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Tongue Tie & Lip Tie
Tongue tie refers to a condition in which the lingual frenum (the cord that connects the tongue with the floor of the mouth) is too short and restricts tongue movement.
A lip tie occurs when the membranes in the frenulum (the piece of tissue that is directly behind the upper lip) are too thick, keeping the upper lip from moving as it should. Lip ties can occur on the upper and/or the lower lip.
Many infants are born with tongue tie and/or lip tie, which if left untreated, can lead to other issues as the child matures -
Mouth/Abnormal Breathing: Children who mouth breath are much more prone to developing facial imbalances as well as orthodontic, muscular-skeletal, and postural problems. They tend to have narrower and smaller jaws, longer faces, smaller airways, poor posture and muscle function. These make them more prone to sleep apnea and snoring as children, and also later in life. Mouth breathing is bad for airway health, leading to more colds, upper respiratory infections, ear infections and asthma. Success in the treatment of children with speech, feeding, sleep, attention, behavior and learning issues can be completely dependent on the correction of mouth breathing.
Difficulties chewing and swallowing: Limited tongue mobility can lead to a toddler having difficulty chewing and swallowing solids foods. Parents may find it difficult to introduce new foods into their baby's diet and this can negatively impact the child's nutrition and growth.
Oral Health Problems: The presentation of oral health problems varies depending on the child. Some patients may experience an increased risk of cavities and poor dental hygiene due to restricted lateral tongue movement. The child may not be able to move their tongue towards outer surfaces of the teeth to clean food off. Another possible issue faced by children with tongue tie is the inability of their tongue to elevate and contact the palate, which can cause the palate to widen laterally over time leading to narrow facial structure and a higher arched, narrow palate as they mature.
