New parents always need clarification regarding the health of their babies. Some issues need immediate attention and treatment to avoid complications, such as lip tie problems later in life.
This article is for you if you are also a first-time parent inspecting every inch of your baby.
In this blog, we will share what a lip tie is and what problems it can cause later if left untreated. So, continue reading this blog to know more. Additionally, Tongue Tie Phoenix is the best pediatrician for infants, babies, and their parents to get expert professional advice regarding oral health and breastfeeding issues.
Read: How Lip Tie Makes Breastfeeding Challenging and Solutions?
What is a Lip Tie?
The lip is a condition in which the upper lip is attached to the upper gum part with the frenulum, which gets thick and stiff.
It makes it more challenging for the baby to latch as the infant fails to move their upper lip enough.
In addition, the baby’s struggle with nurturing also creates a painful experience for mothers.
If you are a new mom and have an uncomfortable feeding experience with your baby, make sure to book an appointment with a lactation consultant and pediatrician to look for the signs of lip or tongue tie. 1.
Read: The 411 on Lip Tie: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions
How to Diagnose Upper Lip Tie?
To treat the lip ties, it is important to diagnose them early to avoid any complications later in life.
Some basic signs and symptoms reveal that you need to consult a doctor. Here are the lip tie signs and symptoms that you must look into:
- Your baby’s inability to latch properly.
- Clicking sound during feeding.
- Milk spitting during the feed.
- Cluster feeding.
- Poor weight gain.
In addition to these signs, another significant sign is jaundice, a condition in which the baby’s skin turns slightly yellow.
A pediatrician can quickly diagnose the lip tie by looking at all these signs, which need quick treatment to prevent problems later in life.
What Problems Can You Face With Lip Tie in Later Stages of Life?
A pediatrician or orthodontist can usually quickly diagnose a lip tie. Only healthcare professionals in this field can evaluate the situation better and help you with the best treatment options.
Studies reveal that lip tie leads to tooth decay and many other issues 2.
Let’s get into detail about what other kinds of issues arise with non-treated lip ties:
1: Dental issues
Lip tie is a natural defect that, if neglected, results in many other dental issues, such as cavities and tooth decay.
Cavities on the chewing surfaces are seen in patients with lip or tongue ties.
This is because tongue ties don’t reflect the use of the tongue due to restricted movement and prevent the tongue from cleaning the sticky foods off the teeth’s surfaces.
2: Speech issues
Another major complication resulting from lip tying later in life is child speech development. Due to lip movement restriction, speech clarity gets affected, and kids don’t produce the correct speech sounds for words such as th, st, st, ch, gh, m/p/b, and more.
In such cases, lip surgery is the best treatment to clarify the voice in kids. So, if you notice any sound issues in your kids, make sure to get an assessment of their tongue and lip ties.
3: Sleep issues
Sleep apnea is a side effect of having lip tying or tongue tying. Kinds at such a young age fail to manage proper posture and tone of tongue muscles.
Teeth grinding, snoring, exhaustion, and behavioral changes are all connected with tongue and lip ties.
Sleep issues are common in infants and babies with lip tie as they are in the learning phase and take some time to adjust to the routine.
But any discomfort with any body part disturbs their sleeping pattern. So, parents must stay mindful of their kids’ health and look for ways to improve their sleeping schedule.
4: Gastrointestinal issues
Tongue and lip ties are associated with oral and gut health, as bacteria are prone to faster growth in these areas.
In kids, acidic reflux symptoms lead to long-term gastrointestinal issues that raise concerns for back molar health.
Excessive acidity can damage teeth in babies, and this reflux will often grind the back molars.
5: Orthodontic issues
Upper lip ties can cause significant gaps between front teeth. In addition, it also contributes to the alignment of upper teeth and lower jaw.
Leaving such issues untreated complicates the orthodontic issues and increases their damage to our teeth.
Moreover, it adds to other oral health issues as well, such as lousy breathing, misalignment, cavities, and more.
If these issues remain unresolved, additional orthodontics symptoms may damage the natural teeth and cause other ailments.
Final thoughts:
Lip ties are regular, but they are needed to resolve such issues early to prevent complications later in life.
With a professional’s proper assessment of teeth, it can be easily diagnosed and treated in time.
If you or your baby is experiencing any signs of tongue or lip tie, book an appointment with orthodontics to ensure your teeth are in good condition.
FAQs
Do lip ties cause problems later in life?
Yes, lip tie affects oral health, leading to bad breath, cavities, tooth decay, and others. In addition, it can also cause sleep apnea, latching issues, and speech issues.
What happens if you don’t fix your lip tie?
If the lip tie remains untreated, you may likely catch other alignments, such as gastrointestinal or speech issues. Moreover, it can also cause oral health problems.
What are the long-term effects of tongue-tie?
Long-term side effects of tongue tie include tooth decay, gums inflammation, cavities, lousy breathing, and other oral issues.
Can tongue-tie get worse with age?
Yes, the best recommendation is to treat tongue tie at an early age as with the following stages of life, it starts affecting other organs and systems of the body, including oral health and GUT health.
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