While not all babies develop colic, many do, and when it happens, parents are often left exhausted from caring for a little one who is crying non-stop. This unfortunate occurrence can cause individuals to feel helpless as they struggle to help their baby achieve relief. While there are many reasons colic can form, have you considered if your child’s lip or tongue-tie might be the culprit? Read on to find out if there is a connection and what can be done to improve the situation.
What Are the Common Symptoms of a Lip or Tongue-Tie?
When dealing with a baby’s lip or tongue-tie, you may be unaware of some of the more common symptoms. While it might seem that an improper latch is the only issue, there are actually other signs that can indicate restricted tissues are a problem, such as:
- Acid reflux
- Colic
- Poor weight gain
- Expresses frustration (fussiness) when attempting to nurse
- Longer feedings
How Can a Lip or Tongue-Tie Lead to Colic?
When a baby has a lip or tongue-tie, they struggle to latch, making the retrieval of milk difficult. As a result, your child will likely become frustrated and in the process, take in additional air, which then travels to the stomach and rests.
With excess air causing significant discomfort, your baby will begin to cry as well as bring their knees up toward the tummy. The added bloat within the stomach causes an uncomfortable feeling for your little one, which can lead to hours upon hours of continual crying.
What Can Be Done to Address the Problem?
For many babies who suffer from colic, the problem may not go away for months (up to 6). However, if a lip or tongue-tie is the culprit, it is possible that a trusted and experienced pediatric dentist can perform a frenectomy.
Many studies report that between 26-32.5% of all babies or children have a lip or tongue-tie, and it is estimated that 10-40% of babies suffer from colic.
By releasing these restricted tissues, especially those that may be posterior (tongue-ties), there is a chance that your baby’s colic will begin to lessen.
Using a soft tissue laser, the release of the tie(s) will allow the lip or tongue to enjoy a wide range of motion, which can immediately make nursing easier and more enjoyable for you and your little one. Not only can it reduce the amount of air they take in, but it’s also possible that they’ll be less fussy because of their ability to feed effectively.
Don’t let another sleepless night go by for you and your baby. Talk to your child’s pediatric dentist to find out if treating their lip or tongue-tie might help to reduce possible colic.
About the Authors
At Sprout Dentistry for Kids, Dr. Justin Chan and Dr. Sage Yoo are board-certified pediatric dentists who are fathers first. Understanding the uncertainty that can come with learning your child has a lip and/or tongue tie, they remain committed to providing honest, complete information to help parents like yourself make well-informed decisions about your child’s oral and overall health. Customizing treatment plans based on your little one’s specific needs, we will explain the process in its entirety in a way that is easy to understand and gives you greater peace of mind. Visit our website or call (469) 301-3212 to find out how we can better assist in improving your child’s dental health.