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Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment for Children – Lexington, MA

Freedom for Your Baby’s Smile

Infants that are unable to feed properly could have a lip or tongue tie. These conditions restrict the movement of their oral tissues. Babies with one of these problems may find it difficult to feed properly. Some parents are unfamiliar with these issues and as their child grows older, complications with speaking and chewing become more obvious. Fortunately, CO2 laser release is a procedure that uses a soft tissue laser to gently bring about freedom for your baby’s smile.

To learn more about laser lip and tongue tie release for infants and children in Lexington, read on below or call our friendly team of expert dentists at Lexington Smile Studio.

Why Lexington Smile Studio for Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment?

Highly Trained Dental Team
Advanced CO2 Soft Tissue Laser
Treatment for Patients of All Ages

How Do Lip and Tongue Ties Develop?

A tongue tie occurs when the lingual frenulum, which connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is too short or thick. A lip tie happens when the frenulum between the lip and gums is too short or thick. These issues can limit movement of the oral structures and lead to several complications.

Before birth, the frenulums should separate naturally. However, there are instances when they do not. The reason is unknown, but some researchers suggest it could be hereditary. Certain nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy may also play a role in the development of these conditions.

Here are some signs that your infant or child may have a lip or tongue tie:

Tongue movement difficulty, particularly from side to side.
Difficulty moving the tongue outward.
Infant appears to be gasping for air during feeding.
Infant falls asleep too soon while feeding.
Infant has gas and/or hiccups after feeding.
Weak latching or smacking sounds while feeding.
Infant uses gums to latch.
Oral blisters.
Low weight.
Gulping milk.
Inability to use a pacifier or preference for the bottle instead of breast.
Difficulty chewing food.
Delayed speech.
Lisp.
Oral health issues like tooth decay.
Slower speaking ability.
Neck, back, and/or jaw pain.
Migraines.

Why Is It Important to Treat Lip & Tongue Ties?

The lips and tongue are very important. They help babies and children to feed, learn to speak, maintain oral health, and live a quality life. Lip and tongue ties can restrict a growing child in the following ways:

Feeding – Infants naturally know how to suck for milk. However, the restraint of tongue tie makes sucking difficult for them. They have to force the action more, which causes stress and prevents them from consuming enough milk. Needless to say, your baby is losing nutrition and not developing as they should.

Speech – As your baby gets older and starts to learn words, lip or tongue tie will make speaking challenging. Some words will be difficult to pronounce, and your child will not speak clearly.

Oral Hygiene – Untreated tongue tie can cause issues like tooth decay and gum disease due to the lack of mobility. Your tongue naturally helps keep teeth clean. And when the tongue is positioned correctly, the teeth are more likely to develop correctly without gaps or spaces.

Overall Interference – As your baby grows into a wandering child and later an adult, they will have limitations. Enjoying lollipops, ice cream, public speaking, and romantic relationships may be challenging.

Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment

The best way to treat a lip or tongue tie in infants and children is via a minimally invasive surgical procedure known as a frenectomy. It takes just a few minutes. During this brief service, we use a CO2 laser to modify or remove the frenulum that is causing trouble for your child. The laser sterilizes the area and is surprisingly comfortable, so your child should have an easy treatment experience. Infants are encouraged to breastfeed immediately after a frenectomy.