How do medications treat ankyloglossia?

There are no medications to treat ankyloglossia, a condition that limits typical tongue movement. Babies who have the condition, also called tongue-tie, may have difficulty breastfeeding and may chew instead of suck on the nipple. Older children, for example, may have difficulty licking an ice cream cone.

Mild cases of tongue-tie may not require treatment but if needed doctors can perform simple surgery that involves snipping tissue under the tongue. Rare side effects include infection, ulceration, and long-lasting damage to the tongue.

There are no medications that can treat ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie, directly. However, anesthesia is part of the treatment process as it is used during a surgical procedure called a frenotomy (cutting of the frenulum of the tongue). A frenotomy is a simple procedure that can be done in a doctor's office with a local anesthetic. Side effects from this surgery can include bleeding and pain. If the child is old enough, medications can be given to manage these side effects.