Is your child making clicking noises while breastfeeding or suffering from a painful latch?
These could be an indicator of lip tie. Lip tie is a common condition in which the membrane connecting your upper lip with your gums restricts normal lip movement.
The lip frenulum membrane or labial frenulum is too short that it limits the movement of the lip. Troubled lip movement is one of the leading causes of feeding difficulties in children.
But are all lip-ties the same? The answer is no.
The extent of being tied differs from person to person. That’s why there are various grades of lip-tieing. Depending on the lip-tie grading, the symptoms and treatment options may vary.
If your child suffers from any grade lip tie, you can consult the best specialists at Tongue Tie Phoenix for tongue and lip tie treatment.
What is a Lip Tie?
A lip tie is a tied lip that has restricted movement because of a problem with the frenulum membrane, which attaches the lip to the gum. The lip frenulum is the membrane or band of tissue that connects the lip to the gum tissue.
However, when the tissue band is too thick or short, it hinders the standard attachment and restricts the movement of your lip. The condition affects 4-10% of infants and results in feeding problems.
Children suffering from lip tie exhibit certain signs and symptoms while breastfeeding. Some of the common indicators of lip tie in infants and children are:
- Difficulty latching
- Clicking sounds while feeding
- Breast milk leakage from the mouth
- Breathing issue while trying to feed
- Slow or no weight gain
- Fatigue after breastfeeding
- Colic problem
The signs of lip-tie aren’t only limited to the child but also affect the mother. Breastfeeding is usually a painful experience for mothers because of lip-tie. Other than this, blocked ducts and sore and cracked nipples are also common among females.
Lip ties usually appear as feeding difficulty, but if not diagnosed and treated in time, it may lead to speech problems in children later. Also, children with lip-tie suffer from dental health problems because of poor oral hygiene.
Read: Lip Tie Vs Normal Labial: What’s the Difference?
Lip Tie Grading
As discussed earlier, not all lip-ties are the same. There are different levels of lip tie according to the severity of the condition.
The level of lip tie also changes its severity and related effects. Lip tie is classified into the following four classes based on its severity:
Level 1 Tie – Mucosal
Level 1 lip-tie is the least severe and rarest of them all. In this case, the lip frenulum attachment occurs where the gum’s topmost tissue meets the lip.
Level 2 Tie – Gingival
The next level of lip-tie is Gingival or level-2 attachment. Unlike level 1 attachment, this level of lip tie is more severe.
Level 2 lip-tie is when the frenulum membrane is attached to the gums. The attachment with the gingival part is strong enough to cause the hindrance.
Level 3 Tie – Papillary
The next level of lip tie is papillary lip tie. In this case, the frenulum membrane is attached to the gum tissue between the front teeth. It is relatively more complex than the previous levels and causes more problems.
Level 4 Tie – Papilla Penetrating
As the name suggests, this lip-tie type is because of the attachment of the frenulum membrane deeper into the gum. The frenulum membrane attachment even extends beyond the gums, reaching the roof of the mouth.
Level 4 lip-ties cause severe feeding difficulties in children. This is the most severe type of lip-tie and requires immediate treatment.
Treatment of Different Levels of Lip Tie
A variety of treatments are available to overcome the problem of lip tie. However, not all lip-ties require treatment. Based on its severity, the treatment options for the condition also vary.
The following are the best treatments for different levels of lip-ties.
Level 1
Level 1 lip-tie is the rarest and least severe of them all. The effects of level-1 lip tie are not pronounced. Generally, level 1 lip ties require no intervention and are not treated.
Level 2
Just like level-1 ties, level-2 ties are also not severe. In most cases, no pacific treatment is required for this. However, your doctor may suggest getting the therapy if it hinders normal feeding behavior.
Level 3 and Level 4
Both levels 3 and 4 are severe cases of lip-tie and affect normal tongue movement. If your child exhibits lip-tie symptoms while breastfeeding, then your lactation specialist may refer the child to an oral surgeon for treatment. In the case of levels 3 and 4, a frenectomy is the standard treatment option.
Read: How to Fix and Avoid Complications of Untreated Lip Tie
Lip Tie and Frenectomy
Frenectomy is the oral surgical procedure during which your surgeon releases the attachment point of the frenulum membrane.
Once they release the membrane, the lip tie problem is resolved as it restores normal lip movement. However, the procedure of using a lip tie is surrounded by myths, and many people fear it.
Unlike the popular belief, frenectomy is an entirely safe procedure and offers immediate results. The procedure can cause mild discomfort, but surgeons usually prefer using anesthesia to ensure the patient’s convenience.
The procedure requires a few minutes to complete but may take up to several weeks for healing. For fast recovery after frenectomy, make sure to follow your physician’s instructions thoroughly.
Now, there is a modified form of frenectomy known as laser frenectomy. Laser frenectomy is a non-invasive procedure, and unlike conventional frenectomy, it uses a laser beam to fix the frenulum attachment problem.
Using lasers not only makes it safe but also a painless procedure. You can visit Tongue Tie Phoenix for consultation and laser frenectomy procedures.
Read: Does a Frenectomy Hurt? Symptoms, Advantages, and Recovery
Bottom Line
Lip tie is a common problem in children and infants that hinders normal lip movement, leading to feeding difficulties. Different lip attachments determine the severity of the condition.
However, the condition is quite a treatment, and several available options restore normal lip movement in your child. Nowadays, modern procedures like laser frenectomy offer the safest solution for severe lip tie problems.
