A lip- and/or tongue-tie is not uncommon among infants and young children. In fact, physicians have been performing frenectomies to release these thick bands of tissues for centuries. However, the trend of more mothers using formula to feed their babies caused the regular occurrence of the procedure to decline. Now with more women choosing to return to breastfeeding, many are seeking professional help when signs point to a lip- or tongue-tie. Read on to find out from a dentist in Cleveland what symptoms might indicate your baby needs a frenectomy to ensure complete oral function.
Why Frenectomies Are Becoming More Popular
It is not uncommon for a baby to be born with a lip- or tongue-tie. If the band of tissue located underneath the tongue or behind the upper lip is too thick or short so it is more difficult to move the lip or tongue freely, your child can encounter issues with breastfeeding, speaking, or even sleeping.
For centuries, doctors and even midwives performed frenectomies to allow a baby to successfully latch when nursing; however, as bottle-feeding became more popular, many women turned to this trusted alternative. The truth is that breastfeeding was viewed as inferior and tongue-ties were just one of the many reasons women were encouraged to forgo natural methods and instead opt for the bottle.
As most trends do, breastfeeding has reemerged as the preferred way to feed a baby with many women choosing to forgo the bottle until the child is older. As a result, dentists and physicians are seeing a rise in the number of frenectomies performed simply because the issues surrounding lip- and tongue-ties in regard to breastfeeding are occurring more frequently.
Breastfeeding Signs to Watch For
If you are a mother who is breastfeeding and begin to notice any of the following signs, it’s time to consider how a local lip- and tongue-tie specialist can help you and your baby:
- Latching issues
- Feeling depressed because of the difficulties you face when trying to breastfeed
- Difficulty getting your milk to flow successfully
- Swollen, red, and damaged nipples
- Developing blocked ducts or mastitis
- Increased pain while attempting to breastfeed
- Prolonged feedings resulting in a lack of or interrupted sleep
- Short feeding sessions that leave your baby constantly hungry
- Excessive fussiness
- Frequent spitting up due to swallowing a lot of air while feeding
When you start to notice these symptoms, don’t wait to seek treatment. A specialist can help improve the breastfeeding experience by safely treating your child’s lip- or tongue-tie.
About the Author
Dr. Andrea Csok completed Dr. Richard Baxter’s Tongue-Tie Academy course and gained a wealth of knowledge from it. She then attended the International Affiliation of Tongue-Tie Professionals Annual Conference to learn more and meet an array of providers who also deal with tethered oral tissues. Finding professionals with a similar passion for helping patients who suffer from these ailments was an unforgettable experience for her, and it encouraged Dr. Csok to establish her own network of providers to give patients the best possible outcomes. Also, both of her children were born with a lip-tie, while Dr. Csok had a posterior tongue-tie she self-diagnosed as an adult. If you need help with your baby’s lip- or tongue-tie, schedule an appointment on her website or call (216) 292-3600.