A lip tie is a defect that is present at birth. It occurs when the frenulum (piece of soft connective tissue) between the upper lip and the gums is too short or thick, resulting in restricted lip movements. Because this issue is fairly common and seemingly minor, it might be easy to ignore. However, a lip tie could negatively affect your infant in multiple ways! This blog post explains how that is true.
Breastfeeding Challenges
A lip tie can make it difficult for your infant to latch onto your breast, leading to discomfort for you as the mom and an inadequate amount of milk being transferred to your child. This may result in very frequent but short feeding sessions as well as issues like clogged milk ducts, painful nipples, and more.
Inadequate Weight Gain
Because of the feeding difficulties created by a lip tie, your infant might not be getting the nutrition they need. Therefore, they may gain weight slowly and be at risk for hindered overall growth.
Delays in Speech Development
If a lip tie is not properly addressed during infancy, it can continue to cause problems later on. Your child may be slow to learn how to speak and may struggle with certain sounds, particularly those that require movements of the upper lip.
Poor Dental Health
Limited lip movement may put your child at risk of dental problems. For example, their oral hygiene could be negatively affected, which in turn could contribute to a heightened risk of cavities. There may also be an increased risk of dental misalignment.
Social and Emotional Consequences
All of the abovementioned challenges can have a profound impact on your child’s social and emotional development. Feelings of low self-confidence and frustration may plague them as they grow up and struggle to fit in with their peers.
Treatment for Lip Ties
If your child has a lip tie, there is good news! Treating this issue is easy via a minimally invasive procedure known as a frenectomy, which modifies or removes the frenulum that is affecting the lip’s movement. Frenectomies can be performed very early in life, even when your child is just a few days old.
A successful frenectomy may prevent the problems listed in this blog post and set your child up for many years of healthy, happy smiles.
Meet the Practice
At Sprout Dentistry for Kids of McKinney, Drs. Justin Chan and Sage Yoo love to work with young smiles. They provide gentle and precise treatment for lip ties in infants and children. If you believe that your little one is struggling with this issue, our team is ready to evaluate the situation and recommend your next steps. To learn more or to request an appointment, contact us at 469-301-3212.