Tongue and Lip Tie Release in Duluth, MN
We release tongue and lip ties with a laser for babies, kids, and adults, and we stay with you through healing.
Many families reach us by referral from Northland midwives, doulas, and lactation consultants. Dr. Camille Zelen, RN, DDS, AAACD, performs every release.
Key highlights
- A tongue or lip tie is a tight band of tissue that limits how the tongue or lip moves.
- In babies, ties can make latching and feeding hard. In older kids and adults, they can affect breathing, speech, and jaw tension.
- Not every tie needs release. We judge by function, how the tongue and lip move, and not by how the tissue looks.
- We release ties with a laser, and the procedure itself takes a few minutes.
- Dr. Zelen trained through The Breathe Institute, Tongue-Tied Academy, and the Infant Frenectomy Protocol.
- Older kids and adults pair release with myofunctional therapy from our in-house therapists.
What is a tongue tie?
A tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, is a short or tight band of tissue under the tongue that limits how far the tongue can lift, stretch, and move. A lip tie is a similar band that holds the upper lip tight to the gums.
Everyone has a frenulum under the tongue and one behind the upper lip. Those bands are normal. A tie only becomes a problem when it holds the tongue or lip back from doing its job.
The tongue does more work than most people realize. A baby uses it to create suction and draw milk. A child uses it to shape speech sounds and move food around while chewing. And at rest, the tongue is supposed to sit against the roof of the mouth, where it supports nasal breathing and gives the upper jaw a gentle, constant push outward as it grows. When a tie keeps the tongue low, every one of those jobs gets harder.
Does every tongue tie need to be released?
No, and you should be wary of anyone who says otherwise.
In 2020, a panel of pediatric ear, nose, and throat specialists published a clinical consensus statement on ankyloglossia in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. The panel agreed that a tongue tie is defined by limited tongue movement, not by how the tissue looks, and it was candid about gaps in the research, especially around so-called posterior ties.
That matches how we evaluate. We watch how the tongue and lip move, we listen to how feeding or breathing is going, and we recommend a release only when function is limited and a release is likely to help. Sometimes the right answer is to wait and watch. Sometimes it's feeding support or myofunctional therapy first. You'll hear plainly which one fits your child, and you'll never feel pressure to do a procedure your baby doesn't need.
Signs of a tongue or lip tie
Red flags in babies
- Trouble latching or staying latched
- Clicking or popping sounds while feeding
- Painful or damaged nipples for mom
- Long, frequent feeds with slow weight gain
- Lots of gas, spit-up, or fussiness after feeds
- Milk leaking from the corners of the mouth
Red flags in kids
- Mouth breathing or snoring
- Trouble with certain speech sounds
- Picky eating or gagging on textures
- Restless sleep
Red flags in teens and adults
- Neck or jaw tension, clenching
- Can't lift the tongue to the roof of the mouth
- Snoring or waking up tired
- Tongue rests low in the mouth
One sign on its own proves nothing. Clicking during a feed can come from a shallow latch, and snoring can come from enlarged tonsils. A cluster of signs is what makes an evaluation worthwhile, because then we can sort out whether the tie is the cause, part of the cause, or a bystander.
Laser release vs. scissors release
Both methods release the tight tissue. We use a laser because of how it handles the area.
| Laser release | Scissors release | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Light energy releases the tissue | Sterile scissors snip the tissue |
| Bleeding | Usually very little, because the laser seals as it works | Some bleeding, controlled with pressure |
| Time in the chair | A few minutes | A few minutes |
| Aftercare | Daily stretches during healing | Daily stretches during healing |
| Where it's done | Our office on Woodland Avenue | Often a pediatrician or ENT office |
Whichever method a provider uses, aftercare and follow-up decide the result more than the tool does. A release with no stretches and no follow-up can heal right back where it started.
Tongue tie release by age
| Age | Why families come in | What we pair with release |
|---|---|---|
| Newborns and infants | Latch and feeding problems | Aftercare stretches, follow-up with your lactation consultant |
| Kids | Mouth breathing, speech, sleep | Myofunctional therapy before and after |
| Teens and adults | Jaw tension, clenching, tongue posture | Myofunctional therapy before and after |
Babies
For babies, the goal is comfortable, effective feeding, for your baby and for you.
