What is a Tongue Tie? A Parent's Guide

Tongue ties (ankyloglossia) are a common condition in newborns. Somewhere between 4% and 10% of babies are affected by tongue ties. In mild cases, tongue ties may not cause any issues at all. But if they're severe, tongue ties can interfere with breastfeeding, cause babies to have trouble gaining weight, and lead to long, difficult, painful feeding sessions for mothers.

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If you’re interested in learning more about tongue ties, how they happen, and what your options are for treating them, you’re in the right place. In this comprehensive guide from Cusp Dental Boutique, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about tongue ties, your treatment options, and so much more.

Understanding The Basics Of Tongue Ties

Also called “ankyloglossia,” a tongue tie occurs when your baby’s lingual frenulum is too thick, strong, or overdeveloped and prevents their tongue from moving properly. The lingual frenulum is the thin band of tissue that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. If you raise your tongue to the roof of your mouth and look in a mirror, you can see it running down the middle of your tongue.

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The lingual frenulum is a natural part of your baby’s mouth. But if it’s too thick, it may cause issues with your baby’s tongue mobility. They may not be able to move their tongue properly, which can cause serious issues with breastfeeding.

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Tongue ties should not be confused with lip ties. Lip ties affect the bands of tissue that connect the lips to the gums. While these are similar conditions and are often found together in babies, lip ties are a different condition than tongue ties. 

How Tongue Ties Affect Infants And Mothers

Tongue ties are not always easy to recognize, especially for first-time parents. If you think that your child may have a tongue tie, it’s best to consult with your pediatrician or your child’s pediatric dentist for a diagnosis. Not sure what to look for? Let’s discuss the signs and symptoms of tongue ties in both babies and in their mothers.

Recognizing the effects of tongue ties in babies

In the short term, tongue ties primarily interfere with your baby’s ability to achieve a deep latch on the breast when breastfeeding. You may notice issues like clicking while nursing, milk dribbling from their mouth, a poor overall latch, excessive colic (crying) when feeding, or your baby falling asleep during feeding sessions. Babies with tongue ties may also be more gassy, since they will swallow a lot of air while trying to feed.

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In the longer term, tongue ties make it harder for babies to get the nutrition they need. If your child has a tongue tie, they may start falling short of their weight targets based on their age, a condition known as “failure to thrive.”

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If left untreated, tongue ties are also associated with a variety of other oral health problems. In older children, tongue ties can cause speech impediments, raise the risk of mouth breathing, and even lead to oral development issues.

How tongue ties affect breastfeeding mothers

If you’re a breastfeeding mother and think your child might have tongue ties, there are a few things that you can look out for when you’re feeding your baby. You may experience nipple pain before and after feeding your child, as well as mastitis due to clogged milk ducts.

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You may also notice that your child needs long, extended feeding sessions to get enough milk, and may wake up more frequently in the night to be fed. This can cause a lot of stress, contribute to lack of sleep, and lead to lots of frustration for breastfeeding mothers.

The Importance Of Frenectomies For Tongue Ties

If your child has tongue ties, a frenectomy is the best way to treat their condition and restore their oral range of motion. This is a simple procedure that releases the tongue tie and allows your child to move their tongue properly. In turn, this leads to lots of benefits:

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• Your baby can latch and breastfeed effectively
• Mothers have to spend less time breastfeeding
• Fewer sleep interruptions for mothers and babies
• Avoid speech delays and impediments
• Improved chewing and swallowing when eating solid food
• Prevent oral development issues
• Better overall oral hygiene and oral health

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👉 Explore Frenectomy Services at Cusp Boutique Dental

The Frenectomy Procedure – Everything You Need To Know

A frenectomy is a simple procedure where your child’s tongue tie will be snipped to release it, restore their natural oral range of motion, and ensure that they can breastfeed properly once again. At Cusp Dental Boutique, Dr. Zaneta Hamlin uses laser dental tools to provide painless, fast, and stress-free frenectomies.

What to expect from laser frenectomy treatment

The entire process typically takes less than five minutes at Cusp Dental Boutique. First, Dr. Hamlin will set your baby in a comfortable chair and make sure they're not moving around. Depending on your baby’s age, you may need to hold them in your lap.

