Tongue Tie In Kids - How To Get Rid Of It?

Tongue tie is a common term used for ankyloglossia. The problem is generally seen in children. In this type of problem, the tongue of the children remains attached to the bottom of the mouth. Children suffering from tongue tie experience trouble in speech and breastfeeding.

Tongue tie is generally a congenital condition. The condition occurs when the lingual frenulum (tissue) attached to the tongue and bottom of the mouth is shorter than normal. This will restrict the mobility of the tongue. The problem generally varies from mild to chronic depending upon the length of the lingual frenulum.

Causes

Tongue tie is generally a genetic problem and occurs when the embryo is growing in the womb.  It happens due to the shortness of lingual frenulum tissue. This will fuse the floor of the mouth and tongue.

Symptoms

Some of the common symptoms of tongue tie for infants include:

• Difficulty in latching during breastfeeding

• Extended Breastfeeding

• Constant hunger

• Difficulty in gaining weight

• A clicking sound during feeding

Some of the common symptoms of tongue tie for younger children include:

• Speech impairments

• Swallowing difficulties

• Trouble in moving the tongue from one side to another

• Trouble in licking

• Problems in playing a wind musical instrument

• Difficulty in sticking out the tongue

• Difficulty in kissing

How to Manage Tongue Tie?

In cases where the problem is not severe, both young children and infants did not experience any noticeable symptoms. There is no problem with swallowing, breastfeeding, or speaking. Hence, these types of cases may not require any type of treatment.

However, if your child is facing difficulty in breastfeeding, immediate attention is required. The doctor may also advise opting for a surgical procedure. The surgical procedure includes cutting the lingual frenulum.

The process is generally performed without sedation in the clinic. Infants usually do not feel any pain during the process. However, adults or young children may be given general anesthesia or pain killers before the procedure.

There are two types of surgical procedure:

• Frenotomy: Frenotomy is a simple surgical procedure. This can be performed with or without general anesthesia in the clinic or hospital. In this process, the doctor checks the lingual frenulum, uses sterile scissors to cut, and set it free. It is a quick and minimally invasive process which cause less discomfort and pain.

• Frenuloplasty: It is an extensive surgical procedure and may advisable when there is an additional requirement to repair the lingual frenulum, in case if it is too thick and frenotomy is not working. This procedure is generally executed under anesthesia.

Take Away

As discussed, earlier tongue tie affects both breastfeeding and speech, there are several treatments to deal with this problem including surgical method. However, it is always advisable to consult experience and skilled surgeons.