A child with a lip-tie is born with the skin of their upper lip attached to the gums in a way that inhibits the way the lip moves and makes breastfeeding difficult. While many medical experts in the past have said that this issue usually resolves itself, today’s dentists recommend treating it early to prevent difficulties with day-to-day life later on. Here’s a quick overview of how lip ties are diagnosed, how they can affect your child’s life, and how they can be treated.
How Can Lip Ties Be Diagnosed?
If you suspect that your child has a lip tie, the best thing to do is to consult with a qualified expert such as a dentist who is trained to address lip and tongue ties. This medical professional will examine your baby’s mouth and ask you questions about breastfeeding behaviors and other related matters. In addition to inspecting inside the child’s upper lip, they will evaluate things like:
- How easily your baby latches on during breastfeeding. Clicking sounds can be signs of feeding difficulty.
- Spitting out or choking on milk.
- Feeding with unusual frequency, which is also called cluster feeding.
- Difficulty gaining weight or drawing milk during breastfeeding.
- Your child’s skin, as a slightly yellow color can be a sign of jaundice.
How Does a Lip Tie Affect a Child’s Life?
While breastfeeding issues can cause plenty of difficulty on their own, lip ties can cause other complications. If a child can’t breastfeed properly, they may not get enough nutrients to maintain their oral health, causing them to develop issues like plaque accumulation, tooth decay, and receding gums. In severe cases, a lip tie can even cause a gap to form between the front teeth.
As a child with a lip tie learns to feed autonomously, they may have problems with eating such as difficulty cleaning food off a spoon. They may also have trouble moving around food with their lip during chewing. Having problems with chewing certain foods can make a child into a picky eater.
How Are Lip Ties Corrected?
Your pediatric dentist can address a lip tie with a procedure called a frenectomy. While it counts as a surgical procedure, it is relatively simple and only takes a few minutes. The dentist will begin the procedure by using a local anesthetic to numb your child’s oral tissues before using a small and incredibly precise laser to loosen the piece of skin connecting the lip to the gums. Your child will be ready for breastfeeding immediately after the procedure, but older infants may need a little time to get used to latching on properly.
After the procedure, you will have to perform stretching exercises with your baby’s lip a few times a day as the tissue heals. This will prevent the troublesome skin from growing back together and ensure that your child can move their lip freely for the rest of their life.
About the Author
Dr. Matt Strumpf earned his dental degree at Midwestern University and completed his pediatric specialty training at the University of Illinois Chicago. He is a proud member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and has attended the American Laser Study Club Symposium. His office in Inver Grove Heights, MN offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry for kids as well as frenectomies. If you are concerned that your child has a lip tie, contact his office online or dial (651) 450-6111.