The Rise of Lip & Tongue Tie Treatments in Infants

No matter how many parenting books you read, you will inevitably run into a part of parenthood that leaves you stumped. For example, your child might have trouble latching on during breastfeeding due to a lip or tongue tie. Treatment for these issues has spiked in recent years, which has caused many parents to wonder if the condition is more prevalent now than it used to be. Read on to learn whether lip and tongue ties are core common than they once were and what to do if your child has one.

What Are Tongue and Lip Ties?

A tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, is a condition present at birth that restricts the tongue’s range of motion. A lip tie is when the skin of the upper lip connects to the gums in a way that limits lip movement. The tongue or lip is connected with a short, thick, or tight band of tissue called a lingual frenulum. It can interfere with breastfeeding and make it difficult to stick out one’s tongue, eat, speak, and swallow. This issue can resolve on its own for some children, but that’s not always the case. Tongue or lip ties often become evident when your little one has difficulty latching on while breastfeeding can’t say certain words clearly.

Why Are We Seeing More Tongue and Lip Ties Recently?

The cases of tongue and lip ties haven’t spiked, but the treatments for them have. One reason for his is because bottle-feeding infants was touted as the superior option for years prior, which lead a lot of mothers to wean their babies off breastfeeding sooner rather than later. Once breastfeeding became popular again, parents began to notice latching issues. Treatments have also come a long way and now utilize state-of-the-art technology. This allows for safer, more comfortable treatments than ever before.

Who Should You Talk to About Tongue or Lip Tie Treatments?

If your child exhibits any of the above symptoms that may suggest that they have a tongue or lip tie, contact their pediatric dentist to learn how to have it treated. During this appointment, your dentist will ask you to detail your concerns before taking a look at your child’s mouth. From there, they will determine what the next best steps should be and will explain your options in-depth to make sure that you have all the information you need to make the best decision for your little one.

Though children can go on to live healthy lives with a tongue or lip tie, contact their dentist so they can administer the treatment your little one needs. This will allow them to breastfeed, eat, and speak with ease!

About the Practice

New England Kids Pediatric Dentistry offers young patients quality oral health services so they can learn the best way to care for their smiles from an early age. They specialize in the health of young smiles and enjoy working with parents and children to maintain beautiful, healthy teeth. If your child has a tongue or lip tie, Dr. Reema Dhingra, Dr. Nidhi Agarwa, Dr. Golnaz Goodarzi, and their talented Auburn team can help remedy the issue so your little one can eat and speak more comfortably. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (508) 832-6278 or visit their website.