Infant

Tongue- & Lip-Tie Care

Gentle CO₂-laser releases for babies 0–12 months

What is a tongue-tie or lip-tie?

A tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) or lip-tie happens when a thin band of tissue, called the frenum, is too tight. This can limit how well the tongue lifts, moves side-to-side, or how the upper lip flares over the breast or bottle.

When movement is restricted, babies may experience:

  • Shallow or unstable latch

  • Difficulty creating strong suction

  • Extra suction noise or leaking milk

  • Inefficient milk transfer

  • Jaw, neck, or whole-body tension during feeds

  • Reflux-like symptoms or excessive gas

At Otter Oral Care, we use a gentle CO₂-laser to release the tight tissue, helping your baby feed more comfortably and effectively.

Common feeding and comfort clues

While only a full in-clinic assessment can confirm a tongue- or lip-tie, you might notice:

  • Clicking or leaking at the breast or bottle

  • Lip blisters after feeding

  • Nipple pain that lingers even after latch adjustments

  • Gassy fussiness or frequent spit-ups despite burping

  • Slow weight gain or very long feeds

  • Early bottle preference or breast refusal

These signs can have many causes—an IBCLC (lactation consultant) can help identify what’s going on, and we assess for ties when appropriate.

Our approach at Otter Oral Care

Dr. Michael Dienberg and Bethany Dienberg, Otter Oral Care, Colorado Surgical Institute

Your baby’s visit is calm, efficient, and centered on comfort. In most cases, we can complete a full consult and release in the same 45–60-minute appointment.

We use a CO₂-laser with topical anesthetic for babies under 12 months. The entire procedure takes about 5 minutes from start to finish.

Because feeding involves many factors, we ask that families see an IBCLC or feeding specialist before release. This ensures the procedure is warranted and that you feel ready for the follow-up care it requires. Many babies also benefit from bodywork (such as chiropractic, craniosacral therapy, or physical therapy) to ease tension and support feeding. If you’d like, we’ll connect you with trusted local providers and collaborate with your care team to support your baby’s feeding journey.

What to expect on release day

  1. Settle in – We review your baby’s history, perform a gentle exam, and discuss findings together.

  2. After-care review – We demonstrate stretches, provide printed instructions, and share helpful resources before you go home.

  3. Numbing – A safe, topical anesthetic is applied while your baby stays in your arms.

  4. Release – Quick, precise, and gentle

  5. Feed & soothe – We encourage feeding, skin-to-skin, or rocking, whatever best soothes baby

After-care and stretching

Stretches are an essential part of healing. They keep the small diamond (tongue) and/or raindrop (lip) wound open while new skin forms, helping prevent the tissue from re-attaching.

  • Stretches are 3 times a day for 3–4 weeks.

  • Each stretch takes only a few seconds.

  • Tummy-time and gentle body-work (neck and jaw) support recovery and comfort.

We’ll walk you through the technique in-clinic so you feel confident before leaving.

You’ll also receive:

  • Printed post-op instructions

  • A care tracker PDF to help you stay on schedule

Ready to take the next step?

We know deciding on a tongue- or lip-tie release for your baby is a big decision. Our role is to make the process clear, gentle, and supportive from the very first hello to your follow-up care.

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Infant Frenectomy: Common Questions

  • We apply a topical anesthetic to frenum and surrounding area to numb the before the release. The CO₂-laser is quick and gentle, and babies may respond to the new sensation or the position we hold them in, just as they might during other medical care. Most are ready to feed or be comforted within minutes, and research shows any brief mild discomfort typically resolves within 15 minutes.

  • Sometimes feeding improves right away, but for symptoms like reflux or excessive gas, it can take 1–3 weeks to see changes. Feeding is influenced by many factors, and our goal is to address the tongue- or lip-tie as part of the bigger picture.

  • Tongue- and lip-ties can affect any feeding method — a shallow latch on a bottle can still pull in extra air and tire the jaw. Bottle-fed babies often see faster flow and fewer gassy spells once the tongue can seal and swallow efficiently. A proper evaluation can determine if a release would help.

  • They keep the healing area open and flexible while new tissue forms, which helps prevent the restriction from returning. We’ll teach you exactly how to do them before you leave and provide written instructions to follow at home.

  • Yes — for infants, we ask that families see an IBCLC or feeding specialist before release. This helps ensure a release is truly needed and that you’re ready for the follow-up care. Many babies also benefit from bodywork (such as chiropractic, craniosacral therapy, or physical therapy) to ease tension and support feeding, though this is encouraged rather than required.

    We’ll connect you with trusted local providers and help you decide what level of support feels right for your family.

  • Some babies adapt to their new range of motion right away. For others, changes happen gradually over 1–3 weeks as they learn new feeding patterns and muscles adjust. We suggest looking for at least one better feed each day — progress isn’t always a straight line, especially in the first week. Ongoing support, patience, and grace for yourself and your baby make the biggest difference.

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