A lip tie is a medical condition that occurs when the skin of the upper lip is attached to the gums in a way that prevents lip movement and makes breastfeeding difficult for your baby. It is caused by a tight frenulum, which is the tissue that connects the upper lip to the gums. Here are some key points about lip ties on babies:

• Symptoms: Signs of a lip tie include difficulty latching onto the breast, making a clicking sound during breastfeeding, spitting milk out or choking on milk, feeding with high frequency, and poor weight gain.

• Diagnosis: A medical professional will evaluate your baby and may ask to watch your baby feed to look for signs of a lip tie. They will check your baby’s ability to latch deep enough for effective feeding, if your baby makes a clicking sound during breastfeeding, spitting milk out or choking on milk, and feeding with high frequency.

• Complications: A severe lip tie may affect your baby’s dental health and lead to tooth decay in children. It can also limit movement and make feeding difficult. As your baby gets older, they may have trouble eating some foods with a lip tie that isn’t corrected. Additionally, untreated lip or tongue ties can result in speech problems, sleep apnea, and problems chewing and swallowing food.

• Treatment: Treatment for a lip tie may include a simple surgical procedure called a tight-tissue release, which severs the tissue connecting the lip to the gums. However, some lip-ties do not impact function and do not require surgical treatment. Other times, doctors may recommend a frenectomy, a surgical treatment for lip-tie that severs the tissue connecting the lip to the gums. It is possible for a baby to have both tongue-tie and lip-tie at the same time. In this case, a pediatrician may recommend releasing both.

If you suspect that your baby has a lip tie, it is important to consult with a medical professional to determine the best course of action.