Do you have a newborn at home who struggles to latch during feedings or seems extra fussy? If so, they might be suffering from an untreated lip or tongue tie. This affects an estimated 4% to 11% of babies, and often requires treatment to avoid different health and developmental concerns associated with the condition.
If you’re unsure whether this is behind your infant’s irritation, continue reading to learn more about lip and tongue ties and why it’s important to catch and address them early!
What are Lip and Tongue Ties?
Most people have a band of tissue, called a frenulum, located beneath their tongue, which anchors it to the floor of their mouths, and also behind each of their lips. Under normal circumstances, these folds of tissue stabilize the movements of your lips and tongue so that you can form all the motions required to enunciate different words and manipulate food in your mouth while you chew.
Unfortunately, some people are born with a band that’s excessively tight, short, or thick, which limits the mobility around the lips, gums, and jaw. These are referred to as lip or tongue ties, depending on where they’re located.
How Do Lip and Tongue Ties Impact My Child’s Oral Health?
This condition can impact your child’s oral and overall well-being in several ways. Kids with lip and tongue ties frequently experience:
- Challenges learning to eat and swallow. They may not be able to latch properly during breastfeeding, which can make them gassy or malnourished, or have challenges eating food off of utensils when they’re a little bigger.
- Speech impediments. They’re more likely to have issues articulating certain words.
- Breathing problems. They might struggle to breathe, which can also interrupt their sleep.
These concerns can start from the day they’re born and continue to impact them as they grow if their lip or tongue tie remains unaddressed.
How are Lip and Tongue Ties Treated?
If you’re scared that your little one will be forced to cope with their lip or tongue tie for the remainder of their lives, you can thankfully set your mind at ease. Their pediatric dentist can provide procedures that sever the band of tissue to restore a normal range of motion. For instance, a laser frenectomy involves using a cold CO2 laser to gently “cut” the tie without causing excessive swelling, bleeding, or discomfort.
However, if your child is 4 years or older, their dentist might recommend a frenuloplasty. This service releases the connective tissue as well as the muscle restricting their lip or tongue, if necessary.
Fixing your little one’s lip or tongue tie early on can help them build and maintain happy, healthy teeth and gums for life!
Meet the Author
Dr. Jesse Witkoff is a board-certified pediatric dentist with more than four decades of experience guiding still-developing smiles. He earned his dental degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before completing a General Practice Residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Then, he achieved his Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Today, he regularly attends conferences and other trainings to stay current with the latest trends in frenectomies, frenuloplasties, interceptive orthodontics, and airway dentistry. You can request an appointment on the website or call (720) 743-3340.