07/21/2025
Lip tie vs. tongue tie — what's the difference?
We get this question a lot at Rooted! While both can affect feeding and development, they’re not the same thing — and there are lots of misconceptions out there.
Let’s clear a few up 👇
📌 A tongue tie (ankyloglossia) is when the tissue under the tongue is too short or tight, restricting tongue movement.
📌 A lip tie is when the upper lip and/or lower is restricted by a tight or thick frenulum (the tissue attaching the lip to the gums).
Common misconceptions:
❌ "All ties need to be released" – Not always! Assessment and function come first.
❌ "Tongue/lip ties only affect breastfeeding" – They can also impact bottle feeding, speech, and even sleep.
❌ "You can tell just by looking" – Function matters more than appearance. A professional assessment is key.
At Rooted, we don’t perform tie assessments, but we work alongside a network of trusted professionals and provide feeding and bodywork support before and after any procedures.
You're not alone in this — we’re here to support your feeding journey, whatever that looks like 💛
Learn more on our website today
