Tongue-Tie In Babies and Potential Treatment Areas
When a tissue under the tongue obstructs it from moving, then tongue-tie can occur. There are various little strings of tissue which are also known as Frenula can be found inside the cheek, underneath the tongue and near the back molar. After being born, there is no such importance of having Frenula but the tissues help the child in positioning the teeth.
If the lingual frenum under the tongue is short, then it can restrict the tongue movement. For instance, many people experience difficulties while licking around their lips. People can also face problems while pronouncing a certain word or eating. The doctors call this condition ankyloglossia. According to the researches, approx. 2% of babies suffer from this type of issues every year. If your baby is suffering from such problems, then you have to contact a specialist for TMJ treatment.
Reasons Behind Tongue-Tie
In general, two factors can be responsible in this case. Either the frenum is short in size and is attached to the tongue tip till now. Another factor is the shape of the tongue tip which is like a heart. The most puzzling this is that, it is not clear whether the problem is inherited or not.
Symptoms of Tongue-Tie
The tongue tip cannot touch the roof of the mouth.
Tongue can’t poke out past the lips.
May notice a gap between the front teeth in the lower jaw.
The patient cannot move the tongue sideways to the corners of the mouth.
Treatment Areas
What Is a Frenectomy?
In this procedure, doctors remove the frenulum by using a soft tissue laser. It is a traditional surgical process that is used for toddlers who suffer from feeding and speech problems.
Functional Frenuloplasty
In this procedure, the doctors do not remove the frenulum completely. They release a specific portion of the frenulum to give relief to the patient from such symptoms. During this process, the specialists determine the particular muscle fibers in the frenulum that lead to pain elsewhere in the body.
After releasing the tissues, the patient can get salvation from the pain and discomfort. Then, the patient may have to take a session with a doctor to improve the function of their tongue before and after the procedure.
Consult Your Physician
Many people face problems while eating food or communicating with others for this condition. To make your life far better and gain confidence, you can contact TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Oklahoma City. Their healthcare providers have a wealth of experience to solve other problems like TMD & sleep disorders in OKC.
**Disclaimer: The information on this page is not intended to be a doctor's advice, nor does it create any form of patient-doctor relationship.