness continues to grow, so does the importance of high-quality education in this space. Whether it’s frenectomy CE courses, tongue tie release courses, or broader tethered oral tissues training, the goal remains the same: better understanding, better collaboration, and better care.

5 Signs That Your Child Might Need a Frenectomy

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Mom sent me this photo after her frenectomy today. She has gauze and whatnot stuffed under her lip. The doctor said she would recover quickly, but Mom said the pain was way more than she anticipated and she had to take it easy for a bit. Luckily Yiayia was free and came to help out.

Dad.