An infant is “tongue-tied” when their frenulum — that piece of tissue that connects her tongue to the bottom of her mouth — is so tight, thick or short that it restricts the tongue’s range of motion. While a tongue-tie is not itself a harmful medical condition, an infant with less than ideal tongue motion may have difficulty breastfeeding, maintaining their oral hygiene or learning to speak. In those cases, a tongue-tie procedure called a frenectomy involves cutting the frenulum to free the infant’s tongue.
What are the symptoms of tongue-tie?
Identifying a potential tongue-tie is usually the result of watching an infant’s behaviour. Parents who notice any of the following should get in touch with a tongue tie center in Tampa for advice, including about whether a frenectomy is warranted:
● Your infant may have a hard time sticking out her tongue
● She may have a hard time touching the roof of her mouth with her tongue
● Difficulty latching onto her nursing mother’s breast while breastfeeding
● If it seems like she has problems moving her tongue around her mouth
● If a “v-shaped” notch seems to show up at the end of her tongue
If you’re looking for a diagnostic test for tongue-tie, here’s a fun one: Can your infant lick an ice cream cone or lollipop easily? Or does some reduced range of motion make that licking motion difficult. If the latter is true, consulting with the staff at a tongue tie center near you is a good idea.
What happens during a frenectomy?
Parents of an infant undergoing a frenectomy can hold their child in their arms to keep her calm, comfortable and still during the procedure. Before the frenulum is cut, a topical anesthetic will be placed on the area to ensure your infant feels as little discomfort as possible. Once the area is numbed, a tongue tie specialist in Tampa will use a soft tissue laser to cut the frenulum in seconds with minimal bleeding and discomfort. In most situations, no stitches are necessary.
Ensuring the infant’s comfort after a frenectomy
An infant who has undergone a frenectomy will experience an increased range of tongue motion beginning immediately. She may nurse or feed as soon as she wishes after the procedure.
Any discomfort your infant daughter experiences during or after a frenectomy will dissipate after approximately 24 hours. (Older children who undergo a frenectomy will be pain-free after 48 hours.)
Infants derive a natural form of pain relief while breastfeeding and from skin-to-skin contact. Parents who are concerned that their infant may be experiencing pain and discomfort following a frenectomy can also use over-the-counter pain medication for the first 24 to 48 hours. Be sure to use painkillers precisely as directed and only after confirming the appropriate dose and medication for your infant.
If your infant bleeds after undergoing a frenectomy, simply apply direct (but gentle) pressure to the area until the bleeding stops. Don’t be surprised or alarmed if the area where the frenulum was cut looks yellow or white in colour. That does not indicate the presence of any infection, but is normal and will return to a healthy hue once your daughter recovers fully. Just how long full recovery will take varies from child to child, but the complete recovery period can be a matter of a few weeks.
No parent wants to consider subjecting their infant to a medical procedure. Tongue-tie is not necessarily a medical condition, and may only warrant treatment if it interferes with your daughter’s growth and development. In those situations, though, a tongue tie for a baby can immediately make things easier for your infant.