Dr. Ashley Pfaff, Sioux Falls chiropractor, adjusting baby with lip and tongue lie.

Lip & Tongue Tie Support for Babies and Moms

Gentle chiropractic care to support feeding challenges before or after a tongue or lip tie revision.

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New mom breastfeeding baby after tongue tie chiropractic in Sioux Falls.

What are lip & tongue ties?

Lip and tongue ties happen when the tissue connecting the tongue or lip has limited movement and interferes with function. When a baby cannot move their tongue or lips freely, feeding can feel hard for both baby and mom.

For babies, this often shows up as difficulty latching, staying latched, or feeding efficiently. For moms, it can look like pain, frustration, and the constant feeling that something just is not working, even when you are doing everything you’ve been told to.

If feeding feels stressful, exhausting, or confusing, you are not alone. Many moms come to us feeling overwhelmed and worried they are doing something wrong. Often, the issue is not effort. It is that your baby’s body needs extra support.

Mom breastfeeding baby on bed after chiropractic care for lip and tongue tie in Sioux Falls.

Signs of a Lip or Tongue Tie in Babies

Every baby is different, but common signs we see include:

  • Difficulty latching or staying latched

  • Clicking sounds while nursing or feeding

  • Slow weight gain

  • Feeding taking a very long time

  • Excessive spitting up, reflux, or gassiness

  • Fussiness during or after feeds

  • Gagging, choking, or coughing while feeding

  • Sleeping with the mouth open

  • Tension in the body, arching, or stiffness

  • Preference to turn the head to one side

  • Discomfort in car seats or during tummy time

Not every baby with feeding challenges has a tie, and not every visible frenulum causes problems. How your baby functions matters more than what things look like.

Mom breastfeeding baby on couch after tongue tie revision and chiropractic support in Sioux Falls.

What Moms May Experience

When feeding isn’t working well, moms often carry the weight of it. You may notice:

  • Nipple pain, cracking, bleeding, or bruising

  • Flattened or creased nipples after feeding

  • Clogged ducts, engorgement, or mastitis

  • Breasts not feeling fully emptied

  • Oversupply or low supply concerns

  • Anxiety around every feeding

  • The constant fear that you’re doing something wrong

Feeding struggles are not a reflection of how hard you are trying. They are a sign that your baby’s body may need support.

Dr. Ashley Pfaff, Sioux Falls chiropractor, adjusting baby with lip and tongue lie.

So, how can chiropractic help?


Chiropractic care can be a supportive part of your baby’s care team when feeding challenges or lip and tongue ties are involved. Tension from pregnancy, birth, or early positioning can affect how a baby moves their head, neck, jaw, and mouth. These areas all play an important role in feeding. Gentle, specific adjustments help reduce tension, improve mobility, and support a calmer, more coordinated feeding experience.

Chiropractic care may help:

  • Support feeding function and efficiency

  • Reduce tension affecting the mouth, jaw, neck, and shoulders

  • Improve comfort before or after a tongue or lip tie revision

  • In some cases, help avoid the need for a revision by addressing tension patterns contributing to feeding dysfunction

Our goal is to support your baby’s body so they can feed more comfortably and effectively, while helping this season feel a little less overwhelming for you.

Mom breastfeeding infant on pillow after lip tie revision and chiropractic support for feeding.

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

If feeding feels stressful or overwhelming, we are here to help. We are moms, too, and we understand how heavy this season can feel. Our role is to support your baby, walk alongside you, and help you build the right care team for your family.

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