You probably don’t spend much time thinking about it, but that piece of tissue that connects your gums and lips to your teeth can have a big impact on your oral health. Known as the frenum, if that rope-like piece of connective tissue is attached too high or too low it can restrict movement—impacting how you speak, your ability to chew and how effectively you can brush. Abnormal attachments also can cause gum recession as well as tooth misalignment, leading to both functional and esthetic issues.