As a new parent, you’ll be tasked with all sorts of new duties and responsibilities to ensure the well-being of your infant 24/7. One big part of this includes resolving the problems that cause your little one to cry—but sometimes the cause of this excessive crying, also known as colic, isn’t obvious. Continue reading below to learn more about colic and how it’s sometimes linked to tongue and lip ties, along with how professional treatment can help.
What Is Colic?
Colic is a common condition that affects infants, and it can be quite distressing for both parents and babies alike. It’s characterized by excessive crying, fussiness, and/or irritability in a child who seems otherwise healthy.
A few factors that contribute to colic include gastrointestinal issues, nervous system immaturity, overstimulation, environmental factors, and certain allergies or intolerances. However, one other key factor is the presence of lip and tongue ties. This issue can impact how babies latch during breastfeeding, leading to the baby taking in excess air that sits in the stomach and upsets it, causing distress and reflux.
What Are Some Recognizable Signs of Tongue and Lip Ties?
A lip tie occurs when a child’s upper lip is attached too tightly to the gums, restricting movement. Similarly, a tongue tie arises when the thin connective tissue under the baby’s tongue, called the frenulum, is too short and impairs the tongue’s range of motion. If you think your baby might have a tongue or lip tie, a few of the most recognizable symptoms include:
- Inability to correctly latch during breastfeeding
- Poor weight gain
- Fussiness during feeding
- Clicking sounds during feeding
How Can Professional Treatment Address the Issue?
If you think that your child might have a lip or tongue tie that’s causing excessive crying, you shouldn’t hesitate to consult with a professional for evaluation. Even though all cases of colic aren’t necessarily linked with tongue and lip ties, in any case, it’s worthwhile to have these conditions resolved as they might cause other complications for the child, such as increased difficulty when feeding and impaired speech development. A frenectomy is often the go-to procedure for these conditions.
About the Practice
Our team here at Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics has proudly served families in Pelham, NH, and the surrounding area for several years under the leadership of four skilled specialists: Dr. Bassel Boulos, Dr. Sadaf Mostafavian, Dr. Sam Alkhoury, and Dr. Myles Clancy. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to schedule a visit for your child, feel free to visit us online or give us a call today for further assistance. Telephone: (603) 255-4084.