Feeling tongue-tied?
The expression of being “tongue-tied” refers to a feeling of not being able to speak properly or find the ‘right’ words. In reality, a tongue-tie can cause quite a few other issues. The frenum, or ‘tie’, is a soft tissue that ties the tongue to the base of the mouth. There is also a frenum between the upper/lower lip and gums. The main purpose of a frenum is to give the lower and upper lip, as well as the tongue proper support and more stability in your mouth. The tissue can vary in thickness and length, causing issues for some people. We treat patients of all ages who are impacted by a tie.
Impacts of a tight frenum
There are several possible impacts of a tight frenum or pull. For infants, it can greatly impact their ability to nurse or take a bottle. While nursing they may be gulping air as well, leading to gassiness and general discomfort. They cannot latch properly so are not receiving all the nutrients needed, therefore wanting to feed more frequently.
Other negative impacts of a tight frenum can include:
- Developmental abnormalities in the mouth.
- Speech difficulties
- Mouth breathing and snoring, due to deformities in jaw development created by abnormal frenum growth
- Discomfort while swallowing.
- Disruption of normal development of the upper two front teeth, causing a gap
- Gum recession– pulling your gums away from a tooth and revealing the root.
- Possibility of a frenum tear
- The difficulty of fully stretching your tongue
A tie can change the way your teeth grow and can influence your oral health.
Solutions for a tongue or lip tie
If it is determined that a tie is impacting the health of a patient, then a frenectomy is performed. Dr. Dodds will use a laser for infant frenectomies, and often a combination of scalpel and laser on older patients. The thickness of the frenum will determine the best course of action. A frenectomy is a short procedure with a fairly quick recovery. It is important to stretch the tongue and/or lip following the procedure or the tissue will regrow.
For more information on ties and frenectomy procedures, please see our FAQ page.
