What is a tongue or lip tie?
Everyone has a tongue and/or lip tie during development in the womb. Your baby develops a piece of tissue between their tongue and the base of their mouth, or between the upper gums and upper lip. These tissues, called a frenum, help with the development and growth of your baby’s facial features. They typically weaken and shrink before your baby is born, but if they don’t shrink enough, it’s referred to as a lip or tongue tie and are restrictive and tethered tissues. The difference between a lip or tongue tie is simply based on where the tie occurs. Lip ties are cases where the tissue is between the lip and upper gums. Tongue ties are cases where the tissue is between the tongue and base of the mouth. Depending on the severity and restrictiveness of your baby’s tongue or lip tie, it can lead to future complications down the road.