We understand how challenging it can be when your baby struggles with feeding or oral development. One common cause of such difficulties is a tongue tie (ankyloglossia) or lip tie, conditions that can restrict the movement of the tongue or lip, making breastfeeding, bottle feeding, and even later speech development more challenging. Our clinic specializes in evaluating and treating tongue tied baby, combining advanced CO2 laser technology with a comprehensive, family-centered approach to care.
Ready to help your baby feed better? Call 425-247-3362 to schedule your tongue tie evaluation today—same-day appointments often available.
A tongue tie occurs when the lingual frenulum—a band of tissue under the tongue—is too tight, short, or thick, restricting the tongue’s ability to move freely. A lip tie involves a similar restriction in the labial frenulum, which connects the upper lip to the gums. Both conditions can interfere with oral function, causing feeding challenges for infants and potential speech and dental issues later in life.
Approximately 10% of infants are born with a tongue tie, and while not all cases require treatment, many do when they interfere with feeding or oral development. Lip ties are also common and can exacerbate feeding difficulties by limiting the upper lip’s ability to flange properly during breastfeeding. These conditions often occur together, which is why a thorough evaluation is critical.
Many families discover tongue ties during routine newborn visits at Thrive Pediatrics, where we perform comprehensive oral assessments as part of standard newborn care.
✔ Feeding Difficulties: Trouble latching, poor milk transfer, prolonged feeding sessions, or fussiness during feeds.
✔ Slow Weight Gain: Inefficient feeding can lead to inadequate calorie intake and hinder development.
✔ Maternal Nipple Pain: Poor latch can cause pain, cracked nipples, and make breastfeeding difficult to sustain.
✔ Speech Delays: Restricted tongue movement can lead to challenges in articulation and speech.
✔ Dental Issues: Lip and tongue ties may result in tooth spacing issues or food being trapped, causing decay.
Look for these signs that your tongue-tied baby might need evaluation:
✔ Difficulty latching or staying latched while nursing.
✔ Frequent feeds but baby still appears hungry.
✔ Clicking sounds during feeding (indicating poor suction).
✔ Reflux, gas, or excessive fussiness post-feeding.
✔ Nipple pain or damage in the breastfeeding mother.
✔ Limited tongue mobility—like trouble lifting or extending the tongue.
Even if not all tongue or lip ties need treatment, those causing functional issues like poor feeding or delayed speech should be assessed by an expert.
We assess both appearance and function of the frenulum. If a release is needed, we use laser tongue tie release with the CO2 laser—considered the gold standard.
✔ Precision: Accurately releases only the necessary tissue.
✔ Minimal Thermal Damage: Unlike diode lasers or scissors, CO2 minimizes heat and injury.
✔ Faster Healing: Less swelling, quicker recovery, and reduced infection risk.
✔ Improved Comfort: Babies can often feed right after the procedure.
We assess both appearance and function of the frenulum.
If a release is needed, we use laser tongue tie release with the CO2 laser—considered the gold standard.
When it comes to tongue tie treatment in Bellevue, families have several options—but not all methods deliver the same results. Here’s why we exclusively use CO2 laser technology:
Precision: CO2 laser provides controlled, accurate tissue removal targeting only the restrictive frenulum, while scissors create less precise cuts that may remove too much or too little tissue.
Bleeding: Minimal bleeding with CO2 laser due to instant cauterization versus significant bleeding with scissors requiring pressure and potentially sutures.
Pain: Less discomfort during and after the procedure compared to cutting with scissors, which creates an open wound.
Healing time: Faster healing with CO2 laser—typically complete within two weeks—compared to the longer recovery period with scissors method.
Infection risk: Significantly lower with laser sterilization versus open wound from scissors.
Reattachment risk: Lower with precise laser release versus scissors method that may have uneven edges.
Thermal damage: CO2 laser produces minimal heat spread (0.1mm) versus diode laser’s broader thermal injury zone that can damage surrounding tissue.
Precision: Superior tissue interaction with CO2 for delicate infant oral tissue, providing better visibility and control.
Healing quality: Cleaner edges and faster healing with CO2 technology compared to diode’s wider thermal damage.
Procedure time: Comparable duration, but CO2 offers better precision and safety profile.
Comprehensive Evaluation: Your baby’s tongue tie assessment begins with a thorough functional evaluation. We examine:
Full Consultation: A full consultation ensures you’re comfortable and informed. We take time to explain our findings, discuss treatment options, and answer all your questions. You’ll understand exactly what to expect during and after the procedure.
Coordination with Lactation Support: We offer integrated lactation consultation services right in our pediatric office at Thrive, allowing us to coordinate your tongue tie evaluation with lactation support on the same day. This integrated approach means you get feeding support immediately—not weeks later after multiple referrals.
✔ Preparation: Quick, only a few minutes; baby is gently swaddled and wears safety goggles.
✔ Procedure: The CO2 laser release takes only 30-90 seconds. The laser precisely releases the restrictive tissue with minimal discomfort.
✔ Immediate Results: Most babies experience immediate improvement in tongue mobility.
✔ Post-Procedure Feeding: Most babies feed right away; latch improvements are often immediate. Many mothers notice better latch and less pain during the first feeding after treatment.
✔ Comfort Measures: Your baby may experience mild discomfort for 24-48 hours, manageable with normal comfort measures like nursing, skin-to-skin contact, or infant acetaminophen if recommended.
✔ Aftercare: You’ll receive detailed stretching and care instructions. These gentle exercises are critical to prevent reattachment and take only 10-15 seconds, performed 4-6 times daily for 2-3 weeks.
✔ Follow-ups Monitor Healing: We schedule follow-up appointments to ensure optimal healing and results. Because we’re your baby’s pediatrician, we continue tracking developmental progress during regular well-child visits.
Unlike standalone tongue tie specialists, when you choose Thrive Pediatrics for tongue tie treatment in Bellevue, you’re choosing comprehensive, integrated care that goes far beyond a single procedure.
Traditional tongue tie treatment requires coordinating between multiple providers:
That’s 3-5 different appointments, different offices, different providers who don’t communicate.
✔ Advanced Technology: CO2 laser ensures better outcomes than scissors or diode lasers.
✔ Holistic, Integrated Care: On-site lactation support, feeding therapy, and developmental care all coordinated seamlessly.
✔ Expert Team: Deep experience in evaluating and treating tongue-tied babies with pediatric primary care expertise.
✔ Ongoing Support: We partner with families beyond the procedure for lasting success. Your follow-up visits happen during regular well-child appointments—no extra scheduling burden.
✔ No Referral Needed: You don’t need a referral from your pediatrician—because we ARE your pediatrician. This eliminates the typical 3-5 week wait for specialist appointments.
✔ Relationship-Based Care: We already know your baby’s full health history, feeding patterns, and developmental trajectory. This context matters for optimal treatment decisions.
Signs include difficulty latching during breastfeeding, clicking sounds while feeding, prolonged feeding sessions, poor weight gain, excessive drooling, inability to lift tongue to roof of mouth, and heart-shaped tongue tip when crying. During our evaluation, we assess both the physical appearance and functional impact of the frenulum. Not all tongue ties look severe but may still cause significant functional problems. If you notice these signs during your newborn’s first weeks, schedule an evaluation as early intervention can prevent feeding complications.
A tongue tie restricts the tongue’s range of motion due to a tight or short lingual frenulum, while a lip tie affects the upper lip’s ability to move freely because of a restrictive labial frenulum. Both can impact feeding, speech, and oral development. They often occur together, which is why we evaluate both during our assessment.
Tongue ties affect approximately 10% of infants, and lip ties are also relatively common. Both conditions often occur together, making a thorough evaluation essential for proper diagnosis. Some research suggests rates may be higher, as many mild cases go undiagnosed. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, tongue tie awareness has increased significantly in recent years, leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment.
No. Not all tongue ties require treatment. We only recommend release when the restriction causes functional issues like poor feeding, inadequate weight gain, maternal pain during nursing, or anticipated speech/dental problems. Our evaluation focuses on function, not just appearance. Some babies with visible tongue ties have no functional limitations.
Tongue ties limit the tongue’s ability to move effectively, preventing a proper latch. This can lead to poor milk transfer, prolonged feeding sessions, maternal nipple pain, and slow weight gain for the baby. The restricted tongue cannot properly cup the breast, compress the milk sinuses, or create adequate suction—all essential for efficient breastfeeding. Our lactation consultants can help assess whether tongue tie is contributing to your breastfeeding challenges.
Yes. Most babies can feed immediately after tongue tie release, and many mothers notice improved latch right away. Immediate nursing also provides comfort and helps your baby associate the new tongue mobility with successful feeding. We encourage feeding in our office right after the procedure.
The CO2 laser provides precise, quick, and minimally invasive treatment. Unlike scissors or diode lasers, the CO2 laser minimizes thermal damage, seals blood vessels during the procedure, and allows for faster healing with less discomfort. The precision of CO2 technology means we remove only the restrictive tissue, leaving healthy tissue intact. It produces only 0.1mm of heat spread compared to broader thermal damage from other methods.
The procedure is minimally invasive and quick, lasting only 30-90 seconds. Babies experience little discomfort during the procedure itself. Many can feed immediately after, which provides soothing relief. Some mild discomfort may occur for 24-48 hours afterward, manageable with normal comfort measures like nursing, skin-to-skin contact, or infant pain relief if recommended.
Recovery is typically straightforward. You’ll perform gentle stretching exercises 4-6 times daily for 2-3 weeks to prevent reattachment. The release site typically heals within two weeks. Your baby may experience mild fussiness for 24-48 hours but can resume normal feeding immediately. Most families see feeding improvements within days, though some babies need time to adjust to new tongue mobility.
Post-procedure stretches prevent the frenulum from reattaching during healing. We demonstrate these gentle exercises before you leave and provide detailed written instructions with photos. The exercises involve lifting the tongue to the roof of the mouth or sweeping underneath to keep the tissue from healing back together. While they may feel uncomfortable for you to perform, they take only 10-15 seconds and are essential for optimal long-term outcomes.
CO2 laser is superior for tongue tie release. Scissors create an open wound with significant bleeding, requiring pressure application and potentially sutures. This leads to longer healing time, higher infection risk, more post-procedure pain, and greater risk of reattachment. CO2 laser cauterizes as it cuts, resulting in minimal bleeding, faster healing, lower infection risk, and reduced discomfort.
There’s no single “best” age. For infants with significant feeding difficulties, earlier treatment (within first weeks of life) prevents weight gain issues and supports breastfeeding success. However, tongue ties can be successfully released at any age. We treat infants, toddlers, and even older children when tongue tie impacts speech or oral function. Earlier treatment often means easier recovery and less compensatory habit formation.
Yes, untreated tongue ties can restrict tongue mobility, leading to challenges with articulating certain sounds, such as “L,” “R,” “T,” “D,” “N,” “TH,” and “Z.” The tongue needs to reach specific positions in the mouth to produce these sounds correctly. Early treatment often prevents these difficulties, though some children may still benefit from speech therapy to retrain tongue movement patterns. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association provides additional resources on how tongue tie affects speech development.
Yes, post-procedure care includes gentle stretching exercises to prevent reattachment of the frenulum. Some babies may benefit from feeding therapy or lactation support for optimal outcomes, which we provide in-house through our ThriveLatch program. Older children occasionally need myofunctional therapy or speech therapy to retrain tongue movement patterns, especially if they’ve developed compensatory habits over time.
Consequences depend on severity. Possible outcomes include persistent breastfeeding difficulties leading to early weaning, speech articulation problems requiring therapy later, dental issues (gaps between front teeth, high narrow palate), difficulty eating certain textures, and potential social concerns about tongue appearance or function. Not all untreated tongue ties cause problems, but functional limitations often worsen over time.
Thrive Pediatrics can offer holistic care that goes beyond the procedure, including in-house lactation support, feeding therapy, and comprehensive follow-up. Dentists may focus solely on the release without addressing broader feeding or developmental concerns. Traditionally, parents would have to connect with their pediatrician, lactation consultant, and dentist (sometimes even a speech therapist, and/or myofunctional therapist). That’s 3-5 different providers families would have to follow up with!
