Tongue Tie

The tongue is hold onto its place with a small string of connective tissue to prevent it from sliding into the throat. According to the human blueprint thid frenulum needs to be just about long enough to keep the tongue in place without restriction of movement in all three dimensions. This freedom of movement is needed for food handling, breathing and talking. The development of the oral cavity, the palate and the gums with the set of teeth as well is influenced by the movements of the tongue. In some children the frenulum happens to be too short, too tight or too thick for full functionality. A simple clip will in almost all cases suffice to restore full function, without causing pain and with hardly any bleeding. Against all odds universally physicians are hesitant or even frantically opposed to perform this small intervention that can easily be done in the office without anesthesia. Because of the lack of research doctors may have the impression that indication for frenotomy is difficult and not very nessecary. However, in the research that is done no adverse effects have been reported and in most cases a immediate positive effect on the functionality is noted. The best indication for clipping the frenulum is when its form, size or density decreases or prohibits its function in suckling or in transferring milk and/or if it causes nipple trauma to the mother
Suter VG, Bornstein MM: Ankyloglossia: facts and myths in diagnosis and treatment. J Periodontol. 2009;80(8):1204-19.
Geddes DT, Langton DB, Gollow I, Jacobs LA, Hartmann PE, Simmer K: Frenulotomy for breastfeeding infants with ankyloglossia: effect on milk removal and sucking mechanism as imaged by ultrasound. Pediatrics. 2008;122(1):e188-94.
Cho A, Kelsberg G, Safranek S: Clinical inquiries. When should you treat tongue-tie in a newborn? J Fam Pract. 2010;59(12):712a-b.
Frenulum expert:
http://www.brianpalmerdds.com/frenum.htm
frenulum clipping instructions:
http://www.borstvoeding.com/kindjeaandeborst/kraamtijd/knippen-van-een-te-kort-tongriempje.html