TONGUE TIE & LIP TIE

Tongue tie is also known as “Ankyloglossia”

• Tongue tie is a tight string of tissue under the tongue that can prevent the tongue from functioning properly.
• Ideal tongue function and tongue rest posture initiates proper growth and development of dental arches and airway development.
• There has to be a functional limitation and anatomical finding under the tongue to meet the criteria for a tongue tie release.

How to identify the Presence of Tongue-tie during Breastfeeding:

Mother’s symptoms

• Painful nursing
• Poor latch
• Bleeding nipples
• Poor breast drainage
• Nipple thrush
• Using nipple shield
• Feeling like feeding the baby is a full-time job

Tongue tie baby’s issues:

• Poor latch at breast or bottle
• Falls asleep during feeding
• Reflux symptoms
• Gassy burps
• Poor weight gain
• Biting/chewing the nipple
• Short sleep episodes
• Mouth breathing, snoring, noisy breathing

Symptoms of Tongue tie in toddlers:

• Gagging, choking with textured food.
• Inability to use straw cups for liquids
• Picky eater, slow eater
• Pouching food on one side
• Unilateral chewing
• Poor weight gain
• Delayed speech
• Food in feces

Symptoms of tongue tie in children:

• History of bottle/pacifier use
• Difficulty in brushing upper front teeth
• Difficulty in pronouncing specific letters like T, D, Z, S
• Spacing in between upper front teeth
• Teeth grinding
• Mouth breathing
• Restless sleep posture
• Constipation
• Cavities
• Malocclusion
• Neck tension and pain (hyperextended neck)
• Moodiness and behaviour issues
• Hyperactivity and cognitive problems

When swallowing is impaired and the elevation of the tongue is restricted, the eustachian tube cannot open and equalize the pressure in the middle ear normally.

Lip Tie:

• Lip tie can contribute to nursing difficulties for the baby and can make breastfeeding painful.
• Lip tie shape is highly variable, but main factor is the impact on function.
• Lip tie and Tongue tie cannot be diagnosed with a picture.
• Untreated lip tie may contribute to mouth breathing habit eventually.
• Followed by cavities on the upper front teeth.