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Is your little one unable to latch and such properly? Does your baby feel pain and restlessness in chewing or licking? Does your toddler have trouble speaking small words, difficulty in touching the tip of the tongue to the upper teeth, or move to either side? If your answer is yes, then your little one is showing the signs of a tongue-tie. This is a very common issue among newborn babies and toddlers, yet parents find it difficult to find the root cause of the problem. Scroll along to know about the signs of a tongue tie and ways to treat the same.
Tongue-Tie, also known as Ankyloglossia is a condition that obstructs the tongue’s motion on all sides. The lingual frenulum, an unusually thick, tiny band of tissues, bridges the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth. Hence, the toddler finds it hard to stick out his tongue, speak, eat, and swallow. This is a serious issue that needs medical assistance immediately.
Generally, before the birth of the baby, in the womb itself, the lingual frenulum detaches and ensures the smooth movement of the tongue on all sides. Yet, the toddlers suffering from tongue tie have the lingual frenulum stuck to the bottom, restricting the free activities of the tongue. The presence of this lingual frenulum is the primary cause of tongue-tie in newborn babies and toddlers. Most parents are unable to find this problem in their children in the early stage.
The common symptoms and signs of a tongue-tie in children:
1. Problems in moving the tongue in all directions and touching all the teeth using the tongue.
2. The tongue looks heart-shaped when the baby brings it out to lick or eat.
3. Stammering and difficulty in talking.
4. Difficulty in bringing the tongue out along the lower jaw and teeth.
5. Issues with latching, sucking, and swallowing.
6. Loss of weight at the early stage of growth.
Most doctors diagnose the presence of lingual frenulum during the first and primitive examination of the newborn. Once diagnosed, the right medical treatment is prescribed immediately. In conditions, where the tongue tie continues even after the few weeks of birth, doctors would suggest surgery. There are two types of surgeries that are applied to treat the tongue tie in toddlers successfully and safely.
Two ways to treat tongue-tie in children:
1. Frenectomy
This is a surgical treatment that doctors perform with or without anesthesia. The doctor examines the lingual Frenulum and cuts the tissues and sets the free using sterile scissors. Minimal discomfort along with quick treatment is the benefit. This treatment rarely witnesses any complications.
2. Frenuloplasty
This treatment is adopted when the tissues are quite thick, and it is dreadful to cure through Frenectomy. This is an expensive as well as an extensive surgery and definitely requires general anesthesia. Post the surgery, the wound is closed with sutures, and slowly the tongue recovers. Oral infections, bleeding, and injury to salivary glands and organs are some of the common complications of this treatment. Most doctors recommend tongue exercises and speech therapy for post-surgery infant care.
Tongue-tie is a very common issue and thanks to the development of medical science, today, we have a treatment that is effective. So, pay attention closely to the physical development of your child and take necessary medical care if necessary. Nothing matters the most before the health of your little one.
