Hallie BulkinAsk HallieAI:Your On-Demand Mentor in Pediatric Feeding & Myo

Why Heart Shaped Tongues Aren't Just Cute

6 May 2026 · 1 min

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In this YouTube segment, Hallie Bulkin answers a viewer, Dana Jo, who worries about her three sons' oral health. Dana reports that her oldest son, now 7, was once diagnosed with a tongue‑tie that allegedly resolved because he can protrude his tongue, yet he remains a picky eater and gag‑reacts to certain foods. The middle child, 20 months old, shows a heart‑shaped tongue when extended but has no feeding issues. Hallie criticizes pediatricians and dentists who dismiss tongue‑tie concerns outside the airway specialty, labeling such statements as lies. She recommends a feeding‑therapy evaluation for the 7‑year‑old and referral to an airway‑centric orthodontist who performs maxillary expansion and can address tongue‑ties, emphasizing that proper assessment of oral posture and airway health is essential to prevent chronic feeding problems.

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So Dana Jo says, I have 3 sons. My first, I was convinced, had a tongue tie, couldn't breastfeed, became very picky eater by age 2, went to specialist, said because he can protrude his tongue, it's not considered a tongue tie anymore and it's considered stretched out. That's a lie. Sorry, Dana Jo, that is a lie. Gosh, the fact that we still actually hear these things from pediatricians and dentists that are not in the airway space, but the tongue tie space, like, oh, drives me up a wall. He's gonna be 7, still a very picky eater, will gag on sight. Now a third son, 20 months, didn't have issues with eating or breastfeeding, but he does have a similar heart-shaped tongue when he can stick it out. Worried that we're going to end up in the same position. Any advice? One, the 7-year-old, feeding therapy evaluation, airway-centric orthodontist who does expansion, who knows how to address tongue ties. That's my recommendation there.