Tongue Tie – What is it and how can it be treated?
- Advisor: Dr. Maria Murad
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Many nursing mothers will tell you their babies sometimes fall off the breast or have trouble latching. It could be that Mom and baby both need more practice with breastfeeding, or it could be that the infant has tongue tie. Tongue tie (ankyloglossia) is when the tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too short or thick and keeps the tongue from lifting up from the bottom of the mouth. This can make it hard for a baby to breastfeed and can later interfere with the child’s speech.
Tongue tie happens when babies are in the womb, so infants are born with it. The medical community doesn’t know exactly what causes it. The condition is rare—only occurring in about 4% to 8% of infants—and is more common in boys. It also tends to run in families.
How can I tell if my child has tongue tie.
Parents usually notice tongue tie when their baby has trouble breastfeeding. The baby may not latch well or may dribble or fall off the breast often. Babies with tongue tie also may not grow at the usual rate.
A nursing mother whose baby has tongue tie may have red, cracked nipples and experience pain while breastfeeding. And if the baby isn’t completely emptying the breast, the mother may develop inflammation of the breast (mastitis), which can lead to an infection.
If your baby isn’t breastfed, it can take longer to figure out that the child has tongue tie. In that case, it may show up as a speech impediment, where the child has trouble pronouncing words or sounds.
CO2 Laser Treatment option for tongue tie
In infants, tongue tie is treated by making a small cut to the tissue with a laser connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth (lingual frenulum). The procedure, called a laser frenotomy, allows the tongue to move more freely. This can be done in our office without anesthesia and with little or no bleeding.
Dr. Murad says that the younger children are when they have the procedure, the quicker they recover. She’s observed that newborns recover within about a minute of the procedure. She adds that parents may give the child acetaminophen, but it’s not usually necessary.
If you suspect your baby may have tongue tie give us a call or click on this post to request a consultation.
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