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Lip and tongue ties can affect people at every stage of life, but some of the most noticeable signs occur between the ages of one and three, or during the fun toddler years! This is because, as your child begins to eat solid foods, make different sounds, and communicate in new ways, lip and tongue ties can create some noticeable hiccups in their development. As a result, parents may bring their toddlers in for an examination, either with a pediatric dentist or their pediatrician, to see what could be causing their symptoms. Read on to learn more about lip and tongue ties and how they can uniquely impact toddlers.
What are Lip & Tongue Ties?
Lip and tongue ties can occur in a couple of different areas of the mouth but are the same issue. These issues occur when the frenum, which is a small band of tissue that connects the lips to the gums and the tongue to the floor of the mouth, are too long or thick. As a result, the tongue and lips become very limited in their movement, making nursing, sucking a pacifier, and speaking difficult and uncomfortable for toddlers.
Symptoms of Lip & Tongue Ties in Toddlers
To learn whether your child has a lip or tongue tie, they need to receive an evaluation from an expert like a pediatric dentist. This examination will be quick and completely painless, so it doesn’t require much investment other than calling to schedule the appointment! You can also look for the following symptoms to assess your child’s risk of having a lip or tongue tie, including:
- Colic or excessive gassiness that causes fussing.
- Difficulty nursing or taking a bottle.
- Slow to no weight gain.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- Speech delays.
- Strong and sensitive gag reflex.
- Food aversions.
- Sleeping with an open mouth.
How Can Lip & Tongue Ties Be Treated in Toddlers?
The treatment for either a lip or a tongue tie is called a frenectomy. This process is a fast and minor surgical procedure that’s used to free up the lips and tongue by removing the tissue that’s tethering them. Today, leading-edge providers use soft tissue lasers for safer and more precise treatments. This instrument vaporizes the area on-contact and cauterizes the tissue being operated on, minimizing bleeding and providing the most comfortable experience possible.
Following treatment, your pediatric dentist in Chicago will provide you with a list of stretches to complete at home to prevent the tissue from growing back, creating the same issue over again. These are easy to do, and if you ever have any concerns about whether you’re doing it correctly or not, you can always give them a call!
About the Practice
At Chicago Tongue-Tie Center, our team is led by Drs. Justin and Bindi, two experienced and knowledgeable pediatric dentists who specialize in working with infants and children. Using the latest technology, like the LightScalpel soft tissue laser, our team is able to provide the most comfortable and precise frenectomies possible for a more positive experience for both your toddler and you! To schedule a consultation, visit Chicago Tongue-Tie Center’s website or call 312-248-2455.