Tongue ties and lip ties are frequently discussed among new parents, and with good reason — feeding challenges can be overwhelming. But the conversation around tongue ties has evolved, especially as new research has emerged from 2023 to 2025.At The New Years, we believe parents deserve accurate, up-to-date, and compassionate guidance rooted in functional assessment and collaborative care.
What Is a Tongue Tie?
A tongue tie (ankyloglossia) occurs when the lingual frenulum — the small band under the tongue — restricts movement in a way that affects function (like feeding). Lip and cheek ties may also contribute to latch difficulty or feeding discomfort.
But here’s what the most recent evidence highlights:
✔ Diagnosis is inconsistent across providers.
Different tools and scoring systems classify ties differently.
There is no universally accepted definition — which means assessment by experienced clinicians matters.
✔ Not all ties affect function.
A visible frenulum doesn’t automatically mean a functional problem. Feeding behaviour, oral-motor skills, and infant comfort are far more predictive.
What the Most Recent Evidence (2023–2025) Shows
Recent reviews show:
✔ Frenectomy can help some infants — but not all.
Studies show reductions in maternal nipple pain and improved latch in some breastfeeding dyads, but evidence quality remains variable.
✔ Outcomes vary widely.
Even in positive studies, improvements are inconsistent across infants.
Sensitivity analyses show that when higher-quality studies are isolated, effects may become non-significant.
✔ A release is not a stand-alone solution.
Evidence supports a team-based, functional approach including:
- Skilled feeding assessment
- Oral-motor therapy before and after release
- Lactation support
- Ongoing follow-up
- Monitoring for re-adhesion (reported in 2.6–13% of cases)
✔ Feeding issues often have multiple contributing factors.
Structure (like a tight frenulum) is only one piece of the feeding puzzle.
What Parents Should Look For
Rather than focusing only on anatomy, evidence suggests prioritizing function, such as:
- Difficulty sustaining latch
- Clicking, leaking, or dribbling
- Fussiness or frustration at the breast or bottle
- Long or painful feeds
- Air swallowing, gas, or reflux-like symptoms
- Slow weight gain
- Difficulty transitioning to solids
If these concerns are present, a collaborative assessment is recommended.
The New Years Approach: Collaborative Functional Evaluation
Our Oral Restrictions Journey brings together:
- Pediatric dentist
- IBCLC lactation consultants
- Occupational and feeding therapists
We evaluate:
- Oral-motor patterns
- Suck–swallow–breath coordination
- Symmetry and posture
- Muscle tension and sensory responses
- Breast/bottle mechanics
- Feeding comfort for both parent and baby
If a release is recommended, we guide families through:
- Pre-release preparation
- Gentle post-release exercises
- Functional feeding therapy
- Follow-up care to support healing and feeding comfort
Our goal is clarity, not confusion — and confidence, not pressure.