Ankyloglossia or tongue-tie is a congenital dysfunction, characterized by abnormality of the lingual frenulum, where it can be adhered in a short form to the mouth floor or too close to the tip of the tongue generating difficulties to individuals [1-4]. The lingual frenulum is a normal anatomic structure characterized by being a median fold that connects the tongue to the mouth floor; is exclus...

BACKGROUND Controversy exists regarding ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) and its clinical impact on breastfeeding, including the benefits, or otherwise, of tongue-tie release (frenotomy). As exclusive breastfeeding rates in Ireland are already considerably low (46% on discharge home from the maternity unit following birth in 2014), it is imperative to protect and support breastfeeding, including iden...

The T-box gene family encodes a large family of transcription factors with more than 20 members identified in humans so far, and homologues in many other organisms. A number of human disorders have been linked to mutations in T-box genes, confirming their medical importance. They include Holt- Oram syndrome/TBX5, Ulnar-Mammary syndrome/TBX3, and more recently DiGeorge syndrome/TBX1, ACTH defici...

Ankyloglossia or tongue-tie is a congenital dysfunction, characterized by abnormality of the lingual frenulum, where it can be adhered in a short form to the mouth floor or too close to the tip of the tongue generating difficulties to individuals [1-4]. The lingual frenulum is a normal anatomic structure characterized by being a median fold that connects the tongue to the mouth floor; is exclus...

Successful breastfeeding depends on an infant’s latching onto the mother’s breast correctly. If an excessive amount of air reaches the stomach due to a poor latch, abdominal distension, belching, and flatulence often develop. This may be the result of pathologic aerophagia. Aerophagia (from the Greek word aerophagein: “to eat air”) is excessive swallowing of air during feeding. A poor or incorr...