What Is a Lip and Tongue-Tie? – Allen, TX
Why Your Baby Struggles with Oral Function
Are you and your baby having trouble breastfeeding? Does it seem like they aren’t latching properly? Do you notice a thick piece of tissue under their upper lip or beneath their tongue? They could have a restrictive lip or tongue-tie. Having experienced this problem with their own children, Dr. Justin and Dr. Sage understand these struggles firsthand. As board-certified pediatric dentists, they have dedicated many, many hours of training to performing laser frenectomies so that they can bring relief to affected babies and families in the Allen area. If you think your little one could have a lip or tongue-tie, don’t hesitate to reach out to us and schedule an appointment!
How Does a Lip or Tongue-Tie Occur?
Almost everyone is born with this little piece of tissue; however, for most people, the frenulum is small enough that they still have the ability to move their tongues and lips freely. In other words, it doesn’t interfere with oral function throughout their lives. While a baby is developing in utero, this tissue is supposed to separate from the gums and the floor of the mouth, but it doesn’t always happen. As a result, a baby with a lip or tongue-tie can become limited in their oral mobility from birth.
What Problems Can Develop as a Result of a Lip or Tongue-Tie?
Although a lip or tongue-tie can seem like a small issue, it can have serious consequences especially for your little one. For instance, if you are trying to nurse, you can have sore, blistering, flat, or creased nipples or even mastitis, which is a breast infection. In addition, your baby may experience the following problems:
- Trouble latching onto the nipple while breastfeeding
- Frequent losing suction on the nipple
- Falling asleep while nursing
- Long breastfeeding or bottle-feeding sessions
- Frequent colic or reflux
- Low weight gain
- Difficulty keeping a pacifier in their mouth
Although bottle-feeding can often help a baby who has a lip or tongue-tie, even this method of feeding can be a challenge. If, by chance, a lip or tongue-tie is not properly identified early on, it can continue to cause problems for the child, specifically in the following ways:
- Speech delay or struggles with certain sounds
- Trouble with certain food textures
- Digestive issues
- Sleep disordered breathing or sleep apnea
- Mouth breathing
- Short attention span or hyperactivity
How Is a Lip or Tongue-Tie Treated?
If your baby has a restrictive lip or tongue-tie, the solution is actually quite simple. Dr. Justin or Dr. Sage can perform a laser frenectomy, which is a procedure that entails gently severing this excess tissue. With years of training and experience, they know how to perform this procedure with expertise so that your little one stays as comfortable as possible. Basically, after applying a local anesthetic, they are able to separate and cauterize the tissue with laser precision, allowing the lip or tongue to move more freely and causing little to no bleeding or discomfort.
At home after the procedure, you will need to stretch their tongue or lips to make sure the healing tissue does not reattach. These stretching exercises also help your baby learn how to use their newfound flexibility. If necessary, you may want to consult an occupational or myofunctional therapist for additional guidance for helping your baby or child.