Tongue and lip tie is a problem that develops early on. Newborns can have lip or tongue tie problems that can interfere with breastfeeding and other problems as they grow. If your infant seems to have a struggle nursing, you may want to have your baby checked for wither tongue or lip tie. Both lip and tongue tie problems can be corrected or treated. Smile Reef would like to share more about what tongue and lip tie is and how they can be treated.
What is Tongue-Tie & Lip Tie?
When you hear the term lip tie or tongue tie, this is a condition where the frenulum tissue is too thick. When a baby is developing in the womb, the frenulum tissue is there to connect the upper lip and the tongue to other parts of the oral cavity. It is essentially to hold the tongue and lips in place during development. During the later development or gestation, the frenulum tissue will thin out and disappear. However, in some babies, the frenulum tissue may not disappear and will remain on the under or the upper lip or even under the tongue. When the frenulum is still present in baby, this causes tongue or lip tie which interferes with breastfeeding and even bottle feeding and can lead to speech development challenges.
Why Should I Be Concerned About a Tongue or Lip Tie?
You can easily see when a baby still has the lip or tongue frenulum tissue. It may not seem like a major issue, however, it can impact babies in a number of different ways. One of the major concerns with tongue or lip tie is breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is the best way to feed a baby. Breastfeeding ensures a strong immune system and overall better development. Unfortunately, tongue and lip tie makes it very hard for babies to breastfeed. A bottle’s nipple can compress to release the milk where breastfeeding requires the baby to suck the milk out. For babies with tongue or lip tie suckling is very difficult. Often the babies will not get enough milk simply due to fatigue. For those who breastfeed their baby, do not give up due to tongue or lip tie challenges. Rather, seek treatment for tongue or lip tie. Your baby will only benefit from your milk and correct this problem.
Procedure of Clipping Tongue or Lip Tie
If you discover your baby has tongue or lip tie, you will want to see a pediatric dentist. A pediatric dentist can examine the infant to ensure they have lip or tongue tie. If the tissue is thick it is a major problem. Therefore, they will often recommended a Frenectomy. Frenectomy is a procedure that basically severs the restricting frenulum tissue. The baby will not feel any pain as they will be numbed before cutting the frenulum tissue. There will be slight bleeding and a short recovery time. However, the baby breastfeeding will also instantaneously improve right after the procedure. By correcting tongue or lip tie problems early on, not only will your infant be able to breastfeed properly, but you can avoid future speech problems and more.
Pediatric Dentistry
If you want a knowledgeable, experienced and caring pediatric dentist for your baby or older child, contact Smile Reef and schedule an appointment today!
