Tongue tie in kids is the first issue parents can easily detect when babies can’t latch or when kids have difficulty eating or drinking. Every one in ten infants has this issue, leading to other tongue tie abnormalities in adults.
So, parents must know what tongue tie looks like to understand better and look for its signs and symptoms.
In this blog, we will share in detail what tongue ties are, how parents can easily detect tongue ties in their babies, and much more. Furthermore, Tongue Tie Phoenix has a team of professionals available to give you the best advice about treating it at an initial stage.
If you notice any signs of tongue-tie being a mother, contact us and let our professionals do their best.
Read: 5 Non-Surgical Tongue Tie (Frenectomy) Exercises For Babies
What is a Tongue Tie?
A tongue tie is a condition in which a band of tissue known as a frenulum connects the underside of the tongue with the mouth floor. It restricts tongue movement, leading to eating, drinking, and speaking disabilities. Usually, the tongue moves out past the lower lip but doesn’t reach the hard palate and upper teeth.
It is a severe condition that leads to specific difficulties in babies, such as latching, breastfeeding with clicking sounds, eating difficulty, and speech issues.
If parents know the signs and symptoms of tongue tie, a mother can easily detect the problem and consult lactation professionals.
What Does Tongue Tie Look Like?
If you are a new parent concerned if your baby’s tongue is tied, look at the shape of the tongue and other symptoms. If the tongue tip looks like a bit of heart, it shows your baby needs help.
Furthermore, you can check if your baby has a tongue tie or not through a number of signs, such as those given below:
Apart from these conditions, there are other signs and symptoms for the baby and the mother that can help the parents understand the situation entirely.
Normal Tongue Vs. Tongue Tie
Now, let’s compare regular tongue and tongue ties. In normal kids, there is no restricted movement or eating difficulties.
On the other hand, a tongue tie comes with a thickened or shortened frenulum that makes the movement of the tongue difficult in several conditions. Further, when the baby fails to latch, it hurts the mother and gradually reduces the baby’s weight.
Tongue Tie Conditions
There are several case scenarios in which different kids face tongue-tie issues. Sometimes, it’s evident in the early stages, and sometimes not.
Similarly, sometimes parents fail to detect it in the early stages, and due to negligence, when kids grow, they face difficulty after the teething. So, here we share a few case scenarios:
1: Tongue tie is obvious
The first scenario is when your child has a heart-shaped tongue that doesn’t stick out easily. Further, the tongue is short, and lifting it might have problems.
If your kid is conscious enough, ask your kid to lift the tongue and perform the test. If you can see a string attached near the top of the tongue, a restriction will likely affect your kid’s speaking and eating abilities.
Additionally, look for other signs during their regular conversation and meal times. Furthermore, look for dental health issues, as tongue tie can cause them. Consult an orthodontist or tongue tie specialist for this purpose.
2: Tongue tie is not so obvious
Sometimes, parents think that their child has some or all symptoms of tongue tie but fail to find a string attached to the mouth floor.
In such a case, there is a chance that the tongue tie is only 25% visible and 50% way back. Furthermore, a posterior tongue tie is less obvious and less easy to identify than an anterior tongue tie.
3: Tongue Tie Signs & Symptoms
In addition to the frenulum, some vital signs and symptoms confirm the presence of tongue tie. Many parents think tongue tie affects speech.
So, the answer is yes.
Regardless of the appearance under the tongue, the symptoms evident during speaking, eating, and sleep also count.
Moreover, the signs vary in infants, kids, and adults. Here are the potential signs in infants, mothers, kids, and adults.
Infant’s Tongue Tie Issues
Mother’s Issues
As infants and babies suffer from tongue ties, the symptoms are also evident for mothers. Here are a few signs that mothers must look into:
Child’s Issues
Some signs are revealed later if the tongue tie remains unnoticed in infants or early life stages. Here are some signs that parents must look into tongue tie children:
Additionally, tongue tie-in adults have several symptoms, including migraines, sleep difficulties, speech difficulties, fatigue, brain fog, stuttering, and mumbling. Negligence of parents or nursing staff can lead to complications for tongue-tied adults, which can be treated with a frenectomy.
So, new parents must look out for the signs and symptoms and check off a form like an infant assessment sheet while leaving the hospital with the baby for the first time.
4: Trust your mother’s instinct
Mothers always have a gut feeling associated with their kids. If you think something is “off,” 99% of the time, something is wrong.
So, be mindful and take your baby to a lactation consultant to understand what’s happening. Only a professional can help you in such a situation.
Further, for tongue-tied adults, we recommend talking to the dentist for an oral examination and asking them how they feel. These signs are ubiquitous but not typical; your kid needs attention.
Take away:
To sum up, contact us if you are concerned and confused about tongue ties in your kids as a new parent. Our tongue-tie professionals will happily serve you and recommend the best possible solutions.
FAQs
How do you know if your baby is tongue-tied?
A baby with a tongue tie may have a heart-shaped tongue that is thick and short. You may also notice that the baby is not lifting the tongue and may notice sound while feeding.
Will tongue-tie correct itself?
In early childhood, there is a chance that the frenulum loosens up, allowing the tongue tie to resolve on its own. It will give the child all the freedom while speaking and eating. À
At what age should a tongue-tie be cut?
The tongue tie in the baby is treated with a surgery that is known as a frenectomy. It is a simple procedure that the professionals recommend before 12 months. However, there is no tongue tie surgery limit, and treating them when they are old is possible.
How can I check tongue-tie at home?
If you are concerned about tongue ties in your kid, check if your baby’s tongue is attached to the floor of the mouth. Further, check if it looks like a thin web or membrane attached to the mouth’s bottom.
