A tether of tissue connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. This little piece of tissue is called the lingual frenulum, and it’s very important to your infant’s oral function. But when the lingual frenulum is too short or thick to allow free movement of the tongue, an infant may develop tongue-tie, also known as ankyloglossia.

A tight frenulum can interfere with breastfeeding by restricting the flow of milk, and it can impede speech development and cause problems with oral hygiene. Fortunately, an easy procedure can eliminate this problem and help your child thrive.

While most people associate dental procedures with treatment of teeth, positive oral health can only be achieved when the hard and soft tissue of the mouth work together. This is especially important for infants, who require a healthy tongue and lips to latch, speak, and maintain a good oral environment for growth and development.

Navigating Tongue and Lip Release

Babies who have a lip or tongue tie are often unable to properly latch on to breastfeed, and this can lead to nutritional deficiencies and stress for the mother and baby. If left untreated, tongue and lip ties can impact your child’s oral and overall health as they grow up, including problems with speech development, eating, and even breathing.

Fortunately, an easy procedure can eliminate the symptoms of tongue and lip tie, and it’s becoming more popular among pediatric dentist in Hamilton and lactation consultants. A tongue-tie release is a surgical procedure that removes the lingual frenulum so that your infant can extend their tongue freely and latch on to breastfeed. This procedure is also referred to as a frenulotomy or a lingual frenectomy.

A tongue-tie release is often recommended when an infant has trouble with breastfeeding, and a full evaluation will help determine whether the condition warrants treatment. A lactation consultant or infant feeding expert can conduct a thorough assessment of breastfeeding, maternal comfort and the tongue’s mobility to determine if a tongue-tie release is required.

A tongue-tie release can be performed quickly and easily using a laser, and there is very little pain involved. Some babies are uncomfortable at first because of the touch of a finger inside their mouth, but they usually settle down very soon after treatment begins. Some babies can eat immediately after a tongue-tie release, but others will need to wait for some time before they can nurse successfully. During this time, it’s a good idea to have an IBCLC or lactation expert assist with the nursing process and provide supportive care for the mother and baby. It’s also important to work with a bodyworker, which is a skilled practitioner who can use gentle manipulation to address muscular and skeletal issues that may have been caused by the birthing process or tongue-tie.