Tongue Tie Specialist Ashford Kent

25/01/2026

“They can stick their tongue out, so they’re not tongue tied.”
This is one of the most common and most misleading statements I hear❗️

The tongue isn’t a single muscle.
It’s a highly complex structure made up of multiple muscles working together ‼️ Each responsible for different movements, strength and shape.

So while a tongue might manage to protrude past the lips, that tells us very little about how well those muscles are actually functioning.

For feeding to be effective, the tongue must be able to:
• Lift and elevate to the palate
• Shape and cup
• Create and maintain suction
• Rest correctly in the mouth
• Coordinate with the jaw and palate
• Work without tension or compensation
• Work efficiently during feeding

A tongue can appear mobile on the outside but still be restricted underneath. Many tongue ties restrict the deeper muscular function of the tongue.
This is especially true with posterior tongue ties, where limitation affects lift, strength and coordination rather than simple protrusion.

What does that mean in real life?
Often it looks like:
• Ongoing feeding difficulties 🧑🏼‍🍼🤱🏼
• Painful or inefficient feeding
• Clicking, leaking or poor seal
• Reflux-like symptoms or excessive wind
• Long or tiring feeds
• Ni**le pain or damage
• A baby who just doesn’t seem comfortable feeding

👉 Tongue ties are about function, not appearance.
A proper assessment looks at how the tongue’s muscles work together during feeding, not just whether the tongue can come out 👅

This is why a thorough functional assessment by a qualified tongue tie specialist (not your GP, midwife, health visitor or paediatrician) is so important! Assessing how the tongue moves, lifts and works during feeding, not just what it looks like at rest 😛

If feeding feels hard, uncomfortable or exhausting, that matters 💜
And it’s always worth a closer look.
If something doesn’t feel right, trust that instinct 💜
You know your baby best 💜

19/12/2025

The festive period can be a wonderful time, but it can also feel overwhelming if feeding isn’t going as expected. Babies don’t know it’s Christmas, they still need to feed, and parents still need support.

If you’re experiencing pain, poor weight gain, unsettled feeds, or you’re worried about a possible tongue-tie, help is still available. You don’t have to wait until the holidays are over or struggle in silence.

As always my 24/7 contact throughout the Christmas period, with emergency appointments available on Christmas Day and Boxing Day if needed. Whether you need reassurance, advice, or urgent support, you’re not alone.

Feeding challenges can feel isolating, especially at Christmas, but support is here when you need it most 🎄💜

www.tonguetiespecialistkent.co.uk

06/12/2025

Let’s not play pretend …. it’s a tongue tie❗️
Call it slight, mild, moderate, minor, small… cute name, same restriction 👅
Different label, same problem 🙄
Rebranded doesn’t mean removed 🤷🏼‍♀️

A tongue tie means restricted function❗️FACT ❗️
Different words haven’t untied it yet ❌

We don’t say:
You have a slight fracture so we’ll just ignore it, it’s either broken or it’s not 🦵🦴
You can slightly see so you don’t need glasses - if vision is affected, it’s affected 🧐🥸
You’re slightly pregnant - nope, you either are or you aren’t 🤰🏼
You have a mild food allergy so go ahead and eat it anyway - absolutely not 🍳🥜

So why, when it comes to oral function, do we suddenly minimise it? 🤷🏼‍♀️ 🤦‍♀️

Soft words. Hard restriction.
You can change the name, it won’t change the anatomy.
Say it louder for the people in the back:
It’s still a tongue tie 📢📣

And honestly? If a provider is leaning hard on minimising terms to reassure you, there’s a good chance they don’t truly understand tongue tie or oral function 👩🏼‍🏫👩🏼‍⚕️
Tongue ties are not diagnosed by guesswork or appearance alone, they require a proper oral functional assessment 👆🏻😮

If you’re concerned about your baby’s feeding - breast / bottle / weaning or reflux then your baby deserves to be seen by a trained, qualified, registered, insured, regulated and approved tongue tie specialist who can assess function and build a real plan. Not just slap a soft label on a real issue❣️

Because renamed isn’t the same as resolved 👶🧑🏼‍🍼🤱🏼
And your baby’s function matters‼️⚠️ ***es

05/12/2025

Proud of the standard I hold myself to, and very grateful for the recognition and professional kindness 💜
Receiving this message last night meant so much, not just because of the compliment, but because it came from someone working in the same field with the same intentions and goals : the best possible outcomes for mum and baby. Infant feeding journeys can be complex, and when we work collaboratively, with trust and shared values, families feel that support in the biggest way 💜

03/12/2025

*** I meant to say exclusively expressing - not exclusively breastfeeding 🤦‍♀️ ***

06/11/2025

Take a deep breath — you’re not alone, and it’s okay to have lots of questions right now. 👶🏼💭 Here are a few things to keep in mind 👇
✨ It’s not just about appearance. A tie that looks “tight” might not cause any problems — what really matters is how your baby’s tongue moves. It’s worth remembering that you also may not ‘see’ anything. But there may be symptoms - the tongue function needs a proper assessment to determine if it’s function is restricted.
🍼 Feeding matters most. Watch how your baby latches, sucks, and transfers milk — not just what their tongue looks like.
👩‍⚕️ Get the right support. A lactation consultant or a trained and qualified tongue tie practitioner can help assess whether it’s affecting feeding.

