If your infant is experiencing trouble breastfeeding or sleeping, it might be attributed to a lip or tongue-tie. Symptoms can include:
Here at Hines Little Smiles, we know providing answers to these issues can help alleviate any stress, fear, or anxiety you are experiencing. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about lip and tongue-ties and the benefits of lip and tongue treatment.
Lip and tongue-ties are conditions involving connective tissues in the mouth that limit a baby’s ability to perform certain oral functions. Babies are born with these tissues and usually do not experience any problems. However, a lip-tie or tongue-tie may develop. A lip-tie dentist can provide treatment if these conditions fail to get better on their own.
A tongue-tie, also called ankyloglossia, involves a band of tissue, called the lingual frenulum, located under the tongue. The tissue helps secure the tongue to the front of the mouth. When the tissue is too tight, short, or thick, it restricts the child’s ability to move their tongue.
If the condition is present, the child may have difficulty sticking their tongue out past their lower lip. They might also be unable to touch the top of their upper teeth with their tongue when their mouth is open. However, the condition generally does not cause serious problems.
A lip-tie, also called lip frenulum, occurs when the tissue connecting the upper lip to the gum is too short, tight, or thick. This special tissue, called the labial frenum, prevents the upper lip from moving freely.
Many of the signs surround breastfeeding. Parents may notice your baby struggles to breathe during feeding. The child may have difficulty latching, make a smacking sound, or fall asleep during feeding. Milk may leak or they take a longer than usual time to breastfeed. Some kids may also have a gap between their front teeth.
Both tongue and lip-ties are relatively common. A study shows about 8% of babies younger than age 1 may have at least a mild tongue-tie. Lip-tie is less common than tongue-tie, according to Healthline. The condition occurs alongside tongue-tie in some cases. The good news is that these conditions may resolve on their own as the child grows.
Both conditions can range in severity but are not usually dangerous. However, trouble feeding can lead to irritability, drooling, and slow weight gain. Severe or untreated infant tongue-tie and lip-tie may result in speech and eating difficulties. Speech problems include trouble making certain word sounds. The conditions have also been linked to early tooth decay and gingivitis.
Infant lip and tongue-ties may get better on their own with time. If your child has a lip-tie, and you’re worried, you can always speak to an infant dentist or a lip-tie dentist. This dental professional is trained to fix lip-ties using a simple procedure called, frenectomy.
A frenectomy is a procedure for treating infant tongue-tie or lip-tie. It is done to loosen or remove the tissue (frenulum) preventing tongue or upper lip movement. A lingual frenectomy is done for tongue-tie, while lip-tie is treated with a maxillary labial frenectomy.
Advanced technology allows the surgeon to do a quick, minimally invasive surgery using a special laser. The in-office laser treatment will help your baby to move their tongue or lip freely for feeding, and speech later on.
Speak to your pediatrician early if you notice lip or tongue-tie signs. Your child’s pediatrician can evaluate the symptoms and decide if a frenectomy is right for them.
Hines Little Smiles offers advanced laser treatment for tongue and lip-tie. We perform all frenectomy procedures using a precision laser at our pediatric dental office in Columbus. Your little one will be in the safe hands of our certified dentist, trained in laser frenectomy. Call 614-475-5439 to find out more and schedule a consultation.
Call 614-475-5439 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.
