Tongue-Ties and Frenectomies

By Elizabeth "Andie" Shin, DDS

Bethesda Chevy Chase Pediatric Dentistry

. https://bccpediatricdentistry.com/

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Tongue-Ties and Frenectomies

Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition present at birth that restricts the tongue’s range of motion.

With tongue-tie, an unusually short, thick or tight band of tissue (lingual frenulum) tethers the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth, so it may interfere with breast-feeding. Someone who has tongue-tie might have difficulty sticking out his or her tongue. Tongue-tie can also affect the way a child eats, speaks and swallows.

Sometimes tongue-tie may not cause problems. Some cases may require a simple surgical procedure for correction.

Symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of tongue-tie include:

• Difficulty lifting the tongue to the upper teeth or moving the tongue from side to side
• Trouble sticking out the tongue past the lower front teeth
• A tongue that appears notched or heart shaped when stuck out

Causes:

Typically, the lingual frenulum separates before birth, allowing the tongue free range of motion. With tongue-tie, the lingual frenulum remains attached to the bottom of the tongue. Why this happens is largely unknown, although some cases of tongue-tie have been associated with certain genetic factors. 

When To See a Doctor:

• Your baby has signs of tongue-tie that cause problems, such as having trouble breast-feeding
• A speech-language pathologist thinks your child’s speech is affected by tongue-tie
• Your older child complains of tongue problems that interfere with eating, speaking or reaching the back teeth
• You’re bothered by your own symptoms of tongue-tie

Risk Factors:

Although tongue-tie can affect anyone, it’s more common in boys than girls. Tongue-tie sometimes runs in families.