Straight Teeth in Less Time

Tongue Tie And Its Effects

20 November 2017

Lois Murray

You may be concerned if your little one has tongue-tie, especially if you have decided to breastfeed. Tongue-tie can sometimes hamper a baby's ability to nurse and receive adequate nutrition for proper growth.

Here is a bit of information about tongue-tie and its effects:

Tongue-tie

Tongue-tie occurs when the lingual frenulum is too short and restrictive. The condition may prevent a child's tongue from moving about freely.

The thin tissue that joins the tongue with the floor of the mouth is called the lingual frenulum. This tissue, which lies on the underside of the tongue, may not be long enough, resulting in tongue-tie.

Children with a short lingual frenulum may have trouble feeding from their mother's breast. If the little one cannot latch onto the nipple as he or she should, the baby may not receive sufficient nourishment to grow and thrive. In addition, the breast may not empty sufficiently, resulting in duct blockages and inflammation. 

Indications of Nursing Problems From Tongue-tie

Multiple symptoms may present, indicating that a child with tongue-tie is having breastfeeding problems. Some symptoms may occur in the child. Others may develop in the mother.

Here are some of the child's symptoms:

• Unable to stick out the tongue beyond the border of the lips
• Lack of weight gain
• Gassiness after feeding
• Breathing only from the mouth
• Extra-long feeding sessions
• Inconsistent suction while nursing
• Repeated gagging while nursing
• Thrush

Here are a few symptoms that may occur in the mother:

• Painful nipples
• Breast engorgement
• Sores on the nipples
• Nipples that appear flat immediately after nursing
• Inflamed breasts

Once the tongue-tie condition is resolved, the negative symptoms caused by the disorder usually recede. Consequently, the quick resolution of the disorder may be recommended.

How to Treat Tongue-tie

Tongue tie is often treated through a minor procedure called a lingual frenotomy. A frenotomy can be completed in seconds and is so painless that no anesthesia is needed. Additionally, there is little bleeding.

During a frenotomy, the dentist simply snips the lingual frenulum, allowing the tongue to move about more freely. The cut is rarely deep, but the depth of the incision may vary based on the length of the child's frenulum. The shorter the lingual frenulum, the deeper the incision may need to be.

If your child appears to have tongue-tie, contact the office of a pediatric dentist, like those represented at http://www.vfdental.com, to schedule an appointment. The dentist can perform an assessment to determine if a frenotomy may be needed.

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