You’ve probably heard about tongue ties in babies — maybe even had your pediatrician tell you, “It’s fine, they’ll grow out of it,” or “It’s not affecting feeding, so no need to worry.”

But here’s the truth no one tells you...

The biggest problem with ignoring a tongue tie is what it does to the function and development of your child’s entire oral and facial system — not just now, but long-term.

Yep, it’s way more than just trouble breastfeeding or latching.

So, what really happens when a tongue tie is left untreated?

🚫 It doesn’t just stretch or go away on its own.

A tongue tie is a restriction in the tissue under the tongue (the frenulum), limiting how the tongue moves. And when the tongue can’t move the way it’s supposed to, the rest of the body starts to compensate.

Compensation leads to compounded issues — and that’s where the real trouble begins.

Tongue Ties Disrupt More Than Feeding

Here’s what people don’t realize:

1. Poor Oral Development & Growth

The tongue is nature’s palatal expander. If it can’t rest on the roof of the mouth, the palate stays narrow and high, which can impact:

Breathing (especially nasal breathing!)
Sleep quality
Speech sounds
Facial development

2. Mouth Breathing & Sleep Issues

Kids with tongue ties often:

Snore
Wake frequently
Toss and turn
Show signs of fatigue or hyperactivity during the day

Why? Because mouth breathing during sleep is not restful or restorative — and tongue restriction makes nasal breathing harder.

3. Delayed or Difficult Speech

Even if early speech seems fine, the tongue might struggle with:

Clear articulation of sounds like L, R, S, TH, SH
Fast, coordinated movements for speech fluency
Overall oral-motor control

Tongue ties don’t just cause a speech delay — they make speech effortful.

4. Digestive Discomfort & Picky Eating

A restricted tongue can affect how a child chews and swallows:

Difficulty moving food around the mouth
Gagging or choking on certain textures
Pocketing food in the cheeks
Becoming very selective (aka picky!) because eating feels hard

It’s Not Always Obvious — and That’s the Problem

Some kids don’t show symptoms right away, or they adapt so well that issues go unnoticed. But underneath it all, their body is working overtime to compensate.

By the time those bigger issues show up — crowded teeth, open mouth posture, picky eating, articulation problems, or sleep-disordered breathing — we’re already playing catch-up.

What Should You Do?

If you suspect your child has a tongue tie — or if you’ve been told “not to worry” but your gut says something’s off — it’s worth getting a functional evaluation.

Not just looking at how the tongue looks, but how it moves, rests, and functions in everyd

I’m Here to Help

As a Speech Language Pathologist, Certified Myofunctional Therapist and Feeding Specialist, I help families uncover the real impact of oral restrictions — and guide them toward relief, resolution, and restoration of proper function.

Whether your child is an infant, toddler, or older, early intervention can make all the difference.

Because the biggest problem with ignoring a tongue tie…is finding out years later that it was affecting your child so much more than you ever realized.