Tongue and lip ties are now treatable with the surgery or treatment known as tongue tie release or frenectomy.
But, most parents have no idea what to expect after tongue tie release in adults and kids. There can be some limitations and preventive measures that kids and parents must know.
Moreover, there is a possibility that your kid may face some side effects.
This blog will share how to soothe a baby after tongue tie surgery with some post-surgery exercises and guidelines.
In addition, Tongue Tie Phoenix has a team of professionals who can always destress parents with worthy tips.
Book an appointment today, learn how to treat tongue ties, and tell if a tongue tie is reattached.
Read: What to Expect in Tongue Tie Revision Treatment in Babies?
What Can You Expect After Frenectomy?
Infants, kids, and children of young age find it challenging to eat and feed after the surgical tongue tie release treatment.
Following a frenectomy, the parents must expect that a baby may experience discomfort and a sore tongue for a couple of days.
Moreover, you can expect yellow or white skin at a surgical site, which is quite normal, and there is no need to worry at this stage. It may take several days to a week to return to normal tongue color.
Furthermore, the healing process is time-consuming and narrows the wounds after some days. So, the parents must have a week of recovery in their minds.
If parents notice redness or inflammation at the site, be sure to get in touch with the pediatrician or dentist immediately.
Read: What You Need to Know About Lip Tie Revision?
Pain & Discomfort Management After Treatment:
After surgery, some discomfort and irritability are inevitable for 24 to 48 hours. With the correct use of painkillers, the pain can be eased.
Here are a few tips that you must follow:
- Get an anesthetic such as Paracetamol for babies with a pediatrician consultation.
- Refer to the chemist for the correct dosage and timings.
- Ask for the post-tongue tie-release exercises to make your kid feel better.
Read: What Is the Difference Between a Tongue Tie and a Lip Tie?
Post Tongue Tie Care for Feeding Babies:
For feeding babies, having a tongue tie or lip tie can be very problematic as they can’t provide it properly and find latching difficult.
Research reveals that up to 11% of newborns are born with tongue ties, so the gynecologist and parents must watch for this right after birth.
However, mothers should follow professional s advice to aid their infants during nursing, such as:
- Breast or bottle feed can be given to the kid immediately after the surgery.
- Let your child explore newfound movements of the tongue for functional feeding.
- Swelling around the lips or tongue can cause difficulties initially, so mothers must be patient.
- Position your baby well to help them latch and feed rightly.
- If the child still has difficulty feeding, use a syringe, finger feeding, spoon or bottle.
- Make sure that mother and baby have lots of skin-to-skin contact.
Read: 5 Methods for Feeding Your Baby Affected by Tongue Tie
What Are the Recommended Tongue and Lip Stretching Exercises?
After the frenectomy, your baby will be able to move their tongue freely. But, in the initial days, the bay may face some challenges stretching their language.
Tongue exercises can come in handy in such situations and can assist your baby in retaining tongue movement and strengthening the tongue muscles.
Moreover, the exercise can minimize the scar formation at the wound site. Here are some activities that you must perform on your kid to help their lip and tongue heal faster:
- Move your fingers cautiously from side to side under your child’s top lip for a few minutes.
- Lift the tongue towards the roof of the mouth using your two fingers.
- Massage the sides of the incision softly to prevent the stiffening of tongue muscles.
You can also ask for more exercises from your pediatrician to help your baby’s tongue tie release recover quickly.
If you notice a baby refusing to feed after a tongue-tie snip, perform some exercises and see their behavior.
Read: Is Your Baby Struggling with Tongue Tie? Identify the Signs
Aftercare Tips for Baby Tongue Tie Release:
Any surgery is challenging for infants as their immune systems and muscles are weak. So, the mother must be well prepared to care for her child properly.
Here are some essential tips and tricks that can be helpful for mothers:
- Wash their hands well and keep their nails short.
- Perform post-frenectomy exercises before a meal.
- Remain relaxed and persistent while carrying out the activities.
- Do not expect immediate results, as recovery takes some time.
- Aftercare exercise must be 15-30 seconds long.
- Play a song or poem to keep your child calm.
- Consult a pediatrician if you notice the baby unsettled after a tongue-tie snip.
Wrapping Up:
No tongue tie surgery age limit exists, but the earlier, the better. If your kid has tongue or lip tie signs and symptoms, get the diagnosis and the treatment.
Expect some time in healing and recovery after surgery. Try to perform tongue-tie release exercises before feeding.
Follow the tips and tricks mentioned above to have a smooth surgery experience.
Read: 4 Effective Ways to Clean Newborn’s Tongue at Home
FAQs
How will my baby behave after tongue-tie release?
The babies are often unsettled for the first two or three days and need extra attention. After the surgery, you may notice a white patch that heals after 24 to 48 hours.
How long after tongue tie release does feeding improve?
The results come after one week or more. In some cases, when the recovery is faster, you can notice early improvement within one week, or it continues to improve through 1 month postoperatively.
How long does it take for a tongue-tie release to heal?
In infants, the recovery is fast as the baby is usually on feed immediately after the surgery.
In children of young age, it can take more time, three to five days, depending upon the condition of the wound site. Following the healthcare instructions can help heal the wound quickly.
Are babies very sleepy after tongue-tie release?
After the tongue tie release procedure, you may find your infant sleeping deeply. In some cases, parents may also notice less snoring, less waking, less movement, and better moods of the kid.
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