What Is Lip Tie in Babies?

While infant lip ties are usually harmless, they can lead to challenges with feeding and weight gain. Learn more about how to diagnose and treat lip ties.

You may have heard of being "tongue-tied," but have you ever heard of a lip tie? A lip tie is a medical condition that can affect oral movement. When a baby is born with a lip tie, the skin between the upper lip and gums is too short or tight. This can lead to decreased mobility and problems nursing or feeding.

"Lip ties occur when the tissue (frenulum) that connects the upper lip to the gums is too short or tight," says Leah Alexander, M.D. FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician in New Jersey. "This makes it difficult for a baby to move their lip up and down, which can cause problems with feeding, speaking, oral hygiene, and even dental health. Lip ties are more common in newborns than in older children."

According to the Cochran Library, lip ties occur in 4 to 11% of newborns, making them relatively common.1 Although lip ties are not as well-studied as tongue ties, it is thought that the cause of lip ties may be hereditary.

Read on to learn more about lip ties in babies and toddlers.

What Causes Lip Tie in Babies?

The causes of lip ties can vary. Certain conditions, for example, may make it more likely to have these unusual lip attachments. But in almost every case, lip ties are the result of a short, stiff, or tight frenulum.

"What happens is at about 12 weeks gestation, the soft tissue in this area begins to recede," explains Christine Miroddi Yoder, MA, CCCSLP, CLSE, a speech language pathologist and certified lactation supporter and educator. "With lip and tongue ties, that soft tissue remains. It's not anything the parent did wrong, and we don't yet know why that, in some cases, the tissue recedes and others it does not."

Signs and Symptoms of a Lip Tie