Remember — you’re doing an amazing job navigating this. 💛

30/10/2025

✨ Are you or your baby struggling with breastfeeding, bottle feeding or weaning? Or do you know someone who is? I’m giving away a FREE consultation, oral assessment, feeding support — and if a tongue tie release is needed, that’s included too! ✨

This giveaway is open to:
👶 Parents with babies (0-12 months) experiencing feeding challenges
🤰 Expecting parents who want guidance early, or someone to turn to for support if needed once baby is born
🎁 Anyone who knows a friend or family member who could benefit

💕 How to Enter

1️⃣ Follow
2️⃣ Like this post
3️⃣ Share it to your story and tag me
4️⃣ Comment below: “I’m a parent/expecting parent or I know someone who could use this!” Or tell me why you or a friend need this 💜

💜Bonus entry: Tag a friend who might benefit!

🗓 Giveaway closes: Sunday 9th November 7pm
🏆 Winner announced: Sunday 9th November 9pm
💡 Why I’m Doing This

I know how tricky feeding and oral challenges can be. NHS waits are long, private treatment isn’t always affordable — and while I can’t help everyone, I want to give at least one family a chance for support with a consultation and release if needed 💜

29/09/2025

Trying to process what I’ve just been told and what I’ve just seen in clinic. I wish I could say I’m shocked 😓 …. but I’m not.

This mum chose antenatally to breastfeed her baby, she also chose once her baby was born to breastfeed. She was finding it difficult, baby was struggling to latch… then the Dr came along for the ‘top to toe (NIPE)’ check.
If you were a first time mum (or even had children before) and a DR told you that you NEEDED to bottle feed, what would you do?

Let’s be clear:
Tongue tie is a physical restriction that can severely impact a baby’s ability to breastfeed AND bottle feed (it can also have a real impact later in life … but we won’t go into that… I’m here right now for the evidence based facts).
To name a few it can cause pain, poor latch, inadequate milk transfer, weight issues, reflux, and emotional distress for both mum and baby.

But instead of offering solutions, instead of supporting that mum’s desire to breastfeed, instead of referring her to a lactation consultant or tongue tie specialist — this doctor shut the whole thing down and told her to give up. Just like that. Told her there was a tongue tie and so she HAD to bottle feed.

This is not just ignorance — it’s uneducated (in oral function and feeding) and harmful.
It undermines breastfeeding, gaslights parents, and leaves babies struggling unnecessarily. And it’s happening FAR too often.

If you’re a parent facing this: You deserve better.
Push for a second opinion. Ask for a referral. Get a proper assessment. Tongue tie support exists — but sometimes you have to fight for it.

Healthcare professionals: Do better. Learn about tongue tie. Listen to parents. SUPPORT feeding — don’t sabotage it!

31/08/2025

02/08/2025

World Breastfeeding Week 🤱🏼☺️💜

This week I’m sending love to the mummy’s who ..

💜 Breastfed all their children
💜 Breastfed some of their children
💜 Breastfed once
💜 Found breastfeeding difficult
💜 Loved every minute of breastfeeding
💜 Those who wanted to breastfeed and couldn’t
💜 Those who didn’t breastfeed by choice
💜 Those who feel guilt or shame for not breastfeeding
💜 Those who feel triggered / upset by posts, such as this, on breastfeeding

I’m also reminiscing and reminding myself of the families I’ve been so grateful to have worked with over the last 17 years. It is an absolutely honour to support you on your journey 🤱🏼👩🏼‍🍼💜

Whilst we celebrate successful breastfeeding journeys it’s important to remember that there are many families who may feel a type of way about this week.
Nobody should ever need to explain or justify their feeding choices.
We honour every feeding journey, the easy ones, the hard ones, the ones that were supported and the ones that didn’t get the support they needed - you made it through.

Your baby, whichever your feeding method, is loved, warm, nurtured and fed and you are dedicating your time, effort and love to ensure that … you’re amazing 💜

20/05/2025

There is often a lot of misinformation surrounding the optimal age to perform a tongue tie release. At an already incredibly vulnerable time for new parents, this differing of opinion amongst healthcare professionals, understandably causes further worry whilst they try to navigate the system and do the ‘right thing for their baby’.
“Your baby shouldn’t be treated until day 5” 😑

“We (the midwife who has had no training in Tongue tie 🤦‍♀️) advise not to cut before day 10”

“After 12 weeks your baby will need a general anaesthetic” ❌

There is no evidence to support any of the above claims 📢 In fact if a baby is unable to feed (breast or bottle) effectively then early intervention is absolute key!
Newborn infant feeding involves complex integration of anatomic structures to include the tongue, palate, lips, jaw, cheeks, the pharynx and the larynx. In order to breastfeed or bottle feed, coordinated rhythmic sequences of sucking, swallowing and breathing are required. Good tongue function is necessary!

If oral function is restricted and a baby is not transferring milk effectively, feeding is deteriorating, ni***es are damaged, reflux is so severe they’re being medicated, a mother states she can no longer feed her baby … (this list is not exhaustive) then early management is of most importance. If the tongue function is a contributing factor then we should not be delaying! Tongue tie release CAN be performed from the day of birth and there is no upper age limit!
Many private practitioners are only insured to treat up to 12months, some practitioners prefer to stop at 6months as those babies get a bit more wriggly ☺️ (nothing a good swaddle and hold can’t fix if needed, but that is by choice to stop at that age, not requirement).
Tongue tie release can still of course be beneficial for older children and adults. If speech or eating is affected and conservative management such as speech and language therapy / myofunctional therapy has been tried, then tongue tie release should be explored. So again .. let’s stop the misinformation to parents. Signpost to a qualified TT practitioner for researched knowledge and information rather than hazarding a guess 💜

09/04/2025

Good positioning and attachment, resulting in a deep latch, is so important for both mum and baby.
Achieving and maintaining a deep latch will not only improve comfort during a feed but it will also support adequate milk transfer and aid milk production / supply.

If you are having difficulties with positioning and attachment I would recommend support by a lactation consultant / feeding specialist.
If things still prove difficult then an assessment of oral function by a qualified tongue tie specialist 💜💜