Signs Orlando Parents Should Know
By SteinArtStudio Photography
In collaboration with City Beautiful Pediatric Dentistry
When you spend time with newborns and their families, you quickly learn that every baby has their own rhythm.
Some babies feed quickly and easily. Others need more time, more breaks, or a little extra support. During newborn sessions at SteinArtStudio, feeding is a natural part of the experience. We regularly pause for nursing or bottles, soothing, burping, and settling—and those quiet moments often give new parents an opportunity to talk about the questions and concerns they have been noticing at home.
One concern we hear from time to time is difficulty with feeding.
Parents may notice that their baby has trouble maintaining a latch, makes clicking sounds while feeding, takes a very long time to finish a feeding, or seems uncomfortable or unusually gassy afterward.
These symptoms can have many different causes. One possibility parents may hear about is a lip tie or tongue tie.
As newborn photographers, we don’t diagnose oral restrictions or provide medical advice. Our role is simply to recognize when a parent has a concern and encourage them to discuss it with an appropriate healthcare professional.
For this article, we’ve consulted with City Beautiful Pediatric Dentistry in Orlando, where Dr. Danielle Lombardi Recine provides care for infants and toddlers, including evaluation and treatment of tongue- and lip-tie concerns. The practice also emphasizes collaboration with lactation consultants and other healthcare professionals when appropriate.
What Is a Lip Tie and Tongue Tie?
The tissue that connects the inside of the upper lip to the gum is called the labial frenulum. This tissue is a normal part of a baby’s anatomy.
A visible frenulum does not, by itself, mean that a baby has a lip tie or needs treatment.
The term lip tie is generally used when the tissue is considered restrictive enough to interfere with normal function. That’s why an evaluation should look at more than what the tissue looks like.
A tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, involves restrictive tissue beneath the tongue that may limit the tongue’s movement.
When concerns about a lip or tongue tie arise, the important question isn’t simply, “Can I see the tissue?” It’s whether there is a functional restriction and whether that restriction may be contributing to a baby’s difficulties.
What Are Some Signs Parents May Notice?
Feeding difficulties can look different from baby to baby. Some signs that may be worth discussing with your pediatrician, lactation consultant, or another qualified healthcare professional include:
- Difficulty achieving or maintaining a good latch
- Clicking, smacking, or other unusual sounds during feeding
- Milk leaking from the sides of the mouth
- Feeding sessions that are consistently very long or seem inefficient
- Frequent breaks during feeding
- Coughing or gagging during feeds
- Difficulty keeping a pacifier in the mouth
- Excessive air intake, gas, or fussiness
- Frequent spit-up or concerns about reflux
- Difficulty gaining weight or concerns about milk intake
For breastfeeding parents, there may also be symptoms such as persistent nipple pain or damage, difficulty with breast drainage, or concerns about milk supply.
Importantly, none of these signs automatically means a baby has a lip tie or tongue tie.
Feeding is complex, and difficulties can result from many factors. A baby’s positioning, latch, oral-motor skills, milk flow, bottle or nipple selection, and other factors may all play a role.
That’s why an evaluation by an appropriate healthcare professional is more useful than trying to diagnose a tie based on photographs or symptoms alone.
Why Can an Oral Restriction Affect Feeding?
Babies need coordinated movement of their lips, tongue, jaw, and other oral structures to feed effectively.
If movement is restricted, some babies may have difficulty creating or maintaining an effective seal around the breast or bottle. This can sometimes contribute to behaviors such as clicking, leaking milk, or taking in additional air.
These concerns can occur with both breastfeeding and bottle feeding.
At the same time, the presence of one of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily indicate an oral restriction. Feeding problems are often multifactorial, which is why looking at the whole picture is important.
Does Every Lip or Tongue Tie Need Treatment?
No.
This is an important point for parents to understand.
Frenula are normal anatomical structures, and seeing a frenulum does not automatically mean that treatment is necessary. Treatment decisions should be based on the individual child’s anatomy, function, symptoms, and overall feeding picture.
