What is Ankyloglossia (Tongue-tie)?
Anakyloglossia, or more commonly known as Tongue-tie, is a condition that restricts tongue range of motion. Babies are born with this condition; it cannot develop overtime.
Tongue-tie presents itself as an unusually short, thick, or tight band of tissue at the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth. This connective tissue is the thing that restricts motion and causes difficulty with breast-feeding, eating, sticking out their tongue, speaking, and swallowing. Sometimes tongue-tie causes no issues in a child, however this is uncommon. This condition can be easily corrected through a simple surgical procedure.
Signs and symptoms of Tongue-tie include:
- Difficulty lifting tongue to upper teeth or moving tongue from side to side
- Trouble sticking tongue past lower front teeth
- Tongue that appears notched or heart shaped when stuck out
- Difficulty with speech, development of a lisp
- Child is a picky eater
- Child drinks lots of water during meals
If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, consult a doctor or dentist to determine the next step to correcting the issue.
It is important to deal with the issue of Tongue-tie as it can negatively affect a baby’s oral development and health. Tongue-tie commonly leads to complications with breast-feeding which can then lead to inadequate nutrition, speech difficulties and lisp development, challenge with other oral activities, and poor oral hygiene.
If your child is suffering with the signs and symptoms of Tongue-tie, visit your doctor or dental professional. The issue can be resolved through a simple surgical procedure that results in relief of signs and symptoms of Tongue-tie and a healthier growth for your child. Pina Mazza, children dental hygienist, at Maple Dental Hygiene Care is trained in TOTS, recognizing tongue-tie issues. To get expert guidance from a dental hygienist in Vaughan, call us today at 410.835.5002 or visit the Maple dental Hygiene care website to book an appointment: https://www.mapledentalhygienecare.com/