### What is Tongue-Tie in Babies? Tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, is a condition some babies are born with that limits their tongue movements. This happens because the tissue (lingual frenulum) connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too short, thick, or tight. This can affect a baby's ability to breastfeed, speak, and maintain oral hygiene. ### Signs of Tongue-Tie To check if your baby has tongue-tie, look at the shape of their tongue when they cry or lift it. If the tip looks like a little heart, it might be a sign. You can also look for a tight and short frenulum when your baby yawns or cries. ### Types of Tongue-Tie - **Anterior Tongue-Tie:** The entire bottom of the tongue is attached to the floor of the mouth, visible just behind the lower teeth and gums. - **Posterior Tongue-Tie:** A short, tight frenulum near the base of the tongue, often hard to see and usually detected by feel. ### Impact on Babies Tongue-tie can make breastfeeding difficult. Babies may chew on the nipple instead of sucking, causing pain to the mother and preventing the baby from getting enough milk. It can also affect speech development and eating certain foods later in life. ### Treatment Options - **Frenotomy:** A simple procedure where the doctor clips the frenulum with sterilized scissors. It causes minimal pain and bleeding. - **Frenectomy:** Similar to frenotomy but involves completely removing the frenulum. - **Frenuloplasty:** Used when the frenulum is too thick for a simple snip. It may require stitches and is done under anesthesia. ### Post-Surgery Care Doctors may recommend tongue exercises to prevent the frenulum from reattaching and to improve tongue movement. Surgery is usually successful and rarely causes issues. ### Should You Treat Tongue-Tie? Not all cases need treatment. Some babies live without any problems. Consult your doctor to decide the best course of action for your baby.