Lip Ties and Breastfeeding: What Parents Should Know

Your lips and tongue are anchored to your gums and the floor of your mouth by bands of tissue called frenulums. These frenulums keep your lips and tongue in position so you can do things like talk, swallow, and chew. 

Some infants have tighter frenulums, which can make it harder for them to move their tongue or lips. Tight lingual frenulums are called tongue ties. And tight upper lip frenulums are called lip ties. 

Some tight frenulums stretch out over time and babies never develop any issues because of their frenulums. But other infants can develop issues from lip ties, including trouble breastfeeding. Here’s how to tell if your infant may have a lip tie and if they need treatment. 

What are the symptoms of a lip tie?

Some infants with lip ties don’t have any symptoms. Despite having a tight frenulum that keeps their upper lip from moving, these infants carry on with their usual activities without any trouble.

But other babies aren’t so lucky. These infants can have trouble latching and breastfeeding because of their lip tie.

You may be able to tell that your baby has a lip tie by looking at the frenulum connecting their upper lip to their gums. To do this, you’ll need to lift your baby’s upper lip slightly to look underneath. 

Normally, the frenulum goes from a baby’s upper lip to the upper ridge of their gums. In infants with lip ties, the frenulum runs from the upper lip to the middle or even underside of the upper gums. You can see helpful pictures of the different types of lip ties. 

But keep in mind that what your baby’s frenulum looks like is only part of the equation. The other important piece is whether your baby has any difficulties because of their frenulum’s shape and attachment.

What problems are associated with having a lip tie?

The research isn’t very clear on whether infants with lip ties will develop any issues. It’s also not clear whether an infant with a lip tie will go on to have health difficulties later in life. That’s because these frenulums usually stretch out and get smaller as people get older. Right now, there’s no clear evidence that lip ties lead to speech problems. 

Read more like this

Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.

5 Ways to Heal Dry Chapped Lips

Why Are Your Lips So Dry? 9 Causes of Chapped Lips and What to Do About Them

Double Chin Surgery: What Are Your Options?

View more

But it’s possible for infants with lip ties to develop:

1. Trouble feeding 

Some infants with a lip tie can develop trouble feeding because they’re unable to move their upper lip freely. This may lead to trouble forming a seal around a nipple, which makes it harder to pull milk out of the breast or bottle. Infants with lip ties usually have more trouble breastfeeding than bottle-feeding because breastfeeding requires a different type of mouth movement. Over time, poor feeding can lead to difficulty with weight gain and growth. 

As infants get older and start eating solids, lip ties are less of an issue. But some children with very severe lip ties can have trouble with spoon- and finger-feeding, too. 

It’s important to point out that research hasn’t shown that all infants with lip ties develop feeding problems or trouble breastfeeding.

2. Dental caries

There’s some concern that infants with lip ties are at higher risk for developing cavities. Some experts believe that food is more likely to get trapped against the upper front teeth because lip ties keep children from naturally clearing that area with their tongue. 

The research on this issue is very mixed since so many things contribute to cavity formation. But it’s a good idea to take extra care when brushing your child’s upper teeth if they have a lip tie. Regular dental visits and good oral hygiene can lower your child’s risk of developing cavities — regardless of whether they have lip ties. 

3. Need for braces

Some children with lip ties have a gap between their front teeth (diastema). This gap may naturally get smaller over time. Other times, this gap doesn’t go away. If a child wants to close this gap, they’ll need help from braces (orthodontics). Of course, many people choose not to correct their diastema. 

There’s also a possibility that children can develop changes in their jaw shape because of lip ties. Again, the research is mixed in this area. The need for braces is dependent on many factors so it’s hard to say whether a baby with a lip tie will need braces later on. It’s also impossible to say that the lip tie alone was the cause of a child’s need for braces. 

How do you treat a lip tie?

A lip tie can be treated with a surgical procedure called a frenectomy. During a frenectomy, a doctor uses a laser or surgical scissors to cut the lip tie. 

Frenectomies are quick procedures that are done without anesthesia, though doctors will often apply numbing medication. The risks associated with frenectomies include bleeding, pain, and scar tissue. 

Not all children with a lip tie need treatment. If your infant doesn’t have trouble because of their lip tie, they don’t need treatment. If your infant is having trouble feeding, you may consider this treatment option. But keep in mind that evidence to support frenectomy is mixed. In studies, frenectomy didn’t always help infants feed better. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Meredith Grace Merkley, DO, FAAP

Dr. Merkley is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician who has over a decade of experience working in community health. She is currently a National Health Services Corp scholar, and is serving as the medical director of a school-based health clinic at a federally funded health center.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts