The Controversial Rise of Infant Tongue Surgeries

The popularity of tongue-tie surgeries for infants has surged in recent years, driven by pressure on women to breastfeed. Lactation consultants and dentists have aggressively promoted the procedures, even for babies with no signs of genuine tongue-ties, despite limited evidence of their effectiveness. Serious complications are rare but can include pain, difficulty eating, and airway blockage. The tongue-tie boom has raised concerns among pediatricians, who warn of over-diagnosis and unnecessary procedures. The tongue-tie industry operates with little oversight, with few regulations for lactation consultants and dental boards rarely suspending dentists' licenses.