Does your baby have a lip or tongue tie? These are problems that children are born with, and they can cause excessive baby fussiness, gas, lack of weight gain, and even a painful breastfeeding experience for yourself. Plus, tongue and lip tie can negatively impact their appearance. Will this problem go away on its own? Or, will your baby need treatment? Keep reading to learn the answer as well as how these problems can be treated.
What Is Tongue Tie?
A tongue tie is the most common condition out of the two. It’s a condition where the tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth restricts movement. While it may seem like an insignificant problem, tongue tie can lead to life altering issues like trouble eating and speaking, which is why treatment is almost always recommended. Tongue ties can sometimes go unnoticed, which is why you should keep these common warning signs in mind:
- Trouble latching on for breastfeeding
- Fatigue during nursing
- Slow weight gain
- Difficulty breathing during feeding
What Is Lip Tie?
A lip tie occurs when the piece of tissue that connects the upper lip to the gums is too thick or too short. The result is difficulty eating, affected appearance, and other problems that can occur with infants. While adults can have lip tie, it’s a condition that they’re born with.
Will These Problems Go Away on Their Own?
Tongue and lip ties can affect the development of your infant, and the only way to correct it is with surgery. Your dentist in Weatherford offers these services under the same roof as other routine dental treatments. If you notice a tongue or lip tie, schedule an appointment for your little one as soon as possible. These conditions can impact the way they eat, speak, grow, and develop, so it’s important to seek treatment as soon as it’s noticed.
The best news is that treatment is quick, painless, and easy. Your dentist uses a CO2 laser to cut through restrictive tissue to free the lip or tongue. You can resume breastfeeding right after the procedure, and this high-tech laser makes treatment for your infant trouble-free. The use of lasers in dentistry not only reduces pain, but it makes bleeding nonexistent and leads to incredibly accurate results.
Is your curiosity about tongue and lip ties satisfied? If these problems sound familiar, contact your dentist right away for a quick and easy surgery that can improve your little one’s quality of life.
About the Practice
At Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, we have a team of 3 expert dentists. Dr. Deborah Romack provides expert tongue and lip tie treatment under the same roof for quality and consistent treatment instead of sending you to an oral surgeon. If you have any questions, she can be reached through her website or by phone at (817) 594-3806.