Sometimes, babies are born with a condition where their tongue is stuck to the bottom of their mouth. This condition is noticeable at the time of birth and impacts the otherwise regular functions of the mouth.
Mothers can track this condition due to failed breastfeeding attempts. This can often make them question the right age for their child to get tongue-tie surgery.
According to the specialists at Tongue Tie Phenonix, tongue-tie surgeries do not have an age limit. Your child can get them anytime.
Experience the advantages of laser tongue-tie surgery at TongueTiePhoenix: faster recovery, no stitches, minimal bleeding, and precise treatment. Ideal for infants and ensures a smooth recovery process.
Let us explore what a tongue-tie is and why its treatment is essential.
Read: What Does A Tongue Tie Look Like in a Newborn?
What is Tongue-Tie?
Tongue tie is a congenital medical condition. In medical terminology, it is also known as ankyloglossia.
Ankyloglossia is the attachment of the tissue to the underside of the tongue’s floor. We all are born with a lingual frenum (the small tissue). But in some people, this tissue is either short or thick, connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth.
People can’t develop ankyloglossia after birth. Children are either born with it or not. It is possible that the person does not realize this condition in some conditions. However, it is rare and depends on the severity of the complication.
You do not have ankyloglossia if you can touch the roof of your mouth freely with your tongue. If not, then you might need this surgery.
What are the Causes of Ankyloglossia?
Ankyloglossa is a condition that does not have any apparent cause. Babies tend to have it during their birth. However, according to some doctors, ankyloglossia can be due to genetic issues. It is suspected to be passed down in families, possibly due to an X-linked inheritance pattern.
It can also be due to the abnormal development of the child’s oral cavity inside the mother’s womb.
Ankyloglossia can also be due to the traumatic injury to the tongue’s floor. But this is a rare occurrence.
What are the Symptoms of Tongue Ties in Children?
Some signs and symptoms can tell whether your baby is tongue-tied.
Suppose your baby is having issues during breastfeeding, such as latching on to the breast or sucking the nipple.
Moroever, tongue-tied babies also suffer from colic, are never complete, and require multiple sessions of breastfeeding.
Furthermore, the mother might also experience sore and tender breasts and a low lactation rate.
These conditions might be due to the baby suffering from ankyloglossia.
What are the Complications of Tongue Ties in Children?
We humans are born with a multitude of organs that help us to function daily. One such organ is the tongue. It is a significant part of our mouth and is responsible for many things.
Its free movement, ability to produce speech, and ability to maintain oral hygiene make it a fundamental organ. But if you cannot freely move your tongue, then there are numerous things you can’t do.
Here are some of the complications that children must endure if they have ankyloglossia.
What are the Treatments for Ankyloglossia?
Tongue-tie is released with a medical procedure – frenotomy. First, the doctor screens the patient. This screening helps to determine the severity of this condition.
A frenotomy is enough if the tissue is not thick and tightly attached. But if the tissue is too thick, then a frenuloplasty will occur.
What is the Optimal Age Limit for Getting Tongue-Tie Surgery?
Your tongue-tied baby can get the surgery at any stage, whether your baby is two years old, three years old, or five years old. Tongue-tie surgery is a safe procedure and does not harm the receiver.
Your child should get an early treatment. Because the more you delay the surgery, the more severe the complications will be. Therefore, a better practice is to get it as soon as possible.
What are the Perks of Getting Tongue-Tie Surgery?
It is pertinent for your baby to get this surgery. Some of the merits of tongue tie surgery are:
1- Improved Oral Health
When the tongue is not tied, it helps to break down the food efficiently. This, in turn, enhances the digestive actions of the foods, reducing the risk of oral cavities and tooth decay.
Babies suffering from tied tongues cannot move their tongues in the mouth freely. This causes bacterial buildup, which enhances the chances of plaques.
Free tongue movements ensure a clean sweep of these harmful bacteria – promoting better oral health.
2- Reduced Complications
Early detection and subsequent treatment reduce the risk of many health complications. A tied tongue causes breathing, swallowing, and speech difficulties when left untreated.
Therefore, an on-time surgery reduces all the complications, offering the person a better health journey.
3- Enhanced Speech
Children also suffer from speech impairments and poor word formation while dealing with ankyloglossia. Free tongue movements allow the baby to talk more confidently and avoid slurring.
Better control of the tongue movements also helps with speech articulation and effective pronunciation.
4- Better Breathing
As we have discussed earlier, tongue-tie causes breathing issues. When the connected tissue is thick, it restricts the airflow. Thus hindering the breathing process.
Getting rid of this tissue helps the person to breathe freely, allowing them to draw more air into the air cavity.
5- No More TMJ Pain
During ankyloglossia, the person suffers from reduced facial movements, resulting in jaw pains known as TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint).
Once released, the person feels more at ease and comfortable.
Reach out to Tongue Tie Phoneix for Better Treatment
In light of the above-built context, it is safe to say that your child can get a frenotomy at any stage of his life.
Make sure to get in touch with the pediatric dentists for your child’s thorough assessment. They will assess your child and will guide you accordingly.
