Should I remove my tongue-tie?

In some cases, tongue-tie doesn't cause too many problems, and a person may retain their tongue-tie into adulthood without correcting it. However, it's possible tongue-tie can present problems over the course of one's adult life.

Is it necessary to remove tongue-tie?

Treatment is not always needed, if your baby has tongue-tie but can feed without any problems. If their feeding is affected, treatment involves a simple procedure called tongue-tie division.

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

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.

What age is best for tongue-tie surgery?

This simple, quick procedure often is done without anesthesia in babies younger than 3 months old because the area has few nerve endings or blood vessels. It's safe to do this in an outpatient office setting.

How painful is tongue-tie surgery?

The entire procedure takes less than 15 seconds and does not require anesthesia. The frenulum is very thin and has few nerves, meaning there is very little pain associated with the procedure. Baby can breastfeed immediately after the procedure, and mothers often notice improvement with the first feed.

Tongue Tie Release Treatment

How long is recovery from tongue-tie surgery?

What's the recovery time for tongue-tie laser surgery? It takes about 2 weeks for your child's mouth to heal after a tongue-tie procedure. Laser tongue-tie surgery allows for a short recovery period. This is because the laser cauterizes the wound as it cuts.

Why are tongue-ties so common?

Tongue ties are being blamed on social media for a slew of woes affecting infants—from nipple pain to poor napping to speech issues—but many experts agree that the rise in diagnosis and treatment is being led by consumer demand rather than by hard science.

How much does it cost to get a tongue-tie cut?

How much does tongue-tie surgery for adults cost? The costs of a frenectomy or frenuloplasty vary depending on your healthcare provider, and whether or not you have insurance. You can expect to pay up to almost $10,000 if your insurance does not cover the procedure.

Does mild tongue-tie affect speech?

A Tongue Tie Rarely Limits Articulation

There is a common belief that in order to make all the sounds for speech, the tongue must have a wide range of mobility. This is not actually the case. Despite having a short or very tight frenulum, an individual can make all the sounds necessary for speech.

Does tongue-tie cause speech delay?

This can cause significant nipple pain and interfere with a baby's ability to get breast milk. Ultimately, poor breast-feeding can lead to inadequate nutrition and failure to thrive. Speech difficulties. Tongue-tie can interfere with the ability to make certain sounds — such as "t," "d," "z," "s," "th," "r" and "l."

Can a tongue-tie fix itself?

If left alone, the tongue-tie will often resolve itself on its own as the baby's mouth grows.

How often do tongue-ties reattach?

According to the limited research available, reattachment occurs in approximately 4% of frenotomy procedures. The frenotomy procedure involves dividing the frenulum tissue and leaving behind an open wound where the tongue meets the floor of the mouth.

Is tongue tied a birth defect?

Tongue-tie, also known as ankyloglossia, is a congenital condition (the child is born with it) in which a child's tongue remains attached to the bottom (floor) of his or her mouth. This happens when the thin strip of tissue (lingual frenulum) connecting the tongue and the floor of the mouth is shorter than normal.

Can a tongue-tie grow back?

Tongue ties don't “grow back”, but they may reattach if you aren't diligent about keeping up with post-surgery exercises.

Can tongue-tie cause behavior problems?

While there is no evidence that a tongue-tie can cause ADHD, an untreated tie can cause problems that lead to behaviors that mimic the disorder. At Newtown Dentistry, we are committed to ensuring the overall health and well-being of children. That includes treating oral issues that can contribute to health concerns.

Does insurance cover tongue-tie surgery?

Is tongue-tie covered by insurance? Often, insurance providers and plans will cover the cost of a frenotomy or a frenuloplasty.

What happens after tongue-tie release?

Many patients report muscle soreness under the chin and around the lip after the procedure. There can be slight swelling in the first few days. This is normal. Ibuprofen is the best medication for relief of pain and discomfort as it also helps with any inflammation.

Who cuts tongue-ties?

Normally a clip or snip is performed by a provider at the hospital or in the office (ENT or pediatrician), or while the child was put to sleep (it's not necessary to put kids to sleep for this procedure, but that's another topic).

Are too many babies getting tongue-tie surgery?

There are few risks to tongue-tie surgery, so many parents are eager to arrange for it — likely too many. Frenotomy is growing in popularity. From 1997 to 2012, the number of tongue-tie surgeries increased nearly ten-fold, according to a study from Johns Hopkins University researchers. This jump is likely unwarranted.

Do tongue-tie stretches hurt?

You will not make the surgical site bigger, or cause any damage when you stretch a tongue- or lip-tie revision. Most children fuss and do not particularly enjoy stretching, but it should not be excessively painful for the child.

How do you prevent a tongue-tie reattachment?

Keeping up with post-surgery exercises (also known as Active Wound Care or AWC) is one of the most important aspects of a tongue or lip tie release. These exercises are required for approximately four weeks after treatment, and they will ensure that the released tissue doesn't reattach during the rapid healing process.

What does a healed tongue-tie look like?

The wound will be “diamond-shaped” and will look like a hole in the beginning. This will change in a few days to a white/yellow colour. The wound can appear infected (see photo's) but this is the normal healing process.

What is a Class 3 tongue-tie?

Class III – Class 3 ties are closer to the base of the tongue and attach to the mid-tongue and the middle of the floor of the mouth. These ties are generally tighter and less elastic. Class IV – Class 4 ties are the MOST COMMONLY MISSED ties. The front and sides of the tongue elevate, but the mid tongue can not.

What does Tongue Tied look like?

Signs of tongue-tie

Here are some signs that your baby or child might have tongue-tie: The tip of your baby's tongue looks heart-shaped when their tongue sticks out. The tip of your baby's tongue can't reach the roof of their mouth or further than the edge of their lower lip. Your baby's tongue can't move sideways.

How common is tongue tied baby?

Tongue tie is common, affecting nearly 5 percent of all newborns. It is three times more common among boys than girls and frequently runs in families. Research has shown that a significant number of infants with breastfeeding problems have tongue tie, and that when corrected, those problems may eliminated.