Lip and tongue ties have become more commonly diagnosed among both babies and children. In fact, the Mayo Clinic estimates that up to 10 percent of all newborns are born with ankyloglossia (the clinical term for tongue ties). This occurs when the frenum, which is a small strip of soft tissue that connects the lips to the gums or the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is overgrown or is too thick. It can impact the ability for newborns to nurse and can lead to speech and airway issues. If you have just found out that your baby has a lip or tongue tie, filter out the noise of these four common myths and make the best decision for your favorite smile.
Myth #1: The Only Way to Treat Lip & Tongue Ties is to Clip Them
While snipping lip and tongue ties with surgical scissors has been the golden standard for releasing them, allowing children to regain the full function of their smiles, today, that is no longer the case. It is becoming more common for pediatric dentists to use advanced soft tissue lasers for frenectomies because they are more precise, pain-less, faster, and safer. Due to the laser’s to cauterize the tissue on-contact, it minimizes post-operative infection risk, thereby allowing for faster healing and recovery.
Myth #2: Lip & Tongue Ties are Harmless
Untreated lip and tongue ties may seem harmless, but they can actually have noticeable impacts on a child’s overall health and development. For babies, lip and tongue ties can make it more difficult to nurse, leading to difficulty gaining weight and gastrointestinal issues like colic. When children with lip and tongue ties get older, they may experience speech impairments, airway problems that may lead to choking or gagging, and even sleep issues. For these reasons, it is recommended that children with more moderate to severe lip and tongue ties receive treatment.
Myth #3: Lip & Tongue Ties Can Be Corrected with Time
Some people are under the impression that over time, lip and tongue ties can resolve themselves. While in some cases they can become less severe with time, lip and tongue ties can still impact a child developmentally for the reasons listed above. So, while more mild cases may have less of an impact on your baby’s day-to-day life, as a teen or adult, the condition will still continue to affect their overall health and wellbeing.
Myth #4: Speech Therapy is the Only Treatment for Lip & Tongue Ties
Speech impairments are associated with lip and tongue ties, but speech issues associated with this condition cannot always be treated with only traditional speech therapy. Less range of motion of your child’s lips and tongue can make it harder for them to create certain sounds, as they may not be able to put their tongue in the proper place or manipulate their lips due to their oral restrictions. In these cases, one of the best and only ways to address this situation is with a frenectomy first, and then proceed with speech therapy after to improve and re-establish good oral function.
About the Author
Dr. Vani Takiar (Agent T) is an experienced, board-certified pediatric dentist and graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, as well as a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She’s dedicated to keeping up-to-date with the latest advancements in her field and has received her Standard Proficiency Certification in laser dentistry from the Academy of Laser Dentistry, allowing her to provide safe and pain-free laser frenectomies. To schedule an appointment, visit Tooth Clues’ website or call 571-799-0559.