We work alongside your lactation consultant, midwife, or doula. They know your feeding history and what you've already tried. We know the tissue. When both sides talk, families get a clearer plan and better follow-through, which is why many Northland lactation consultants send families to us and why we send families back to them after the release.
Timing matters less than people fear. We see newborns in their first weeks when feeding is a struggle, and we also see babies several months old whose parents only recently connected the dots.
Kids
In children, a tie often appears as mouth breathing, snoring, or trouble with certain speech sounds.
A tongue that can't reach the roof of the mouth rests low, and a low tongue gives the upper jaw less support as it grows. That's why we often check palate width at the same visit, and why some kids need both a release and palatal expansion. For kids, we almost always start with myofunctional therapy, so the tongue is stronger and better coordinated by the time we release it.
Teens and adults
Adults come in with jaw tension, clenching, neck tightness, or a tongue that never seems to rest in the right place.
Adult tissue has had years to adapt around the tie. Muscles in the neck, jaw, and floor of the mouth have been compensating. Therapy before release teaches the tongue new patterns, and therapy after release makes the new range of motion stick. Without that work, adults often find the tongue drifts back to its old habits even though the tissue is free.
Is release right for your family?
Release is likely to help
- Feeding is painful or your baby isn't gaining weight, and the tongue can't lift or extend
- An older child or adult can't lift the tongue to the palate, with mouth breathing or jaw tension
- Myofunctional therapy has stalled because the tie limits range
Let's talk it through first
- Some signs are present, but feeding is going okay
- A tie is visible, but function looks normal
- Speech concerns, where a speech evaluation may come first
Start somewhere else
- Feeding problems with no limit on tongue movement
- Snoring with enlarged tonsils and no tie
- Signs that point to a medical sleep disorder, which needs a physician
If your signs land in the right-hand column, we'll say so and point you to the right provider.
What we do, and what we don't
What we do
We evaluate tongue and lip ties, release them with a laser when function is limited, and support healing with aftercare and myofunctional therapy. We coordinate with your lactation consultant, pediatrician, speech therapist, or ENT, and we're glad to share what we find with them.
What we don't
We don't release a tie that isn't causing a problem, and we don't promise that a release will fix feeding, speech, or sleep on its own. Each of those has more than one possible cause. A release removes one restriction. The rest of the plan, from feeding support to therapy, is what turns that into a result.
How we prepare your family
Preparation looks different by age.
For babies, we review feeding with you and coordinate with your lactation consultant, so support continues the same day as the release. We also walk you through the aftercare stretches before the procedure, so you've seen them once with no pressure.
For older kids and adults, our therapists start with myofunctional exercises that wake up and strengthen the tongue. Coming into the release with a stronger, better-coordinated tongue makes healing smoother and helps the new range of motion hold.
What happens at your visit, step by step
- 01Evaluation.We start by listening. You tell us how feeding, breathing, or speech is going and what you've already tried. Then we look at how the tongue and lip move, how far the tongue lifts, and whether the tissue restricts function. For babies, we'll often watch a feed or ask about your lactation consultant's notes.
- 02The plan.We explain what we found and whether a release is likely to help. If it is, we go through the procedure, the aftercare, and the cost in writing. If it isn't, we tell you that too and suggest the next step, which may be feeding support, therapy, or watching for now. You can decide the same day or go home and think about it.
- 03The release.Dr. Zelen uses a laser to release the tie. For babies, the procedure itself takes a few minutes. Your baby may cry, mostly from being held still. The laser seals as it works, so bleeding is usually minimal. For older kids and adults, we numb the area first.
- 04Back to you.Your baby comes straight back to your arms, and you're welcome to feed in our office right away. Many parents notice a difference in the latch during that first feed. Others see the change build over the following days.
- 05Aftercare and follow-up.We show you the stretches again, this time on your baby, and send you home with written instructions. We schedule a follow-up to check healing, and we send a note to your lactation consultant if you'd like.
