When someone is “tongue-tied,” it usually means they have difficulty articulating their thoughts. But for some children and infants, being tongue-tied is an actual medical condition they were born with that can cause issues with eating, pain, cavities, or even speech problems.
The problem stems from the frenum, also known as the lip tie or tongue tie, a soft band of tissue connecting the lips, cheek, and tongue to the jawbone.
“Usually, this thicker tissue is found above your two front teeth, connecting the top lip, or beneath the tongue,” explains Dr. Leva Sabet, a pediatric dentist at Summerville Pediatric Dentistry. “Sometimes, children are born with thicker than normal frenum, which can prevent proper function.”
Common Signs and Symptoms
There are many signs Dr. Leva warns parents to watch for. These can include breastfeeding issues, speech issues, difficulty sleeping and eating, and even issues with brushing teeth.
“They may struggle with swallowing certain foods, leading to prolonged mealtimes as well as choking, gagging, and spitting food out,” said Dr. Leva. “They may also struggle to transition from breastfeeding or bottle feeding due to issues with solid foods.”
At nighttime, if your child resists brushing their top teeth, grinds their teeth, or snores, a tongue-tie could be the culprit. “A lip tie can be very uncomfortable for a child when lifting the upper lip, becoming a food trap and obstacle when brushing,” she said. “In normal anatomy, the tongue should rest forward on the roof of the mouth during sleep. A tongue tie can cause the tongue to fall backward in the throat during sleep, leading to airway obstruction. This incorrect positioning can lead to teeth grinding, snoring, or sleep-disordered breathing. Such disordered breathing can lead to bed-wetting, restlessness, or frequent waking at night.”
Take a good look at your child’s tongue for even more telltale signs. If they can’t stick their tongue out or their tongue is heart-shaped, it could be an issue. “Spacing between baby teeth is ideal, but an upper lip tie can lead to esthetic concerns for some in the permanent teeth,” said Dr. Leva.
Easy, Painless Procedure
The good news is that tongue tie is a common condition among newborns (affecting approximately 5%) and can be corrected with a simple procedure known as a frenectomy. Summerville Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics is the only pediatric practice in Charleston that has the Solea Co2 Laser, which allows them to correct the tongue-tie with minimal discomfort, no swelling, and little to no bleeding. And here’s the better news for the little ones: no needles, incisions, or sedation are necessary. This machine also reduces the risk of infection and other complications.
“It’s changed the entire game on how we do dentistry,” said Dr. Leva
“This means children can get right back to school after their appointments without worrying about long-lasting numbness,” said Dr. Leva. “In eliminating the need for anesthesia-related injections, in addition to shorter procedure in-chair time, the laser significantly improves our young patients’ experiences in our office. However, we will only do the procedure if the frenum is causing direct functional issues, not only cosmetic reasons, unless working in conjunction with an orthodontist.”
Working with Parents Post-Op
The crucial part of this corrective procedure is the recovery period. Parents are given exercises to do with the child at home post-op to ensure the procedure’s success. The exercises are demonstrated in the office so that they can be performed at home the recommended “three weeks, three times a day for three seconds.”
“It’s all about us being a team with the parents,” said Dr. Leva. “Parents doing the exercises at home is the biggest key to success.”
Frenectomy Patient Testimonial
Sabet noted that post-procedure, parents reported significant improvements in the child, including more mobility in the tongue and less picky eating. One parent shared her child’s exciting progress that immediately followed his procedure.
“My two sons go to Summerville Pediatric Dentistry. My one-year-old went and saw Dr. Leva, and she discovered he had a lip tie. She mentioned that they can do a simple laser procedure to remove the lip tie and improve some functions that he was having trouble with. I opted to proceed with the procedure. Let me tell you that it was the best decision I could have made. It only took about 2 minutes to do the procedure. Although my son didn’t like it very much, he only cried like 2 seconds after it was done. When we got to the car I gave him a sippy cup that had a straw. He could not drink out of a straw at this point but it was all I had with me. When I gave it to him, he drank out of it like he had been doing it all his life. He even started talking more that day. The results that I saw immediately after the Laser procedure were amazing. I would recommend it to anyone whose child has a lip tie. Get it done. Thank you, Dr. Leva, for being the best.”
If your child meets the criteria or if you’re concerned your child is struggling with these issues, contact Summerville Pediatric Dentistry today for a consultation.