What causes tongue tie?

Weighing a newborn on an infant scale.

Tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, is a condition that begins during early development in the womb. It occurs when the frenulum—the thin band of tissue under the tongue—doesn’t recede as it should during gestation. When this tissue remains short or tight, it can restrict tongue movement, leading to feeding challenges in infants.

The exact cause of tongue tie isn't fully understood, but current research suggests it may be genetic, possibly inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. It appears to be more common in males and may be linked to a mutated gene. Scientists are still exploring the origins and implications of this genetic connection.

Understanding the potential causes of tongue tie helps providers and parents work together toward timely diagnosis and treatment.

References:

Acevedo AC, da Fonseca JA, Grinham J, Doudney K, Gomes RR, de Paula LM, Stanier P. Autosomal-dominant ankyloglossia and tooth number anomalies. J Dent Res. 2010; 89(2):128-32

Baeza, C., Douglas, P., Hazelbaker, A., Kaplan, M., Martinelli, R., Marchesan, I., Murphy, J., Smillie, C. & Watson Genna, C. Incidence and Prevalence of Tongue Tie; Assessment ad Classification of Tongue Tie; Treating Tongue Tie; Posterior Tongue Tie; Complementary Techniques to Address Tongue Tie. Clinical Lactation, September Edition, (2017).  Pages 89-121.

Han SH, Kim MC, Choi YS, Lim JS, Han KT. A study on the genetic inheritance of ankyloglossia based on pedigree analysis. Arch Plast Surg. 2012;39(4):329.