Being a parent isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Although it’s incredibly rewarding, you may find yourself spending a lot of time worrying about whether your child is on track. Maybe your baby isn’t latching properly, or maybe they’re not speaking as clearly as they should. While it’s important to consider all the possible causes, one often-overlooked possibility is a lip or tongue tie.
This is when the small band of tissue that connects the lips or tongue to the rest of the mouth overdevelops. The tissue is called the frenulum, and if it’s designed to help aid movement of the mouth. However, if it’s too thick, it could restrict movement instead. Fortunately, a simple treatment called a frenectomy in Hamilton from your pediatric dentist could help. Here are the four most common signs that your little one may need a frenectomy.
1.) Trouble Eating or Breastfeeding
You may not think about it when you’re eating, but the movement of your lips and tongue play a key role in drinking and swallowing. Infants with a thick frenulum may have trouble swallowing and breastfeeding. If a baby is bottle-fed, difficulties eating may not become noticeable until they’re older, when they begin to have trouble directing food inside their mouths. Whether your child is struggling to breastfeed or eat solid foods, a lip or tongue tie could be to blame.
2.) Difficulty with Speech
A lip or tongue tie can also become noticeable when an infant starts to experiment with certain sounds. Of course, the lips and tongue play an essential role in forming words and speaking clearly. If their movement is restricted because of a lip or tongue tie, then clear speech can become challenging and frustrating. You’ll need to work with your pediatrician and your pediatric dentist to determine if your little one has a speech impairment from a thick frenulum or if they’re just a little late making certain sounds.
3.) Mouth Breathing
It’s only natural for children to breathe through their mouth after running around or having fun. However, if your child consistently breathes through their mouth, that may be a sign that they can’t fully bring their lips together. The over-developed frenulum may be preventing your child from comfortably closing their mouth and allowing them to breathe through their nose.
4.) Gum Recession
As an overly thick frenulum behind the upper or lower lips restricts movement, it builds up tension in the surrounding gum tissue. The constant pressure could potentially pull the gums away from the teeth, which is called gum recession. Minor gum recession isn’t typically something to be worried about, but left untreated it could lead to serious complications. If your child’s teeth appear longer than usual or you don’t see very much of their gum tissue when they smile, you should call your pediatric dentist right away.
Trust your instincts as a parent! The only way to know for sure whether your child needs a frenectomy or not is to take them to a pediatric dentist for evaluation. So if you notice any of the above signs, or if your child is showing any other unusual dental symptoms, it’s best to make an appointment.
About the Practice
At Hamilton Pediatric Dental Care, our team of three pediatric specialists is dedicated to helping growing smiles get the specialized dental care they deserve. Among the many services they offer is lip and tongue tie treatment. We perform frenectomies right here in our office with a state-of-the-art soft tissue laser. This advanced technology allows for faster, more precise, and more comfortable treatment, along with a far shorter and easier recovery period. To learn more about frenectomies, we can be reached online or at 1(905)525-8272.