What is a tongue tie? – Tongue Tie Correction East Delhi
Tongue tie or ankyloglossia is a congenital condition with restricted tongue movement. It most commonly affects newborns and young adults. Since it is a hereditary condition, it has been present since birth; one can not prevent it, but you can treat it with a simple surgery.
The thin fold of tissue that connects the tongue with the floor of the mouth is called the lingual frenum. In cases of tongue tie, this frenum is small that restricts tongue movement leading to impaired speech and problems with breastfeeding.
Types of tongue tie – Tongue Tie Correction East Delhi
There are two types of tongue ties depending on the location:
Anterior tongue tie
It is the type in which the frenum in the front is attached to the tip of the tongue and just behind the teeth and gums. It is the more common type of tongue tie than the posterior type. Anterior ankyloglossia is more accessible to detect and diagnose than the posterior one.
Posterior tongue tie
The lingual frenum fold is attached further back, where the root of the tongue meets the floor of the mouth. It is more challenging to diagnose than anterior tongue tie.
Causes of tongue tie – Tongue Tie Correction East Delhi
It is a developmental condition and affects up to 10 percent of newborn babies. During the developmental stages, the tongue and floor of the mouth fuse together, and the band of tissue connecting them shrinks over time. In cases of ankyloglossia, this band remains thick, restricting tongue movement. Tongue Tie Correction East Delhi aims at freeing the tongue by releasing this wide band.
Symptoms of tongue-tie – Tongue Tie Correction East Delhi
- Difficulty in breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding for an extended period
- Difficulty latching out of breastfeeding
- The trouble with weight gain
- Malnourished child
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Difficulty pronouncing words that require tongue movement
- Difficulty swallowing
- Insufficient tongue movement
- Difficulty licking the ice cream or playing any wind instrument
- In adults, it may lead to tongue-thrusting and even mouth breathing
- It is important to note that all the symptoms mentioned above may not always be present in every case. Hence the proper diagnosis of the condition is vital for better treatment planning.
Surgery for tongue tie – Tongue Tie Correction East Delhi
- The most common surgery for correcting tongue ties is frenectomy or frenotomy. The procedure aims at splitting the lingual frenum. It is an entirely painless procedure that causes no discomfort to the infant. In most cases where the tongue tie does not cause any impairment or difficulty in breastfeeding, it is unnecessary to perform the surgery.
- The surgery is carried out under anesthesia, so the child has no pain or discomfort. Like any other surgical procedure, some associated risks include bleeding, scarring, and salivary gland duct damage. However, when performed by expert oral surgeons, there are hardly any complications in any tongue tie correction procedure.
- If the parent decides against the surgery, there are risks associated with it, like impaired speech and malnourishment due to improper feeding.
- Hence it is crucial to diagnose and get your timely intervention done to avoid any complications in the future.
