What Are Lip and Tongue Ties? Palm Harbor
Your Quick Guide to Lip & Tongue Ties
Approximately 10% of children are born with a lip or tongue tie. These conditions restrict the movement of oral tissues and, in some cases, interfere with proper eating, speaking, and even breathing. They can be especially troublesome for infants and breastfeeding mothers as they can prevent the child from successfully latching, leading to nutrition and health problems. Fortunately, Dr. Maggie and our Palm Harbor team can take care of both these issues in just a few minutes in our dental office. But what exactly are lip and tongue ties, and how are they treated? This page explains.
Why Choose Florida Tongue Tie Institute for Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment?
- Care Provided by a Mother of 3 and an All-Female Staff
- Laser Technology Makes Treatment Fast & Gentle
- Certified Dentist with Many Years of Experience
How Do Lip and Tongue Ties Develop?
Inside everyone’s mouth, there are three small bands of tissue called frenulums (or frenula or frena or frenums). One connects each lip to the gums, and another is found beneath the tongue. During fetal development, a process called apoptosis is supposed to occur where the lips and tongue separate from the rest of the mouth, allowing them to move freely. Sometimes, this doesn’t quite happen, and a frenulum ends up being so short or thick that it prevents the proper range of motion, creating what is called a lip or tongue tie.
Genetics, as well as certain nutritional insufficiencies during pregnancy, may play a role in the development of lip and tongue ties.
Some signs that your child may have one of these conditions include:
- Difficulty latching while breastfeeding
- Digestive issues
- Colic
- Short and frequent feeding sessions
As the mother of a child with a lip or tongue tie, you may also experience some problems, such as pain while nursing, clogged milk ducts, poor milk supply, and sore nipples.
Why Is It Important to Treat Lip & Tongue Ties?
Lip and tongue ties cause problems during infancy, but they can do even more. In fact, if left untreated, these conditions can continue to cause difficulties throughout childhood and even into adulthood. For example, your child might experience:
- Delayed speech development.
- An aversion to certain textures of food.
- An increased risk of dental problems, such as cavities and gum disease.
- Disordered breathing during sleep; sleep apnea could even develop.
- Behavioral issues due to poor sleep quality.
- Orthodontic misalignment caused by improper tongue positioning or an overly thick frenulum on the gums.
- Teeth grinding and clenching.
Fortunately, the risk of such issues can be greatly reduced via lip and tongue tie treatment.
Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment
The standard treatment for a lip or tongue tie is a minimally invasive surgery known as a frenectomy. During this procedure, Dr. Maggie uses an advanced soft tissue laser to modify or remove the frenulum that is restricting the patient’s oral structures. The entire process usually takes just a few minutes, and the laser makes it as comfortable as possible. Local anesthesia may also be used to contribute to an easy treatment process.
Although frenectomies are commonly performed on infants and children, this procedure can also benefit adults in some cases. Do not hesitate to contact our team if you believe that you or someone in your family might need this treatment.