Lip tie happens when the thin membrane that connects the upper lip with the gum line and the palate gets thick and rigid. This limits the movement of the upper lip and makes it difficult for the baby to clasp the breast while feeding.
Problems with breastfeeding can result in poor nutrition and poor weight gain.
An untreated lip tie sometimes causes problems later in life, such as speech delay and dental issues.
This article is about how an untreated lip tie can cause problems in later life and how to correct it.
Lip Tie Symptoms
Difficulty in breastfeeding is the most common symptom of lip tie. Other common problems a baby with lip tie might face during breastfeeding are:
- Problem in breathing
- Inability to clasp the breast
- Feeling exhausted
- Little or no weight gain
- Producing a clicking sound
- Going to sleep during nursing
- Abdominal cramping and pain
Nursing mothers with babies having a lip tie have the following symptoms:
- Swollen, painful, and inflamed breasts after feeding
- Continuous breastfeeding causes fatigue as the baby does not seem to get full
- Pain during breastfeeding
- Obstruction of milk ducts, leading to mastitis.
Lip Tie Vs. Normal
Normally, a labial frenulum membrane connects the lip with the gum and the upper palate.
It is insignificant until there is a mouth ulcer or an infection. A maxillary labial frenulum does not always indicate a lip tie.
The problem occurs when the upper lip is restricted from moving as it is tight and rigid. Restricted movement of the upper lip gives rise to symptoms of a lip tie.
Your child has a normal labial frenulum if there are no issues with the mobility of the upper lip.
How To Diagnose Lip Ties in Kids?
If your child has a lip tie, consult a pediatric dentist, lactation consultant, or pediatrician for an appropriate diagnosis.
They would evaluate the baby’s breastfeeding behavior.
They might look for the following signs:
- Short episodes of feeding over a few hours, cluster feeding
- Difficulty in latching the breast while feeding
- Development of jaundice
- Vomiting out milk
- Making a clicking sound while feeding
- Insufficient weight gain
Furthermore, your child’s healthcare provider will physically examine the upper lip to look for a lip tie.
According to the severity of lip tie, they might specify it in one of the following stages:
- Stage I – Mucosal
- Stage II – Gingival
- Stage III – Papillary
- Stage IV – Papilla penetrating
How To Correct An Untreated Lip Tie?
You can use some techniques to loosen the rigid labial frenulum. This will make breastfeeding for your baby smooth and easy.
Gentle rubbing of the finger over the top of the lip helps gradually loosen the gap between the lip and the gum. Less severe forms of lip tie usually do not require a treatment.
Stage 3 and stage 4 lip ties require a lip tie surgery or labial frenotomy. Also, stage 1 and stage 2 lip ties accompanied by a tongue tie need frenotomy, also called frenectomy.
A frenectomy is carried out using a surgical scissor or laser without any anesthesia.
The pediatric dentist will cut off the labial frenulum to loosen the lip, causing little or no pain.
Your baby can continue normal feeding almost right after the frenectomy. Regularly stretch your child’s upper lip and avoid skin regeneration by sliding a finger over the area.
Read: What is Tongue Tie (Ankyloglossia) and its Levels
What Happens If You Don’t Fix A Lip Tie?
Although there are no severe complications of lip tie later in life, it adversely affects a baby’s oral health and feeding habits.
Untreated lip ties in toddlers also create difficulties in speech, such as speech delay.
Here are some dental and dietary problems common in kids with an untreated lip tie.
1- Dental problems
Toddlers with a lip tie are more susceptible to tooth decay.
This happens because the remains of food and milk remain confined behind the upper lip, causing bacterial growth and, ultimately, tooth decay.
Tooth decay is more common if you do not clean your kids’ teeth carefully and regularly.
In severe cases, lip ties may proceed to the upper palate, creating a gap between the front teeth.
Moreover, improper teeth cleaning can cause excessive bacterial growth, resulting in gums receding.
2- Feeding problems
According to the American Speech Language Hearing Association, upper lip ties in toddlers cause problems when spoon-feeding and eating other finger foods.
This can develop picky feeding habits among kids. Babies with lip ties only do not put on much weight when breastfeeding. They need additional nutrition from formula milk.
FAQs
Does A Lip Tie Need To Be Corrected?
Less severe forms of lip tie do not require any intervention. However, severe lip ties need correction, usually through a frenectomy.
Can You Leave A Lip Tie Alone?
Stage I and II lip ties are usually left alone without any correction. Nevertheless, stage III and IV lip ties need reversal. It is better to consult a pediatric dentist for advice on correcting the lip tie or leaving it alone.
Does A Lip Tie Cause Problems Later?
Lip tie seems trivial, but it can cause many dental issues and feeding problems in kids if not treated in time. Also, untreated lip tie in adults causes misalignment of teeth and receding of gums.
Final Words
An untreated lip tie can make nursing painful and difficult for both the baby and the mother. Detecting a lip tie from your child’s feeding behavior and weight gain is easy.
While lip ties are easy to reverse, they can cause many problems in later life if left unchecked.
Consult our experts for tongue and lip tie treatment as soon as possible to ensure oral health and prevent future complications.
