A lip or tongue-tie can lead to a variety of health complications such as difficulty breastfeeding, but many parents may not be aware of how these conditions can affect a baby’s ability to transition to eating solid foods. Thankfully, your pediatric dentist is trained and equipped to address this issue by removing the excess tissue that makes the basic movements of eating difficult. Here’s a brief guide to how your baby’s lip or tongue-tie may make learning to eat solid foods more difficult and how your family’s dentist can help.
What Is a Lip or Tongue-Tie?
A lip or tongue-tie happens when a child is born with excessively thick frenulum tissue attached to their lip or tongue, resulting movement restrictions that can make speaking and eating difficult later in life. This condition can cause much discomfort for the baby as well as the mother and can lead to a range of other health issues. For example, a baby with a lip or tongue-tie may have difficulty gaining weight due to difficulty feeding and while the mother may experience injuries when breastfeeding. Both may also experience sleep deprivation due to the distressed child crying at night.
How Can a Lip or Tongue Tie Affect My Child’s Ability to Transition to Solid Foods?
Due to the way a lip or tongue-tie restricts the movement of the jaw or tongue, a child with one of these conditions may experience a great deal of difficulty when learning to eat solid foods. It might be much harder for them to open wide enough to receive food easily, and the tongue may block food from being swallowed due being improperly anchored in the mouth. A child with one of these conditions will require the attention of a pediatric dentist to have the problem addressed safely and effectively.
How Can My Pediatric Dentist Help?
Lip and tongue-ties are fairly common problems, and dentists can address these issues with a minor procedure called a frenectomy. This treatment involves removing the excess tissue from the frenulum, thereby freeing the lip or tongue to move about the mouth normally.
Your dentist will administer a local anesthetic to ensure your child’s comfort during the process, and the procedure can be completed in a few minutes. Since many dentists today use soft tissue lasers for frenectomies, the process does not even involve much bleeding since the wound will be instantly sealed by the concentrated heat the tool produces.
Don’t let your child’s lip or tongue-tie stand in the way of their healthy development. Consulting with your dentist can help you find the best ways to ensure that your baby enjoys a lifetime of excellent oral health.
About the Author
Dr. Amar Singh earned his dental degree from Howard University College of Dentistry and is certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentists. He is proud to serve as a member of the American Dental Association, the Pennsylvania Dental Association, and the American Laser Study Club. His office in Southampton offers laser frenectomy services for lip and tongue-ties. If your child has a lip or tongue-tie, contact his practice online or dial (215) 874-3787.