Simply put, this is when the lingual frenulum (the piece of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth) is too short.
Ankyloglossia, more commonly known as a tongue-tie, can impact infant activities like sleeping, swallowing, or learning to speak, as well as causing mild to severe discomfort for the lactating parent during nursing sessions.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) tells us that symptoms of a tongue-tie in an infant can include one or more of the following:
Tongue ties may be diagnosed during any regular infant wellness exam or a scheduled appointment if your baby bear needs to be seen sooner. During the appointment, the provider will examine Baby’s lingual frenulum and ask questions about Baby’s feeding experiences.
There are a few treatment options for a tongue-tie. Which one we recommend will depend on the severity of the tongue-tie. Milder cases can be treated with exercises. In the case of a more severe tongue-tie, we may advise a frenectomy.
In this instance, a frenectomy is where the lingual frenulum is given a small snip. This is a short procedure we can complete in-clinic at Bear Creek Pediatrics for infants up to six months old.
As with any treatment or procedure, we will provide all the information you need to aid you in your decision. We want you to feel confident about your baby’s care plan.
The AAP reminds us that “up to 10% of the population has some form of tongue-tie.” So, while it is rare to have a tongue-tie, if you have any concerns at all, please contact us.