As a new parent, you have a lot on your mind. From babywearing to feeding techniques and other concerns, there’s a lot to learn. But what if your baby is having difficulty feeding at all? That could be a sign of lip/tongue tie in Eugene. Don’t worry — the conditions is not uncommon in babies. If it is fixed right at birth, the child does not experience the adverse effects of a tight frenum, like difficulty latching onto the nipple, poor nutrition, and slow development. But if the lip or tongue tie is not treated right away, it may be a while before the issue is identified.
If your baby is having trouble breastfeeding, it’s time to find out out whether treatment for lip or tongue tie could fix the problem. Dr. Ben A. Sutter performs frenectomies at For Beautiful Smiles.
What Is Lip/Tongue Tie?
A frenum is a bit of tissue that keeps a two parts of the body from getting too far away from each other, like connecting the tongue or the lips to the mouth. It’s an important role — but if a frenum on the lip or tongue is too tight, it restricts movement and makes eating difficult for a baby. Left untreated, lip/tongue tie can cause delayed development, difficulty speaking, orthodontic issues, low self-esteem, and other problems in older children.
Some signs of lip and tongue tie for the baby include:
- Difficulty latching on
- Colicy or gassy baby
- Falling asleep while trying to feed
- Chewing on or gumming the nipple during feeding
- Frequent waking/feeding cycles, like every two to three hours
In the feeding mother, lip or tongue tie may be experienced as:
- Painful or sore nipples
- Chafed or blanched nipples
- Oversupply
- Drainage
- Frustration
- Depression or anxiety
What Is the Treatment for Lip/Tongue Tie?
To fix lip or tongue tie, Dr. Stutter can perform a frenectomy with the precision of our soft tissue laser. If the baby is treated before they are nine months old, the frenectomy is a quick, easy procedure. After nine months, general anesthesia may be needed — and Dr. Stutter may refer out to an oral surgeon to ensure you and your baby receive the very best care.
We can use a topical anesthetic to minimize discomfort. Nerve development below the tongue is slight, anyway, so your baby won’t feel much here. Then, using our LightScalpel CO2 laser, your dentist can cleanly and precisely cut away the excess tissue, allowing the lip or tongue to move freely during feedings. Surgeries performed with our soft tissue laser minimize bleeding and discomfort for a quicker, more comfortable recovery. Babies are usually able to nurse right away after the frenectomy! That’s a fantastic reward for the mother, too.
Request an Appointment Today!
Is your baby having difficulty feeding as a result of tongue or lip tie in Eugene? Don’t live another day with the frustration of difficult feedings — get in touch with the dentist who performs frenectomies right away! Contact For Beautiful Smiles to schedule an appointment today.