Reading time: three minutes.
After your baby has a tongue-tie or lip-tie released, gentle stretches play an important role in helping the area heal properly. Keeping the tissue moving supports healthy recovery, improves feeding, and reduces the chance of the frenum reattaching.
While specific instructions can vary slightly between providers, stretches are a standard part of post-frenectomy care in many oral surgery and pediatric practices.
Table of Contents
Why Stretches Matter
The frenum is a small fold of tissue connecting the tongue or lip to the mouth. After it is released, the body naturally begins closing the surgical site. Without movement, the tissue edges can heal together in a way that limits mobility or causes new restrictions.
Stretches help:
- Keep the surgical site open while it heals
- Maintain a healthy range of motion
- Minimize scar tissue that can interfere with normal function
What Stretching Typically Involves
Post-frenectomy stretches should always be gentle. The goal is to keep the area flexible and help your baby stay comfortable as they heal.
Examples of simple stretches and activities include:
- Tongue: Gently lift your baby’s tongue toward the roof of the mouth or move it side to side.
- Lip: Lift the upper lip upward toward the nose or curl it back.
- Make it playful: Turn stretches into a game. Encourage your baby to copy you by sticking out your tongue, opening their mouth wide, or moving their tongue around. Tapping their lip or gums can also prompt natural movement in a relaxed way.
- Natural movement: For some babies, frequent nursing, bottle-feeding, and practicing latching provide enough natural tongue and lip motion to support healing without additional stretches.
These motions help your baby maintain a full range of motion as new tissue forms. Always follow your provider’s guidance on which techniques are most appropriate for your child.
Helping Your Child Heal
It’s normal for infants to fuss during stretches. Keep sessions brief and try them when your baby has just been fed and is more content. A few minutes of gentle movement are all that’s needed.
Toddlers and older children often handle stretches well. You can make it a game by sticking out your tongue together or tapping their lip to encourage natural movement.
Try not to overthink each step. Simple, consistent stretches help the area heal properly without adding stress.
Remember that having the frenectomy was an important step to improve feeding, support speech development, and prevent issues later on. With time, recovery gets easier and most families see real benefits.
Get Support When You Need It
If you have questions about recovery, or would like to learn more about the frenectomy procedure, our team is always here to help.
To book an appointment at our oral surgery office in Boulder, CO, call (303) 444-2255 or visit us at 1420 28th St, Suite 100, Boulder, CO.
