Restrictive tongue tie occurs when the tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth limits its movement, which can affect a child's development at different stages of life. Many parents only become aware of this condition when difficulties arise with breastfeeding, feeding or speech.
In babies, the first signs often appear during breastfeeding, including difficulty maintaining latch, very long feeds, quick fatigue, falling asleep at the breast without feeding effectively, clicking sounds, gagging, milk spilling from the mouth and weight gain below expected. Mothers may also experience persistent pain and cracked nipples.
As the child grows, difficulties may arise with chewing, moving food around the mouth, swallowing correctly and speech changes, since certain sounds require good tongue elevation. The low position of the tongue within the mouth may also contribute to changes in craniofacial growth, predominantly mouth breathing and the development of a higher and narrower palate.
The article reassures parents by highlighting that having a short frenulum does not automatically mean treatment is needed, and that it is essential to assess tongue functionality and the impact on the child's daily life. If doubts or persistent signs arise, a specialist assessment is recommended from a children's speech therapist, such as Inês Silva from Vaz Nobre Clínica.