Healing and aftercare, day by day
| When | What's normal · What you do |
|---|---|
| First 1 to 3 days | Soreness, fussiness, more snuggling, a short feeding adjustment. Comfort, skin to skin, start gentle stretches as shown. |
| Days 3 to 7 | A soft white or yellow patch forms where the tissue healed; this is normal. Keep up stretches, keep in touch with your lactation consultant. |
| Weeks 1 to 3 | Feeding often improves step by step. Follow-up visit with us to check healing. |
The white patch surprises many parents. It isn't infection. It's the normal way the mouth heals an open area, and it fades as new tissue fills in.
Gentle aftercare stretches keep the area from tightening as it heals. We show you exactly how to do them, how often, and for how long, and we check your technique at follow-up. The stretches are the part families find hardest, because no one enjoys doing them, so we're upfront about that and keep the instructions simple.
Keep working with your lactation consultant after the release. Feeding often improves step by step as your baby learns to use a tongue that moves more freely.
Risks and what to watch for
Laser release is a small procedure, and serious problems are uncommon. Still, you should know what's normal and what isn't.
Call us if you notice
- Bleeding that doesn't stop with gentle pressure
- A fever
- Your baby refuses to feed for several hours
- Swelling that keeps getting worse
The most common issue is reattachment, when the tissue heals back too tight. Daily stretches lower that risk, which is why we spend time teaching them. If reattachment does happen, a second, smaller release is sometimes needed, and we'll tell you plainly if we see it at follow-up.
Who treats your family
Cost and insurance
The cost of a tongue tie release depends on whether we release the tongue, the lip, or both, and whether therapy is part of the plan. You'll get your cost in writing at the evaluation, with nothing added later.
Some medical and dental plans cover part of a frenectomy, and coverage varies more than most families expect. We file claims on your behalf and offer interest-free CareCredit plans. Financing options
Tongue tie FAQ
Does tongue tie release hurt my baby?
A laser tongue tie release takes a few minutes, and most babies cry mainly from being held still. Soreness for a few days afterward is common. We walk you through comfort measures and aftercare before you leave.
How young can a baby have a tongue tie released?
Babies can have a tongue tie released in their first weeks of life when feeding is a struggle. Your lactation consultant or midwife can refer you, or you can call us directly.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed for a tongue tie evaluation. Many families come by referral, but you can book directly.
Will release fix breastfeeding right away?
Breastfeeding often improves over days to weeks after a release, as the baby learns to use the tongue's new range. Some babies feed better right away. Stretches and support from your lactation consultant make the biggest difference.
What is a posterior tongue tie?
A posterior tongue tie is a tie attached farther back under the tongue. Experts still disagree on how to define it, so we judge every tie by how the tongue moves rather than by a label.
Can a tongue tie come back?
A released tongue tie can heal back too tight, which is called reattachment. Doing the daily stretches during healing lowers that risk.
Does a lip tie need to be released too?
A lip tie needs release only when it limits feeding or causes problems. Many lip ties need no treatment at all.
Can adults have a tongue tie released?
Adults can have a tongue tie released, and those with jaw tension, clenching, or poor tongue posture often benefit. We pair adult releases with myofunctional therapy.
Where can I get a tongue tie release near me in the Duluth area?
Mount Royal Dental releases tongue and lip ties at our office on Woodland Avenue in Duluth, MN, and families come to us from Hermantown, Superior, Two Harbors, Cloquet, and across the Northland. Call (218) 464-5222 to book an evaluation.
Tongue tie care and oral development for babies
Midwives, doulas, and lactation consultants across the Northland send new families to Mount Royal Dental for infant tongue and lip tie evaluations. If feeding is painful or a baby cannot latch, an evaluation in the first weeks can change the next year.
The Ninni pacifier is shaped to move like the breast, so a baby uses the same lip, jaw, and tongue muscles as breastfeeding and the tongue rests on the roof of the mouth. That resting posture is what encourages the palate to grow wide instead of high and narrow. Available at the front desk, with guidance from the airway team.
Tongue tie release on Woodland Avenue
Mount Royal Dental sits at 1624 Woodland Avenue, Duluth, MN 55803, at the corner of Woodland and St. Marie, next to the Mount Royal Shopping Center near UMD.
Monday 8 to 3, Tuesday through Thursday 8 to 4:30, Friday closed. Call (218) 464-5222.
