Challenging Transitions: How Lip and Tongue-Ties Can Affect Your Child’s Ability to Eat Solid Foods

As your child grows, you have to keep up with their ever-evolving needs – which can be difficult to say the least! One such change you’ll encounter is their transition from eating “baby food” to more solid options. Naturally, you want your child to form good eating habits, but a lip or tongue-tie can make this much more challenging for them. Treating the issue with a frenectomy can help them make the switch!

What Are Lip and Tongue-Ties?

First, you’ll need to know what a frenulum is. This is basically a strand of tissue that connects the lip to the gums and the tongue to the mouth, and they’re perfectly normal to have. However, when there are too many frenula or if the frenulum is too thick, it “ties down” the lip or tongue. Lip and tongue-ties can vary in severity, but they always limit mouth movements to some degree, which can impair oral development.

How Do Lip and Tongue-Ties Affect Eating?

Lip and tongue-ties can actually pose eating challenges as soon as your child starts breastfeeding. The restrictive frenulum often makes it difficult for infants to properly latch, creating discomfort for both parent and baby.

When it comes to transitioning to solid snacks, a lip-tie can cause your child to struggle with keeping food inside of their mouth. It might also contribute to discomfort while biting down. A tongue-tie, meanwhile, can make it hard to move solids into suitable positions for chewing and swallowing.

Will a Lip or Tongue-Tie Go Away on Its Own?

Restrictive frenula won’t shrink or go away over time, so in order to free your child’s oral movement, they need to be removed with a frenectomy. Fortunately, these procedures are extremely minimal and can often be performed in a matter of minutes. Your pediatric dentist will use a soft tissue laser to gently cut the lip or tongue-tie, and that will be that. Your child will gradually learn how to take advantage of their newfound oral mobility and should start experiencing positive eating improvements within a couple of weeks.

If your child has a lip or tongue-tie, removing it with a frenectomy will help them transition to eating solid foods – and help you have some peace of mind!

About the Author

Dr. Maggie Davis is an accomplished pediatric dentist – and proud mom of three! She knows first-hand how a lip or tongue-tie can pose challenges for children’s oral development and eating habits. If you believe your child might be restricted by excessive frenula, Dr. Davis and her team of compassionate women will perform a thorough exam and, if necessary, a gentle frenectomy. To contact her office for an appointment, call 727-786-7551.