“They Told Me I Don’t Have A Tongue Tie.”

It’s all too common. A patient comes in to be assessed for symptoms that could relate to a tongue tie, but they’re convinced they don’t have one—because their dentist told them so.

Here’s the problem: dentists are not trained to properly assess for tongue ties in standard dental school. This requires additional, specialized training, and it’s not something you can diagnose with a quick look. Unless they’ve had this further training, they are not qualified to assess your tongue’s potential restriction.

And yet, it happens every day. Patients are reassured that there’s “no tie,” when in fact, the functional disadvantages are obvious to someone trained to evaluate them. This false reassurance delays intervention, creates confusion, and can even cast doubt on the diagnosis of professionals who are trained in this area. That’s not good care—and it’s frustrating as a professional to see it happen again and again.

What a Real Tongue Tie Evaluation Looks Like

A proper evaluation goes far beyond “stick out your tongue.” A functional assessment means:

• Measuring how far the tongue can actually move.

• Observing whether its movement pulls on surrounding structures like the floor of the mouth and jaw.

• Evaluating whether its attachment is contributing to dysfunctional swallowing patterns or poor oral posture.

It’s okay that your dentist (or other provider) may not know how to do this—what’s not okay is offering a definitive opinion on something outside their training.

Red Flags to Watch For

🚩 Red Flag #1: “Just stick out your tongue.”

Being able to stick out your tongue doesn’t rule out a tie. Restrictions are graded in stages, and what matters is how limited movement impacts things like swallowing, breathing, or resting posture.

🚩 Red Flag #2: A quick glance.

Some ties look obvious; others are hidden within the bulk of the tongue. Two people can have the same degree of restriction that presents completely differently. Without training, this is easy to miss.

🚩 Red Flag #3: No formal training.

Most dental, medical, and speech-language programs do not cover functional tie assessment in depth—if they mention it at all. If your provider hasn’t pursued continuing education in this area, they likely don’t have the tools to evaluate it properly.

The Bigger Picture

I advocate for a shift—where medical professionals who work in and around the mouth—dentists, lactation consultants, ENTs, oral surgeons, and speech-language pathologists—recognize the need for functional assessments and either get trained or refer out to someone who is.

If you have symptoms possibly related to a tongue tie—habitual mouth breathing, tongue thrust, orthodontic relapse, neck and shoulder tension, TMJ issues—don’t settle for “you’re fine” after a quick glance. Seek out a provider who has formal training in this area, such as a myofunctional therapist, for a thorough evaluation.

The Bottom Line

Tongue and lip ties are complex, functional issues—not black-and-white, not always visible, and not something to dismiss casually. If you’ve been told there’s “no concern,” but you still notice challenges, consider getting another opinion from someone with the training to truly evaluate the function of your tongue.

Your oral health, breathing, and overall wellbeing are too important for assumptions.