Tongue-Tie (Ankyloglossia): Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

If you worry that your baby is unable to nurse when being breastfed because they have tongue-tie, you need to contact the doctors at Foothills ENT for support in Greenville, SC.

What Is Tongue-Tie?

 Have you noticed your baby has trouble latching on to your breast during feeding sessions? Upon inspecting their mouth to check why that’s happening, you may see their tongue has an unusual appearance. To be more specific, you may find that your child’s tongue has a notch that restricts its movement.

What you’re looking at could be a case of tongue-tie. Pediatricians refer to that condition as ankyloglossia.

Ankyloglossia is caused by a short band of tissue attached to your child’s tongue. That band of tissue is known as the lingual frenulum. Ordinarily, the lingual frenulum detaches from the tip of the tongue before a child is born. However, there are cases where it remains and prevents the child’s tongue from moving normally.

Experts currently don’t know the exact cause of tongue-tie. Still, your child has a greater chance of being born with ankyloglossia if you have a family history of that condition.

Your child’s inability to move their tongue freely may cause issues with feeding and oral health. Kids with ankyloglossia may also have difficulty speaking.

Issues caused by tongue-tie can also affect nursing mothers. You may experience significant discomfort while feeding your baby because of it.

Address the issues caused by tongue-tie in Greenville, SC, by reaching out to the medical team at Foothills ENT.

What Are the Treatment Options for Tongue-Tie?

 Tongue-tie is a condition often caught early by pediatricians. They may alert you to the issue during your baby’s first checkup. You should know that the presence of a prominent lingual frenulum isn’t automatically an issue. Pediatricians may not pay much attention to the lingual frenulum if they determine that it won’t significantly affect tongue movement.

If treatment is necessary, your pediatrician may opt for breastfeeding changes. They may bring in a lactation consultant who can teach you about different breastfeeding positions, so your baby can latch properly.

Surgery may be required if changes to breastfeeding positions don’t improve your child’s feeding. The most common surgery for tongue-tie is known as frenotomy, which involves cutting the lingual frenulum. Frenotomies are simple procedures, and they rarely produce complications.

In some cases, a procedure known as frenuloplasty may be required to fix the tongue-tie. Frenuloplasty may be needed if the lingual frenulum is too thick to be snipped quickly.

Who to Call for Tongue-Tie

 Ensure quality health for your baby by visiting Foothills ENT in Greenville, SC, or call the team at (864) 234-7815.