Could My Infant Have a Tongue-Tie?

Some children are born with a condition called a tongue-tie. The fancy term is ankyloglossia. This condition often becomes noticeable when the infant experiences problems with breastfeeding. However, if the baby has no problems with eating, a tongue-tie may go unnoticed until a later time. Usually, your pediatrician will notice a tongue-tie during your baby’s routine medical exam. For families located in central Florida, treatment may require a visit to your pediatric dentist in Seminole.

Symptoms of Infant Tongue-Tie

You may notice several symptoms if your infant has a tongue-tie. They include:

• Heart-shaped appearance of the tongue when extended
• Difficulty latching on when breastfeeding
• Difficulty moving the tongue, either in or out or from side to side

If a tongue-tie causes little problems for your newborn, it may go undetected until your child is old enough to speak. At this point, your child’s doctor or teacher may notice speech problems.

Is a Tongue-Tie Dangerous?

A tongue-tie is only dangerous if it prevents an infant from taking in the necessary nutrition. It happens because a small flap of skin, called the lingual frenulum, fails to separate before birth. Instead, it remains attached to the bottom of the tongue, greatly limiting its movement.

If your baby fails to gain weight in infancy, your pediatrician will check for a tongue-tie. The condition can then be corrected quite easily through procedures such as a frenotomy or frenuloplasty. These involve snipping the small flap of skin that ties the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. In some instances, an infant tongue-tie may correct on its own, without surgical intervention.

Treatment for Tongue-Tie in Seminole, FL

If your child is struggling with the symptoms of tongue-tie in Seminole, FL, Luce Tooth Pediatric Dentistry has solutions. Call today to schedule a consultation and routine dental exam.

At Luce Tooth Pediatric Dentistry, we specialize in working with children. Our team is highly experienced, friendly, and always ready to make you and your child feel at ease. Contact us today to set up an appointment.

Sources

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tongue-tie/symptoms-causes/syc-20378452#:~:text=Tongue%2Dtie%20(ankyloglossia)%20is%20a%20condition%20present%20at%20birth,may%20interfere%20with%20breast%2Dfeeding.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tongue-tie/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20378456