← Back to feed ▶ Reel

🔐 Instagram requires sign-in to view this content

Open on Instagram

Dr. Laura Caylor DMD | Functional & Airway Focused Dentist | Mom

@dr.lauracaylor

📱 Open on Instagram

▶ Reel

If feeding hurts… there’s always a reason. What you’re seeing here is blanching of the gums—a temporary whitening caused by compression. Not suction. Pressure. A functional latch relies on the tongue to create a seal and generate negative pressure to extract milk without causing pain or damage. When that system isn’t working efficiently, some babies compensate by clamping to stay latched. This can be very painful for mom. On a finger, we can see it clearly. During feeding… it can feel very different. One of the reasons this can happen? 👉 Limited tongue mobility due to a tongue tie, which can make it harder to maintain suction. That said—this is not the only cause of painful feeding, and it doesn’t point to a single diagnosis. But it is a sign that the mechanics may need a closer look—often with the right support team in place.

Pinned by

👁 34,7M 💬 921

Comments (7)

@demorreeizard It took me 4/5 days for my baby to latch on properly and feel confident breastfeeding. 12 years later found out she was tongue tied. Was cut when removing overcrowded teeth. Just thought she had a big tongue. Also affected her speech. Don’t know why not routinely checked. Didn’t know it was a thing. Managed to go for 9 months, then teeth came in and just too painful to continue. Glad I was able to persevere. Lovely bonding time and makes you sit down and take a break. She is now 38.

♥ 1

@dabratt_tae_ Do baby have a black eye 😢 he’s eyes is closed.

@squishiigirl I wish someone has noticed I was tongue tied. They made my mum feel like she was doing something wrong because I couldn’t latch and my tongue hurt when I talked and ate. Finally got it fixed when I was 18. No idea how people missed it, it was attached basically at the tip of my tongue

♥ 1

@skribbledskratched Everybody are born with teeth it’s just a day for the tooths to sprout out look it up we are all born with teeth

@purp_leluv91 Wow

♥ 1

@nataliegoodofficial The way you can hear mama crying 😢

@marthamae000 What if it is only on one side ??

Posted08 May 2026, 02:08

Pin added24 Jun 2026, 15:35

If feeding hurts… there’s always a reason.… | PinThis