Experience Relief With Tongue Tie Treatment

A common condition experienced by almost five percent of newborns, tongue tie occurs when a patient’s tongue is attached to the floor of their mouth via a shorter-than-normal strip of connecting tissue called the lingual frenulum. Tongue tie is frequently hereditary and is three times more likely to occur in boys than girls, and while it most often affects infants and small children, it can also be present in older children and adults.

What Symptoms Are Associated With Tongue Ties?

Symptoms vary but may include the following:

• A tongue that appears to have a heart shape or notch
• In infants, breastfeeding sessions are lengthy, latching is often difficult, and babies often struggle to gain weight
• In children, speech impairments and restless sleep are common, as are difficulties when licking ice cream, sticking the tongue out, and moving it freely around the mouth
• In adults, speech issues are common, as is clicking and pain in the jaws, migraine headaches, lower jaw protrusion, poor sleeping habits, and lacking dental health.

How Is The Condition Diagnosed?

Most often, a patient’s primary doctor, pediatrician, or a lactation consultant will diagnose the issue. It’s common that a dental expert will diagnose tongue tie in older children and adults.

How Is It Treated?

While not every instance of this condition will require treatment – many infants and children have tongue tie that does not interfere with their swallowing or speaking – in cases where intervention is necessary, we use advanced laser technology to gently remove the restriction.

The procedure is very quick, precise, and though sedation and/or anesthesia is not necessary, it’s available for patients who’d prefer to utilize it. Following treatment, babies are immediately returned to mom to nurse in most cases, while kids and adults recover quickly at home and under supervision. Patients will need to stretch/have their lips and tongue stretched to ensure the frenulum doesn’t reattach, and our dentist will advise you on how to perform these gentle exercises.

Do you suspect you or your child may be experiencing this condition? Call Beyond Dentistry for tongue tie support in Watertown, SD, today and we’d be happy to condggguct a thorough exam!