What happens if a child is tongue tied?

What is tongue-tie in children? Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a problem with the tongue that is present from birth. It causes speech and eating problems in some children. The frenulum of the tongue is a small fold of tissue that reaches from the floor of the mouth to the underside of the tongue.

At what age can tongue-tie be corrected?

Tongue-tie can improve on its own by the age of two or three years. Severe cases of tongue-tie can be treated by cutting the tissue under the tongue (the frenum). This is called a frenectomy.

Do tongue ties need to be fixed?

If necessary, tongue-tie can be treated with a surgical cut to release the frenulum (frenotomy). If additional repair is needed or the lingual frenulum is too thick for a frenotomy, a more extensive procedure known as a frenuloplasty might be an option.

Can children grow out of tongue-tie?

The condition may not cause any problem, and the tightness may subside as the baby grows. If tongue-tie is left alone, babies can often grow out of it as their mouth develops. However, some cases of tongue-tie may require surgery for correction.

What happens if you don’t fix tongue-tie?

If tongue-tie persists without treatment into adulthood, it can result in even more consequences including: Clicking or popping jaws. Jaw pain.

Does a tongue-tie affect speech?

Tongue-tie will not affect a child’s ability to learn speech and will not cause speech delay, but it may cause issues with articulation, or the way the words are pronounced.

What happens if you don’t cut a tongue-tie?

Some of the problems that can occur when tongue tie is left untreated include the following: Oral health problems: These can occur in older children who still have tongue tie. This condition makes it harder to keep teeth clean, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum problems.

What does tongue-tie look like?

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.

Is a tongue-tie a birth defect?

Tongue-tie is a birth defect that occurs when the strip of skin (lingual frenulum) that connects an infant’s tongue to the floor of the mouth is shorter than usual. Typically, this strip of skin separates before birth, which allows the tongue free range of motion.

Why are tongue ties bad?

A tongue-tie can diminish a person’s ability to brush food debris off their teeth, and to swallow completely. An inability to keep the mouth clean can result in tooth decay, gum inflammation (gingivitis), and other oral problems.

Can tongue-tie cause problems later in life?

It isn’t something that can develop later on in life. Infants with tongue-tie experience issues breastfeeding, which can lead to a failure to thrive, among other problems. Breastfeeding difficulties often can be linked to the presence of a tongue-tie in the baby.

What happens if you don’t get a tongue-tie fixed?

Risks of Tongue Tie Some of the problems that can occur when tongue tie is left untreated include the following: Oral health problems: These can occur in older children who still have tongue tie. This condition makes it harder to keep teeth clean, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum problems.