If your baby is frequently fussy after eating, it could be the result of a frustrating and painful condition called colic. Here’s a closer look at this uncomfortable disorder, how a lip or tongue tie could be behind it – and what you can do to stop it!
What is Colic?
Colic is a condition that occurs when a baby cries frequently due to gas or stomach issues. While breastmilk and baby formulas don’t inherently cause gastrointestinal issues, when a child has trouble feeding, they may take in excess air in the process. This in turn creates painful gas and bloating, causing the baby to cry frequently.
What are Lip & Tongue Ties?
Lip and tongue ties are congenital conditions where the lingual frenulum that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth and the labial frenulum that connects the upper lip to the gums is too thick and tight, restricting movement. Not only can this make nursing difficult for babies, but if left untreated, these issues can follow them throughout life, increasing their risk of speech problems, feeding problems, and even posture issues and migraines.
How Can a Dentist Treat Lip & Tongue Ties
There are two procedures your dentist can perform to treat a lip or tongue tie:
- Frenuloplasty: This safe, effective treatment is ideal for children four and older, and eliminates tongue ties with a fast, comfortable soft-tissue laser, allowing the tongue to move about the mouth freely so they can feed easier and prevent the harmful side-effects to their speech, feeding, and posture.
- Frenectomy: Also performed with a soft tissue laser, a frenectomy can be performed on babies beginning just a few days after birth until around the age of four, with the purpose of moving the lingual frenulum of the lip back into a more ideal placement within the mouth.
If your baby is struggling with colic, there’s no need to prolong their suffering any longer. Speak to your dentist today about how a laser frenectomy can help!
About Dr. Witkoff
Dr. Jesse Witkoff earned his dental degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now Rutgers School of Dental Medicine) and has since then completed more than 500 hours of post-graduate education just in the area of frenectomies, frenuloplasties, interceptive orthodontics, and airway dentistry alone! He is a proud, active member of the American Dental Association, Colorado Dental Association, Academy of Laser Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry just to name a few. To schedule a consultation for a lip or tongue tie at Rocky Mountain Tongue Tie, visit our website or call us today at 720-743-3340.