Lip and tongue tie in your child is not something you should leave as it is. Get in touch with your pediatric dentist immediately in such a situation. This issue can be a source of discomfort for not only your baby but you as well.
What Actually Is Lip and Tongue Tie?
Lip and tongue tie is a condition in babies where the skin under their lips and the tongue are too tight, resulting in movement restriction. This can cause various issues, including difficulties with breastfeeding and speaking later in life.
Lip Tie:
A lip tie occurs when the skin under your baby’s upper lip is too tight, preventing it from fully lifting. Thus it becomes difficult to latch onto your breast. This not only can cause discomfort and pain for you during breastfeeding but also poor milk transfer to the baby.
Tongue Tie:
The tongue tie is in a similar condition. The skin under the baby’s tongue is immobile, resulting in the tongue staying stiff. Just like lip tie, it causes issues with breastfeeding since your baby wont is able to create enough suction to extract milk from your breast. Tongue ties can also affect speech development and cause difficulty with eating and swallowing later in life.
Lip and Tongue Tie Symptoms
To identify if your baby suffers from this condition, look for the following signs:
- Difficulty breastfeeding: If your baby has trouble latching onto your nipple or keeping it in their mouth, it could be due to a tongue-tie.
- Clicking sounds while breastfeeding: Your baby making clicking noises while breastfeeding indicates that their tongue is not able to move freely.
- Poor weight gain: If your baby is not gaining weight as expected, it could be due to their inability to breastfeed effectively.
- Heart-shaped tongue: When your baby sticks out their tongue, it should be heart-shaped, with the tip of the tongue pointing down. If the tip of the tongue is pointing up, it may be a sign of a tongue tie.
Treating Lip and Tongue Tie
Treatment for a lip or tongue tie in infants typically involves a procedure known as a frenotomy. It is a simple and quick surgical procedure performed by a pediatric dentist or a speech and language therapist with training in laser or scissors frenotomy. The process involves releasing the tight tissue that is causing the restriction.
In some cases, a frenotomy can be performed without the need for local anesthesia or sedation; however, in other cases, it may be recommended to ensure the comfort of the baby.
After the procedure, it is important to follow the recommended aftercare instructions to promote proper healing and ensure the best outcomes.
Final Words
With proper treatment, most babies are able to breastfeed and develop normal speech patterns. Get in touch with our pediatric dentist from Cinco Ranch Family Dentistry at (281) 407-5442 for more information.