If your little one was born with overly thick tissue behind their upper lip or under their tongue, they have a condition called a lip tie or tongue tie (respectively). It’s likely that your baby’s primary physician or pediatric dentist have already started to recommend treatment options to address it as well. However, if your infant doesn’t seem to be having very much trouble breast feeding or bottle feeding, you may be wondering if treatment is really necessary. Even if your baby’s lip or tongue tie isn’t a problem now, it can eventually influence their oral development and quality of life later on. Read on as we break down everything you need to know about lip and tongue ties and how to keep your little one’s smile healthy and on track.
What Are Lip and Tongue Ties?
Lip ties and tongue ties are similar problems that affect different parts of the mouth. Each have to do with the frenulum, which is a piece of soft tissue in the mouth between the lips and the gums and under the tongue.
- Lip tie: If the frenulum behind your child’s upper lip is too thick or stiff, it can prevent the upper lip from moving freely. This is called a lip tie.
- Tongue tie: Similarly, a tongue tie is when the frenulum between the bottom of the tongue and the floor of the mouth is too thick or short, therefore restricting movement of the tongue.
While a lip tie or tongue tie itself isn’t dangerous for your baby, leaving either one of these issues untreated can potentially cause big problems for their health and long-term development.
Why Are Lip and Tongue Ties a Problem?
In serious cases, an untreated lip or tongue tie can cause failure to thrive in infancy and keep a baby from gaining weight or getting the nutrients they need. However, your pediatric dentist may recommend treating a lip or tongue tie even if your little one isn’t having any problems feeding. While research on the effects of oral ties is still being conducted, many experts report that these conditions can lead to a variety of problems, including increased risk of tooth decay, crooked front teeth, difficulty speaking clearly, sleep apnea, poor gum health, and chronic jaw pain.
How Are Lip and Tongue Ties Treated?
Thanks to modern dental technology, it’s very easy and safe to fix lip ties and tongue ties. A laser frenectomy can release or remove the problematic tissue and give your little one the mobility they need to thrive in just a matter of minutes. It works by using light energy to vaporize a precisely measured amount of frenulum. While this may sound scary at first, it actually allows the entire process to be practically painless. What’s more, it cauterizes the area simultaneously, so there’s little to no bleeding as well. Before you or your baby knows it, they’ll be done with their procedure and able to enjoy a full range of motion in their smile!
If you’re wondering if your little one would benefit from a lip or tongue tie, don’t hesitate to contact your pediatric dentist today. They’ll evaluate their precious smile and ensure that it’s on track to stay happy and healthy.
About the Practice
At Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we’re passionate about caring for the growing smiles of Pelham, Nashua, and the surrounding New Hampshire communities. We’ve outfitted our family-friendly practice with state-of-the-art equipment like the Solea laser to provide the most efficient and comfortable treatments for your little one’s smile. With a wide array of specialized services including laser frenectomies, we can ensure your baby achieves great oral health from the beginning. To learn more, we can be contacted via our website or at (603) 635-1166.