Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment – Pasadena, TX
Supporting Your Child’s Comfort and Long-Term Oral Health
Even small oral health issues can significantly impact a child’s future. Conditions like lip and tongue ties may seem minor, but they can affect important aspects of development, including breastfeeding, speech, and overall growth. Fortunately, Pasadena Family Dentistry is here to help! We offer lip and tongue tie treatment to resolve these concerns, ensuring your child can enjoy better comfort and improved oral health. To learn more, continue reading or call us today to schedule a consultation and give your child the care they need for a healthier smile.
How Do Lip and Tongue Ties Develop?
Lip and tongue ties occur when the tissues in a child’s mouth are too thick, short, or malformed. A lip tie happens when the tissue connecting the lips to the gums is overly tight, restricting movement. This can make it difficult for infants to breastfeed properly. A tongue tie occurs when the lingual frenulum, which connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is too short or thick, limiting the tongue’s mobility.
Common signs of lip or tongue ties in infants include difficulty latching during nursing, prolonged feeding sessions, frequent falling asleep while nursing, and issues like colic or reflux. Parents may also experience discomfort, such as pain while nursing, flattened or creased nipples, blisters, or even mastitis due to poor milk flow. Identifying and addressing these ties early can help both the infant and parent enjoy a more comfortable and successful feeding experience.
Why is it Important to Treat Lip & Tongue Ties?
When left untreated, lip and tongue ties can cause various developmental challenges for children, such as:
- Difficulty speaking or speech delays
- Digestive issues, such as acid reflux
- Breathing and airway problems
- Forward head and neck posture
- Teeth grinding (bruxism)
If you’re concerned that your child may have a lip or tongue tie, our team can evaluate their smile to assess the condition and its severity. From there, we’ll develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to their specific needs.
Lip & Tongue Tie Treatment
Our team typically performs a quick and straightforward procedure called a frenectomy. We’ll start with an initial consultation and a thorough evaluation of your child’s mouth to assess the mobility of their tongue and lips. If we determine that your child has a lip or tongue tie, we’ll develop a tailored treatment plan to release the tissue, improving their oral function and overall well-being. In many cases, we can even perform the frenectomy immediately after the examination!