How do I get help for a tongue-tie?
Tongue-tie is a condition where the band of tissue connecting the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth is unusually short, thick or tight. This can sometimes affect the way the tongue moves, and can affect feeding in younger babies and, rarely, feeding and speaking in older children.
Many tongue-ties are first noticed in a baby’s newborn examination, and if treatment is needed, a referral would be made for you at that time. However, some tongue ties may be difficult to notice and may only have noticeable effects in the coming months or years in rare cases.
Treatment is not always needed. Many types of tongue-tie may not impact the child, and therefore do not require any treatment. Some tongue ties also self-resolve as the child gets older.
If you believe a child’s feeding or speech may be affected by a tongue tie, there are services that can help you:
- Tongue-tie practitioners: This is a service that can help you find local NHS and private clinics to assess and treat tongue ties. They also provide information and support to parents.
- Midwife: After your baby is born, a midwife in the hospital can assess a baby’s tongue tie and refer you to services if it appears to be affecting feeding. At home, contact your community midwife team, who can also refer.
- GP: In older children, you can book an appointment with your GP who can assess feeding/speech issues and make any referrals for you.
- Breastfeeding help: If you believe feeding is affected, but are unsure if it is due to a tongue tie, you may first wish to get breastfeeding help. Consult our breastfeeding page for contact options.
