Is your infant dissatisfied with breastfeeding even after a lot of time? It can be an indication that they are struggling with lip or tongue ties, and this can be a major concern for parents.
To consult with a healthcare professional for the development of your infant, you need to visit pediatric offices near you and discuss all your concerns to get the right treatment option.
5 Signs That Your Infant Has a Lip or Tongue Tie
Tongue and lip ties happen when your baby’s frenulum is very rigid or thick, which impacts the movement of the top lip. When your baby’s lingual frenulum is too short, tight, or too close to the tip of the tongue, it might cause a tongue tie, and the tongue’s maneuverability suffers as a consequence.
Both of these disorders have the potential to impair speech development, breastfeeding, and bottle feeding if they are not treated. It may also inhibit future permanent tooth eruptions or result in issues with your child’s gums.
It may be challenging to feed your newborn successfully if they have a lip or tongue tie. These are a few of the signs that your infant has a lip or tongue tie.
Having Trouble Latching During Breastfeeding
The process by which your infant holds onto your breast during breastfeeding is known as latching. Your baby’s chest and stomach should rest on your body during a successful latch, which is painless and comfortable. Their tongue shall cover the whole breast, not just the nipple.
You may notice that the first latching process isn’t as smooth as it should be if your infant has a tongue or lip tie. Your infant may find it difficult to latch on or to stay latched.
Difficulty during Breastfeeding
The feeling may be a little strange if you have never breastfed before. It should not be uncomfortable, though.
Your kid may not have properly latched in the correct position if the procedure bothers you. A tongue-tied infant, for example, may apply excessive pressure to your nipple, causing discomfort.
Fatigue of Infants During Breastfeeding
A tired infant can go to sleep quickly while nursing due to this, you may notice that your child reaches out to you in times of distress, sleepiness, or fussiness. They feel soothed, relaxed, and comforted by the act.
It’s not the intention, however, for them to tire themselves while having trouble latching on and eating. It may also be an indication of a lip or tongue tie if you observe that your baby is becoming frustrated and tired when sucking.
As it is hard for them to breathe while feeding, you can also notice that they’re tired. Babies with tongue ties are particularly prone to this because they are unable to make the wave-like motion necessary to eat food from the front to the back of their mouths before swallowing.
Your child may experience overload and exhaustion as a result of this irregular breathing pattern.
Inadequate Weight Gain
Although every infant is unique, the majority will lose between 7% and 10% of their birth weight right away. The majority of infants would gain weight within two weeks of delivery. Does your infant appear to be still below that threshold?
A visit to the pediatrician’s office can help determine whether their weight growth is appropriate. This may indicate a lip or tongue tie, which can also be the cause of insufficient feeding or poor nutrition.
Restricted Tongue Mobility
A tongue-out giggle is one of the facial expressions that small children give! Is your infant able to fully extend their tongue? Their range of motion may be totally or partially restricted if they have a tongue tie.
Once again, this may make nursing difficult and ineffective. For the tongue of your baby to properly latch onto your breast, it must be able to move freely.
Next Course of Action for a Baby with a Tongue or Lip Tie
The first thing to do is to make an appointment at a pediatric office near you if you have a feeling that your child may have a tongue or lip tie.
These professionals can assess whether your baby’s symptoms support a diagnosis because they are knowledgeable about such illnesses.
Remain calm even if they affirm that this is the problem. To fix the issue, a simple laser surgery is usually sufficient. We may do this treatment in our office; it’s known as a frenectomy.
During this procedure, our dentists will take care of the inflexible tissue that is the source of the tongue or lip tie. To ensure your child’s comfort throughout the procedure, we will apply gentle anesthesia before starting.
Before your healthcare professional starts treatment, you should discuss the problem with your baby’s pediatrician or lactation specialist at your request. In this manner, everyone can collaborate to track the child’s post-op development and will be aware of the necessary treatment.
Seek Assistance for Your Child’s Tongue or Lip Tie!
It’s worthwhile to take the time to get your infant evaluated for a tongue or lip tie if the process is uncomfortable for either of you.
This condition is more prevalent than you might imagine, even though it might feel overwhelming at times. The diagnosis is straightforward, and the therapy is surprisingly uncomplicated.
To resolve this medical condition and promote more comfortable and efficient feedings, we can employ laser surgery. The procedure is easy to perform, accurate, and causes no discomfort.
Contact Smile Lynn Pediatric Dentistry today to schedule an appointment.
At our dental clinic, we have a team of pediatric dentists in Apollo Beach who can help you understand all the complexities related to lip or tongue tie. We provide services such as restorative dentistry, special needs dentistry, and many more.
It is very obvious that when you are anxious, you tend to ignore visiting the dentist. That is why our expert dentists employ modern technologies while performing any dental treatment so that patients feel calm and relaxed throughout their treatment.
Make an appointment right now to enhance your child’s dental health with our pediatric dentist near you!