Tongue Tie
The tongue plays a central role in eating, drinking, sleeping, and breathing. Without a full range of motion, people with tongue tie often struggle to perform these functions. Dr. Fattah and the Scottsdale Family Smiles team is proud to specialize in corrective treatments for tongue tie in children and adults to help our patients achieve maximum mobility and a higher quality of life. Schedule an appointment at (480) 607-6937 today to learn more!
What Is Tongue Tie?
Tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, is a condition present at birth where the strip of skin beneath a baby’s tongue (called the lingual frenulum) is shorter than usual, restricting their range of motion. The lingual frenulum connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth and, in normal cases, should be long enough to let the tongue move freely. Tongue tie can significantly affect the movement of the tongue, potentially leading to various challenges, particularly during eating, drinking, and speech.
Tongue Tie In Children
Tongue tie is commonly identified during infancy, often when a baby has difficulty latching during breastfeeding. Despite being present from birth, the effects of tongue tie may become more apparent as a child grows and engages in activities that require increased tongue mobility.
- Impact on Oral Health: Limited tongue movement may prevent children from thoroughly cleaning their mouths, which can make it difficult to maintain proper oral health. This can cause issues such as cavities, gum disease, and other oral hygiene concerns.
- Speech Development Challenges: Beyond early stages of childhood, tongue tie can manifest in speech difficulties as children begin to articulate sounds and words. Speech impediments can impact a child’s communication skills and may influence their social interactions and self-esteem.
- Behavioral and Emotional Considerations: Children with untreated tongue tie may experience frustration and stress, particularly in situations where effective communication is crucial. This frustration can sometimes result in behavioral changes, as the child may struggle to express themselves verbally.
Symptoms of Tongue Tie
Tongue tie symptoms may vary depending on how severe the condition is. Common signs and symptoms include:
- Difficulty Breastfeeding: Infants may struggle to latch during breastfeeding, leading to nutritional deficits and excessive fussiness.
- Limited Tongue Movement: Reduced mobility of the tongue is especially noticeable when the child attempts to extend their tongue beyond the lips.
- Speech Difficulties: As children with tongue tie grow older, they may struggle to articulate certain sounds.
- Jaw and Head Pain: In addition to making it difficult to open the mouth fully, tongue tie can cause lower jaw protrusion, jaw joint pain, and migraine headaches.
- Oral Health Issues: Difficulty cleaning the teeth and mouth properly can lead to tooth decay, gum inflammation, and other oral hygiene challenges.
- Feeding Difficulties: Beyond breastfeeding, tongue tie can affect a child’s ability to eat certain foods, especially those requiring extensive tongue movement.
- Heightened Emotional Stress: Tongue tie can affect self-confidence, especially in social interactions and situations that involve verbal communication.
Tongue Tie Treatments
While physical therapy and speech therapy can help achieve improvement over time, many patients need surgical intervention as a frontline treatment. The procedure of choice is a frenuloplasty, a minimally invasive and outpatient procedure that enhances tongue mobility in patients with a restrictive lingual frenulum. During the procedure, Dr. Fattah will administer a localized numbing agent to the area before release. He will then release the tongue tie by making an incision in the lingual frenulum, then close the incision with absorbable sutures that will dissolve over time. The procedure is fast, relatively comfortable, and only needs a short recovery period.
Frenuloplasty is a highly successful procedure that offers several benefits for patients struggling with tongue tie, including:
- Improved tongue mobility
- Improved posture
- Improved sleep and breathing
- Reduced facial and cervical tension
- Easier eating and swallowing
- Unrestricted speech
- Reduce oral hygiene challenges
Scottdale Family Smiles also offers tongue tie release with the DEKA CO2 laser, a minimally invasive treatment that emits a CO2 laser beam to accurately cut the frenulum. The procedure is quick, often complete in a matter of minutes, providing immediate results once the tongue tie is released. By using an advanced CO2 laser, the DEKA CO2 minimizes scarring and promotes rapid healing. As a result, patients require fewer post-procedure tongue stretches, making the recovery process faster and easier.
Live Free From Tongue Tie
If you think you or your child may have tongue tie, schedule a free consultation today to learn about Dr. Fattah’s holistic approach to treatment. You’ll receive a customized treatment plan to help correct tongue tie and promote your overall long-term health.
