{"id":48,"date":"2022-12-07T15:27:09","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T15:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.surfsupdental.com\/blog\/?p=48"},"modified":"2023-01-17T15:04:06","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T15:04:06","slug":"are-lip-and-tongue-ties-common","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.surfsupdental.com\/blog\/are-lip-and-tongue-ties-common\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Lip and Tongue Ties Common in Infants?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When bands of tissues behind the upper lip or underneath the tongue are restricted, it can create problems that leave you and your baby frustrated and unhappy. You may wonder, \u201cAre lip and tongue ties common<\/a>\u201d or are you alone in this fight? A local pediatric dentist is here to explain the history and why they seem more common than before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Lip and Tongue Tie: The Origins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dating back to the 1600s, many physicians addressed the problem of a lip or tongue tie. Using specialized instruments of the time, they released the banded tissue, which allowed the infant to move their lip and\/or tongue freely, resulting in improved nursing and oral function. While this may have been normal during this time in history, ideas, opinions, and practices changed over the centuries, making these ties less of a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time infant formula became popular on the market, more doctors began to encourage women to switch from breastfeeding to using store-bought products to feed their babies. As a result, fewer babies seemed to struggle with lip and tongue ties, resulting in a decrease in frenectomies \u2013 the procedure used to release the tie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as more research was completed, many women returned to natural nursing instead of looking to formula to feed their babies. Because of this shift, dentists see more and more babies experiencing issues because of a lip or tongue tie. But this does not mean that breastfeeding is bad or that it shouldn\u2019t be pursued. Instead, there is an easier and more reliable way to treat the problem without the use of a traditional scalpel and sutures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Modern-Day Frenectomies Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A frenectomy is a quick procedure that involves using a soft tissue laser to gently release the banded tissue behind the upper lip or underneath the tongue. Because the laser cauterizes the tissue, it is less likely to bleed or swell, and because it sterilizes along the way, it is unlikely for your little one to develop an infection afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Know if Your Child Needs a Frenectomy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, a baby with a lip or tongue tie will develop issues with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n