Tongue-Tie Surgeries in Babies on the Rise: American Academy of Pediatrics Report

The AAP notes a growing trend in tongue-tie diagnoses and surgical interventions in babies despite lack of clinical consensus on treatment options.

Shutterstock

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued new recommendations on Monday for treating and diagnosing tongue-tie after noting a rise in diagnosis and surgeries in babies in recent years.

Ankyloglossia, or “tongue-tie,” is a natural variation of oral structure, the doctors wrote. However, in some babies, it may interfere with feeding when the tongue frenulum, the tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is too short or tight to allow the necessary range of motion.