When the tongue cannot perform all the necessary movements or rest in the roof of the mouth,  it affects breathing, sucking, swallowing, chewing or talking.  A small surgery or frenotomy in the tongue is indicated. The “snip” of the frenum in infants is a simple procedure done with scissors, scalpel, or laser and anesthetic gel, which lasts about five minutes. In older children and adults the most common procedure is the frenectomy (partial removal of the lingual frenulum).