Tongue and Lip Ties
A tongue or lip tie is a band of tissue — a frenum — that restricts how freely the tongue or lip can move. Everyone has a frenum; what matters is not whether it is there, or how it looks, but whether it is limiting function.
That single idea shapes everything we do here. We assess how your child’s mouth actually works, we look at whether they have started compensating for a restriction, and we think carefully about timing — because acting at the right moment matters more than acting quickly.
Not every tie needs treatment. Many never cause a problem at all.
Assessed on function, not appearance
Here is the most important thing we want every parent to know: a frenum that looks prominent is not automatically a problem, and not every tie needs treatment. What matters is function — whether the tongue and lip can actually do their jobs. Our assessment looks at how your baby feeds or how your child eats and speaks, not just at what the frenum looks like. Where function is fine, the kindest treatment is often no treatment at all; where function is genuinely restricted, we’ll explain what we’ve found and discuss the options with you. Treatment is never assumed, and a release is not performed on the same day as an assessment unless, after full discussion, it is appropriate — same-day treatment is never guaranteed.
The myth that causes the most confusion
“If she can stick her tongue out, it’s not a tie” is not true.
Poking the tongue out past the lips — protrusion — is the movement checked most often, and it is one of the least functionally relevant. The movement that actually matters for feeding is elevation: lifting the mid and back of the tongue to the palate to create suction. A baby can have perfectly good protrusion and still be unable to elevate.
Related: the grade or classification of a tie does not tell you how severe its effect will be. Anatomy tells you what is there. Function tells you whether it matters.
What the tongue actually needs to do
A functional assessment looks at six movements, because restriction of any one of them can matter: extend, elevate, cup, lateralise (move side to side), spread, and control a swallow.
Some restrictions are clearly visible. Others cannot be seen at all — the tongue can look entirely normal while a tight band is easily felt underneath. That is why assessment includes gentle palpation of the floor of the mouth, not just a look.
Why timing matters
When a tongue cannot do something, children are remarkably good at finding another way — the jaw, lips and cheeks step in to compensate. That is why a child can appear to be coping while the underlying restriction is unchanged.
Compensating patterns become habits, and habits take longer to unpick later. That is not a reason to rush into a procedure. It is a reason not to leave a real difficulty unsupported.
Experienced, caring assessment
Tongue and lip tie assessments at Tooth Town are carried out by Dr Helen Fung, who has helped numerous families with tongue-tie and lip-tie difficulties through the Brisbane Tongue Tie Clinic. We have comfortable quiet rooms for mothers and their babies to feed in privacy after the consultation and any treatment, as well as toys to entertain older siblings.
When is an assessment worth considering?
Families most often come to us when feeding is hard. For babies, that can look like difficulty latching or staying latched, long or exhausting feeds, clicking sounds, excessive wind, poor weight gain, or nipple pain and damage for mum. In older children, concerns sometimes include difficulty with certain foods or speech sounds. None of these signs mean a tie is definitely the cause — feeding and speech difficulties can have many contributing factors, which is why we assess carefully and work alongside lactation consultants, speech pathologists and other health professionals where that helps your child. Our parent guide to tongue and lip ties explores the topic in depth, and our article on orofacial myology looks at how oral function can be supported more broadly.
What to expect at the consultation
We’ll listen first — your experience of feeding tells us a great deal. Dr Helen will then gently examine your child’s mouth, assessing the appearance and, more importantly, the function of the tongue and lip. From there, we’ll talk honestly about what we’ve found and what the options are, which may include monitoring, supportive therapies, or a release procedure. If a release is recommended and you choose to proceed, we’ll explain the procedure and aftercare fully so you know exactly what to expect.
A personal note from Dr Helen
This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. My training and years at Westmead Centre for Oral Health taught me to recognise and release tongue and lip ties. I understood the symptoms, and how the presence of a tie could impact on the breastfeeding for both mother and child.
However, it was the birth of my second child that made me truly empathise with those who struggle with nurturing a newborn with a tongue tie. From the start, feeding felt different to my first baby. Being familiar with the symptoms, I quickly realised he had both tongue and lip ties. I’m not ashamed to admit that I didn’t last long without realising that I would have to release my own son’s tongue and lip ties, or we would both continue suffering.
This experience has renewed my sense of urgency in providing prompt treatment to those mothers who have challenges associated with nursing an infant with oral restrictions. Having personally experienced it with my own son, I really understand and admire those mothers whose determination to successfully breastfeed their tongue- and lip tied infants drives them to find the solution that not only provides relief, but also prevents future challenges for their growing child.
Sometimes it isn’t a tongue tie
A tongue may be unable to rest against the palate for reasons that have nothing to do with a tie — enlarged adenoids or tonsils, chronic nasal congestion or allergies, low muscle tone, the structure of the palate, or other differences.
A child mouth breathing because of enlarged adenoids needs an ENT opinion, not a dental procedure. A large part of what an assessment is for is working out what is actually driving the difficulty — and saying so plainly when a tie is not the answer. Read more about the other causes.
Function is looked at in every consultation
You do not need to book a tongue tie assessment for something to be noticed. Every consultation at Tooth Town looks at how your child’s mouth is working, not only at their teeth. All clinicians consulting at Tooth Town — including the general dentists — consider function as part of a routine visit, and will refer you through for a full functional assessment with Dr Helen Fung if something warrants a closer look.
Frequently asked questions
Does every tongue or lip tie need to be released?
No. Many ties cause no functional problems at all and are best left alone. We assess function — feeding, eating, speech — rather than appearance, and we’ll only discuss a release where a genuine functional restriction is found.
Will my baby be treated on the day of the assessment?
Not necessarily — and never automatically. The assessment comes first, and any treatment is a separate decision made with you after full discussion. Where treatment is appropriate and you wish to proceed, we’ll explain the timing options available.
Who performs the assessment?
Tongue and lip tie assessments at Tooth Town are performed by Dr Helen Fung, who has extensive experience in this area and a personal connection to it as a mother who has navigated tongue and lip ties with her own child.
My baby is feeding poorly — is it definitely a tie?
Not necessarily. Feeding difficulties can have many causes, and a tie is only one possibility. We often work alongside lactation consultants and other health professionals to build the full picture, so your baby gets the right support — whatever the cause.
What happens after a release, if one is needed?
We’ll give you clear aftercare guidance and arrange any follow-up needed. Our quiet rooms are yours for feeding and settling straight after the appointment, and we’ll make sure you leave feeling confident about the days ahead.
Struggling with feeding? You’re not alone
Book an assessment or contact us — we’ll listen, assess carefully, and help you find the right path for your baby, whatever that turns out to be.
Tongue and lip tie guides for families
- Does every tongue tie need treatment?
- What happens at a tongue tie assessment
- Tongue tie and breastfeeding: what the signs actually mean
- If a release is recommended: what it involves and what comes after
- Tongue tie beyond babies: toddlers, school-age children and teenagers
- Tongue tie treatment for older children, teenagers and adults
- It isn’t always a tongue tie
For health professionals: When to refer a child for tongue tie assessment