Every year, thousands of children are diagnosed with lip ties or tongue ties that make eating, nursing, and speaking a challenge. At SmileLynn Pediatric Dentistry, we offer easy and simple treatment for tongue ties and lip ties in Apollo Beach.
Many patients who have children with lip or tongue ties have never heard of the disorder. To help them out, we have put together this blog post breaking down the differences between lip and tongue ties, what a frenectomy is, and why your child may need one.
What is a Lip Tie?
The frenulum is a thin string of flesh that attaches the bottom of the mouth to the tongue (the lingual frenum) and the lower and upper lip to the gums (the labial frenum). The majority of people do not notice these small pieces of flesh because they are so small. However, like most things in your body, they serve an important purpose that, when disrupted, can lead to severe problems.
A lip tie happens when the labial frenum extends down too far, interfering with nursing and tooth development. An advanced lip tie can restrict baby teeth from properly erupting, causing misalignment problems down the road. You can easily check your child or lip-tie; just gently pull their upper lip away from their gums. If the frenum is extended too far down the gum line, it will be challenging to pull the lip from the gums. This can indicate lip tie and warrant a visit to a kid’s dentist near you.
What is Tongue Tie?
Children who have tongue tie have a lingual frenum that is not fully developed. This means that their frenum never thinned out when they were in the womb, keeping the tongue from moving at optimal function. Tongue ties can lead to trouble with speaking and nursing.
Our pediatric dentist in Apollo Beach, FL, recommends bringing your child into our clinic as soon as you suspect that they may require treatment for tongue ties and lip ties near you. Both of these conditions can stop babies from nursing effectively and can cause issues with mouth development and nutrition as time goes on.
What is a Frenectomy?
In minor cases of lip and tongue tie, infants can grow out of the condition. There are easy exercises that your child can follow to help release their tightened frenum and improve their symptoms to the point where the problem will subside on its own.
In other, more severe cases, those with lip or tongue ties may need to undergo a procedure known as a frenectomy. A frenectomy is a quick and non-invasive surgical procedure where an experienced medical professional uses a laser to remove a very small portion of the affected frenum.
Most patients heal very quickly from a frenectomy, and because a laser is used during the procedure, little to no bleeding is involved. You will need to ensure that you follow all the instructions for exercises that you will need to help your child with following the procedure. These exercises will ensure that the frenum remains in good shape and does not tighten again with healing.
Within a few weeks, your child will be feeling much better, and all of their challenges with speaking and eating should be alleviated.