City Beautiful Pediatric Dentistry describes its approach as individualized care and notes that it works with lactation consultants, physical/occupational therapists, bodyworkers, speech-language pathologists, etc. when evaluating and treating infants with tongue- and lip-tie concerns.
Depending on the situation, a baby’s care may involve more than one professional, such as a pediatrician, lactation consultant, feeding specialist, pediatric dentist, or another appropriate provider.
What Should You Do If You Think Your Baby Has a Lip or Tongue Tie?
If you’re concerned about your baby’s feeding, there are several reasonable steps you can take.
1. Pay attention to what you’re seeing
You don’t need to diagnose your baby. Simply take note of what concerns you.
You might write down things such as:
- How long feedings typically take
- Whether your baby has difficulty maintaining a latch
- Clicking or other sounds during feeding
- Milk leaking from the mouth
- Coughing or gagging
- Frequent breaks or difficulty finishing feeds
- Your baby’s comfort during and after feeding
Having specific observations can make it easier to explain your concerns to your baby’s healthcare provider.
2. Talk with your baby’s pediatrician or a qualified lactation consultant
An IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) can be particularly helpful when feeding or breastfeeding is a concern.
If you have concerns about your baby’s weight gain, hydration, milk intake, or overall health, contact your baby’s healthcare provider promptly.
3. Consider an oral-function evaluation by a board-certified pediatric dentist
If feeding difficulties continue, your healthcare team may recommend an evaluation by a professional experienced in infant oral function.
The goal isn’t simply to determine whether a frenulum is present. It’s to understand whether there is a restriction and whether it may be affecting your baby’s function.
4. Ask questions about the entire care plan
If treatment is recommended, it’s reasonable to ask what the provider is seeing, why treatment is being considered, what alternatives exist, and what care may be needed before and after treatment.
Understanding the plan can help parents make an informed decision about their baby’s care.
A Local Resource for Orlando Families
For families in Central Florida who are seeking an evaluation for an infant or toddler with possible tongue- or lip-tie concerns, City Beautiful Pediatric Dentistry is located in Orlando’s medical district.
The practice offers infant and toddler laser frenectomy care and describes its approach as gentle, individualized, and collaborative with other healthcare professionals when appropriate.
City Beautiful Pediatric Dentistry
1131 South Orange Avenue, Suite 150
Orlando, FL 32806
(407) 337-4460
From SteinArtStudio to Our Newborn Families
Working with newborns has taught us that caring for a baby is about so much more than creating beautiful photographs.
It’s about paying attention to their cues, allowing time for feeding, soothing, and settling, and giving parents the space to care for their baby without feeling rushed. Every baby is different, and their comfort and well-being always come first.
It’s also taught us how important it is to know when something belongs in the hands of a qualified professional. We don’t diagnose feeding concerns or oral restrictions, but we do listen when parents share what they’re experiencing—and we believe in helping families find trusted resources when they need them.
That’s one of the reasons we’re grateful to have City Beautiful Pediatric Dentistry as a resource for the families we serve. Their approach to infant tongue- and lip-tie concerns looks beyond simply identifying a frenulum and focuses on the child’s individual function and needs. They also recognize the value of working alongside lactation consultants and other healthcare professionals when appropriate.
For parents in the Orlando area who are concerned about feeding or wondering whether a lip or tongue tie could be contributing, we feel comfortable recommending City Beautiful Pediatric Dentistry as a place to seek a professional evaluation and have their questions answered.
City Beautiful Pediatric Dentistry
1131 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 150
Orlando, FL 32806
407-337-4460
You can learn more about their approach and infant care at City Beautiful Pediatric Dentistry.
At SteinArtStudio, we’re honored to be trusted with those first precious weeks of your baby’s life. We may be there to capture the tiny fingers, sleepy smiles, and details you’ll want to remember forever—but we’re also committed to supporting the families behind those photographs.
Because when it comes to newborns, the most important thing we’ll ever capture is a moment—and the most important thing we’ll ever care about is the baby.
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