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Then, she will warm up a dental laser. Once the laser is warm enough, she will gently grab your child’s tongue, then use the laser to cut the frenulum. Then… that’s it! You’re all done. Laser frenectomies typically do not require numbing or stitches, and rarely cause bleeding. 

The benefits of laser frenectomies

Compared to traditional frenectomies that are done with surgical scissors or a scalpel, laser frenectomies have a lot of benefits. First, they're virtually painless. Because the laser is so hot, it immediately cauterizes (seals) nerve endings on contact. This means that numbing is usually not needed for a laser frenectomy.

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Similarly, the laser also seals blood vessels and sanitizes the treatment site since it’s so hot. This eliminates the need for postoperative stitches, and also reduces the risk of infections after a frenectomy. This also reduces the overall recovery time.

The importance of tongue tie exercises and aftercare

Once your child’s tongue tie has been released by Dr. Hamlin, your job as a parent is only beginning. As your child’s tongue heals, you will need to do some simple stretches and tongue exercises. These are necessary to make sure that your little one’s tongue will heal properly.

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If you don’t perform these exercises as directed by Dr. Hamlin, there’s a chance that their tongue could heal incorrectly, and their tongue tie could come back. This is known as “tongue tie reattachment.” 

Do Frenectomies Have Any Risks?

The risks of frenectomies are minimal, especially with laser dental tools. For example, laser dental tools dramatically reduce the risk of bleeding, damage to the tongue, and post-operative infections. While these complications can still happen, they are very rare.

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The biggest risk of a frenectomy is that your child’s tongue tie may become reattached and require another surgery. However, this typically only happens if you do not follow postoperative guidelines for aftercare, tongue exercises, and physical therapy. As long as you follow Dr. Hamlin’s instructions, the likelihood of tongue tie reattachment is very low.

How To Choose The Right Dentist For A Frenectomy

It’s best to look for a dentist who has lots of experience with pediatric frenectomies, and who has invested in laser dental tools to provide faster, simpler, and lower-risk treatment. The more experience your child’s dentist has, the better the outcome of their procedure will be.

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At Cusp Dental Boutique, Dr. Zaneta Hamlin has personal experience with tongue ties. Both of her daughters struggled with tongue ties, which is one of the reasons that Dr. Hamlin has undergone advanced training and investing in laser dental tools to provide advanced tongue tie treatment in Virginia Beach.

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Not only can she release your child’s tongue tie, but she can share tips, give you recommendations from her own experiences as both a mother and a dentist, and help guide you on your breastfeeding journey after your child’s frenectomy at Cusp Dental Boutique.

Answering Your FAQs About Tongue Ties

• What causes tongue ties? Tongue ties occur when the frenulum fails to separate properly from the tongue before birth. The exact cause of tongue ties is unknown, but is thought to be primarily genetic.

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• Are frenectomies painful for babies? No. Since we use laser tools at Cusp Dental Boutique, the process is virtually painless. Your child can even go back to nursing right away!

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• Can tongue ties affect speech? Yes. If left untreated, children with tongue ties may have trouble pronouncing certain sounds like “t” “d” “l” and “r.” 

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• Is a frenectomy safe for newborns? Yes. Dr. Hamlin is an expert in laser frenectomies, and can provide safe treatment for babies of all ages, including newborns.

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• Do all tongue ties need treatment? Not always. A very mild tongue tie may not cause any feeding problems or speech issues at all. If this is the case, treatment with a laser frenectomy may not be necessary. 

Come To Cusp Dental Boutique For Expert Tongue Tie Treatment

At Cusp Dental Boutique, Dr. Zaneta Hamlin is here to help parents get the expert care they need for tongue ties in Virginia Beach. She’s not just an expert in laser frenectomies, but has personal experience with tongue ties, which affected both of her infant daughters.

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If you’re looking for personalized guidance, expert care, and advanced laser frenectomies in Virginia Beach, look no further than Cusp Dental Boutique. Book your first visit online today, or give us a call at (757) 904-4347 to schedule your baby’s first consultation with Dr. Hamlin right away.

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