Lip Ties and Tongue Ties in Babies
Sometimes babies are born with a lip tie or tongue tie which limits the movement of the upper lip or restricts movement of the tongue.
Lip tie occurs when there are abnormalities with the small piece of tissue (known as the frenulum) that connects an infant’s lip to their gums. If the frenulum is too large or too tight, it can restrict the movement of the upper lip.
Tongue tie occurs when there is an unusually short, thick or tight band of tissue (known as the lingual frenulum) present that tethers the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth.
Some common symptoms of lip tie and/or tongue tie can include:
- struggling to latch on to the breast or feed from a bottle
- difficulty breathing during nursing or feeding
- making a clicking sound while nursing
- a heart-shaped or notched tongue
Depending on the severity of the lip tie or tongue tie, babies may exhibit different symptoms, or none at all. Treatment might not be essential for those who have minimal or no symptoms. Treatment can help if the condition is more serious.
The good news is that it can be fixed quickly and rather painlessly. Snipping the frenulum has been incredibly successful in pediatric dentistry. This process is simple and quick.
If your infant is having trouble latching and feeding, bring them in for a gentle examination to determine whether they are lip tied or tongue tied. Call today!