Tongue and Lip Tie Collaborative Care in Midland, TX

Led by Dr. Archana Gutta, our specialized team of Pediatric Dentistry, IBCLC and SLP, we focus on identifying whether a tight, restrictive frenulum is the root cause of your child’s discomfort, feeding struggles, or speech delays in Midland TX. Our goal is to provide a gentle solution that improves your child's daily development and brings immediate relief to your family.

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Signs Your Child Needs an Evaluation

Not every tongue or lip tie requires treatment; some children have visible restrictions but feed and grow normally. An evaluation is recommended if daily challenges arise.

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Babies

• Difficulty latching or staying latched during breast or bottle feeding.
• Clicking or smacking sounds while nursing.
• Long, exhausting feeds with poor milk transfer.
• Fussiness, gas, or colic after feeds.
• Difficulty lifting or extending the tongue past the gums.
• Blistered or tucked-in upper lip.
• For nursing mothers: severe pain, bleeding, or flattened nipples after feeding may indicate a restricted latch.

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Older Children

• Unclear speech or difficulty articulating sounds.
• Chronic mouth breathing or sleeping with the mouth open.
• Difficulty licking their lips or eating from a spoon.
• Visible tension in the jaw or neck.

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Benefits of Tongue and Lip Tie Release in Midland TX

• Treatment may help when a restrictive frenulum affects feeding or oral movement.
• Deeper, more secure, and comfortable latch.
• Easier, more efficient milk transfer and shorter feeding sessions.
• Less air swallowing, which may reduce gas and reflux.
• Improved tongue placement for clearer speech development.
• Infants may feed more calmly, stay full longer, and sleep better.
• Older children may have improved tongue mobility for speaking and chewing.

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Healing After Treatment

Children generally recover quickly after tongue or lip tie release. The first few days focus on comfort, feeding, and adjusting to new tongue movement.

• Follow gentle stretching exercises as directed to help prevent reattachment.
• Continue feeding on demand to help your baby practice their new latch.
• Monitor healing closely during the first week.
• Attend a follow-up visit to check healing and progress.
• Some babies improve their latch immediately, while others need time to adjust to their new range of motion.

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Why early treatment matters

• Tongue movement plays an important role in feeding, swallowing, facial growth, airway development, and oral development.
• A restricted tongue may cause children to compensate with altered swallowing patterns or improper tongue positioning.
• Over time, these compensations may contribute to orthodontic concerns, speech difficulties, or sleep-breathing problems.
• Early treatment can help remove the physical restriction while your child is still developing.
• For many families, treatment can make feeding easier and more comfortable during the early months.