Lip & Tongue Tie Care That Helps You Eat, Speak, Breathe & Thrive
At Northstar Lip and Tongue Tie Center, we specialize in diagnosing and treating lip and tongue ties in infants, children, teens, and adults. Whether you're a new parent worried about feeding, or an adult dealing with jaw tension and sleep issues, you're in the right place. Let’s get to the root of the problem—so you can breathe easier, function better, and feel like yourself again.
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What Is a Lip or Tongue Tie?
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A lip or tongue tie is a restriction in the soft tissue (called a frenulum) that limits the normal movement of the lips or tongue. This small band of tissue might look insignificant, but when too tight or poorly positioned, it can cause big problems with feeding, breathing, speech, sleep, and growth—especially when left untreated.
Tongue ties don’t “stretch out” over time. They persist into adulthood—and in many cases, the symptoms become more noticeable as your child grows or as demands on function increase (like speaking clearly, eating solids, playing wind instruments, or maintaining orthodontic results).
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Signs & Symptoms: What to Watch For
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Babies
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Shallow latch or painful nursing
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Clicking while feeding
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Gassy, fussy, or refluxy behavior
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Poor weight gain or long feeding sessions
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Milk leaking from the sides of the mouth
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Children
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Speech delays or unclear articulation
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Mouth breathing or snoring
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Trouble eating certain textures
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Gagging or slow eating
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Spacing between front teeth or shifting teeth post-braces
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Teens & Adults
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Jaw tension, neck pain, or TMJ symptoms
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Mouth breathing, snoring, or disrupted sleep
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Tongue thrust or speech fatigue
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Teeth grinding or orthodontic relapse
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Forward head posture, chronic tension
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What Is a Frenectomy?
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A frenectomy is a simple, effective procedure to release the tight tissue and restore natural mobility. At Northstar, we use a gentle COâ‚‚ laser for precise, comfortable treatment with minimal bleeding and fast healing.
Most procedures take just a few minutes in-office and are tailored to you (or your child’s) age, anatomy, and goals. We treat with function in mind—meaning we collaborate with feeding therapists, myofunctional therapists, lactation consultants, and orthodontists to help you achieve the best long-term outcome.
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Why Choose Northstar Lip and Tongue Tie Center?
- 20+ years of oral surgery experience
- Personal, compassionate care—we’ve been in your shoes as parents
- Focus on function, not just appearance
- Sedation options for a smooth surgery
- Collaborative, team-based approach
- Continued learning in fascia, posture, and airway development
Whether you’re here for your newborn, your teen, or yourself—we meet you where you are and guide you every step of the way.
Lavesea Clardy
My husband and I were referred to Dr. Park when my baby was 2 weeks. We were recommended and referred to have a frenectomy due to my baby having a poor latch. Dr. Park and her team made me feel comfortable and completely safe. Seeing that this is my first child I was super scared about procedure. They answered all our questions & provided extensive details & explanation of would happen during and post op. The staff are super friendly and the ambience off the office is welcoming. I would 100% recommend Dr. Park and her team to anyone who asks. My baby has improved tremendously !
Hyegyeong Kang
My daughter and I had a tongue-tie release procedure with Dr Park and couldn't be happier with the results! Dr Park is professional, caring, knowledgeable, and skilled surgeon. Dr Park and her team(especially Ashley and Hayley) made me feel very well cared for. Ashley was very friendly and made the entire process comfortable from start to finish.
I definitely recommend Dr Park and her staff for any oral surgery needs.
Jenny Clemans
Dr Park and her team did such an amazing job with our son. From being so patient during the lip and tongue tie surgery to customizing the surgical room with toys and putting on his favorite show on the tv, we truly felt like we got the five star treatment. So happy we finally figured out the root of my son’s eating and speech issues.