At Thrive, your child’s pediatrician performs the procedure—maintaining continuity of care and deep understanding of your baby’s complete health picture. We see your baby for well-visits, sick visits, and developmental monitoring, so we understand the full context of your child’s growth.
No referral needed—because we ARE your pediatrician. This eliminates typical wait times (often 3-5 weeks for specialist appointments) and streamlines your care. You can schedule directly with us for evaluation and treatment, and we’ll coordinate everything from diagnosis through follow-up care.
Coverage varies by insurance plan. Many plans cover tongue tie release when medically necessary (documented feeding difficulties, weight gain concerns, or developmental impact). We work with major commercial insurance plans including Premera, Aetna, Regence, Cigna, Kaiser PPO, United Healthcare, and First Choice First Health. We also work with Apple Health (Medicaid), Molina, Coordinated Care, and Amerigroup. Our staff can help verify your coverage and provide cost estimates before treatment.
The actual laser release takes 30-90 seconds. Total appointment time including preparation, procedure, immediate post-care instructions, and initial feeding is approximately 30-45 minutes. We build in time for questions and ensure you feel confident before leaving.
Minimal bleeding is typical with CO2 laser—usually just a few drops or none at all. The laser cauterizes tissue as it releases, significantly reducing bleeding compared to scissors method which can cause substantial bleeding. Any minor bleeding stops quickly without intervention.
No. While earlier treatment often yields easier recovery and prevents compensatory habits, tongue tie can be successfully treated at any age. Older children and adults may require additional myofunctional therapy to retrain tongue movement patterns that developed as compensation for the restriction.
Many families notice immediate improvement in latch and feeding efficiency. However, babies sometimes need a few days to adjust to their new tongue mobility—especially if they’ve developed compensatory habits. Some babies need to “relearn” how to use their tongue effectively. Working with our lactation consultants during this transition optimizes outcomes and provides support during the adjustment period.
While rare with proper stretching exercises, reattachment can occur if stretches aren’t performed consistently. If we identify reattachment during follow-up, we can perform a revision procedure. Consistent post-procedure stretches significantly reduce this risk. This is why the stretching exercises, though uncomfortable to perform, are so critical.
Yes. Some tongue ties don’t cause significant functional problems in infancy but may contribute to speech difficulties, dental issues (gaps, high palate), or eating challenges (difficulty with certain textures) later in childhood. However, if a tongue tie significantly impacts feeding or development, early intervention is beneficial. Some adults discover they have tongue ties only when their babies are diagnosed.
Signs include difficulty latching, prolonged feeding times (over 30-45 minutes per feed), clicking noises during feeding, breaking suction frequently, poor weight gain or failure to regain birth weight, frustration or crying during feeds, and inability to maintain suction. Mothers may also experience nipple pain, damage, blanching (white or purple nipple after feeding), recurrent clogged ducts, or mastitis. During our evaluation, we assess both symptoms and functional limitations.
Call our office at 425-247-3362 or book online through our patient portal. We often have same-day evaluation appointments available for urgent feeding concerns. During your visit, we’ll thoroughly assess your baby’s oral function, watch a feeding if possible, and discuss treatment options if indicated. Most evaluations take 30-45 minutes and include time for all your questions.
If your baby struggles with feeding, or you’re experiencing pain during breastfeeding, a tongue tie evaluation can provide answers and solutions. At Thrive Pediatrics, we combine advanced CO2 laser technology with comprehensive lactation support and ongoing pediatric care—all under one roof.
Your child’s pediatrician can diagnose AND treat tongue tie, eliminating the need for multiple specialist referrals and fragmented care.
📞 Call us today to schedule your evaluation: 425-247-3362
📅 Same-day appointments often available for urgent feeding concerns
🏥 Conveniently located in Bellevue at 1515 116th Ave Ne, Ste 104, Bellevue WA, 98004
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Thrive Pediatric Medical Group offers integrated tongue tie treatment, lactation support, and comprehensive primary care—all from your child’s trusted pediatrician.
