What exactly is Tongue Tie?
The common term for ankyloglossia is tongue-tie. In this condition, the tongue is literally “tied,” or tethered, to the floor of the mouth, inhibiting both speech and eating. A child is born with this condition. The tongue is one of the most important muscles involved in swallowing and speech. Without a free range of motion, these activities can be impaired. However, the severity of tongue-tie varies among children, so the condition may be detected early or late.
When to see a doctor if:
- Your baby has signs of tongue-tie that cause problems, such as having trouble breastfeeding
- A speech-language pathologist thinks your child’s speech is affected by tongue-tie
- Your older child complains of tongue problems that interfere with eating, speaking, breathing, or reaching the back teeth
- You’re bothered by your own symptoms of tongue-tie.
Tongue Tie Treatment in Coimbatore
‘Ankyloglossia’ also known as Tongue tie, is a congenital anomaly in which there is a short band of muscle tethering the tongue to the floor of the mouth causing restricted tongue movements. The decreased mobility of the tongue can affect the normal functions of the tongue, including swallowing, breathing, eating, and speech.
Lip tie is when a tight band of muscle tissue adheres the lip to the upper gum line. Both the ties could potentially lead to breastfeeding issues, alignment, and speech difficulties but, not limited to the above breastfeeding is successful when the tongue movements and the lip positions are in relation to the jaws.
However, there are other limiting factors that can hinder competent breastfeeding. Over the years, we are the best clinic for tongue tie release in Coimbatore, ur specialist has been able to establish and identify the impact and the effect of tongue ties and lip ties on breastfeeding.
Mothers lookout for help when they have been exhausted from the breastfeeding journey which has a physical and psychological effect on them. Breastfeeding difficulties are often projected on the mothers’ ability to feed the infant which has led to mild to severe compensatory mechanisms adapted by the infant.
Breastfeeding is considered crucial not just as a short-term gain for the infant as it isn’t just about the milk that the infant receives, it is the entire process of establishing the right tongue movements and functions. Babies who cannot feed off the breast normally step in for adaptations that have a long-term effect on them, even if breastfeeding is managed to be established.
Tongue ties and lip ties have a few varieties under them. Each type has an effect on normal functioning, if not at the infancy stage, in the long term. With the classic ties that can be diagnosed on visibility, there are ties that can be placed quite deep beneath the tongue that requires palpation to be diagnosed.
For mothers having trouble breastfeeding, it would be ideal to meet with a specialist who can rule out lactation concerns and then assess if there is any restriction that is hindering the process of breastfeeding. The functions of the oral cavity in relation to tongue tie and lip tie have mostly been restricted to speech difficulties, which undermines the long-term growth and health consequences.
Breastfeeding problems in relation to a tie may present with one or more of the following symptoms but not limited to these.
Mother’s symptoms:
- Painful latching
- Incomplete breast drainage after feeding
- Creased nipples
- Blanched nipples
- Bleeding nipples
- Mastitis/ Infected nipples
- Nipple Thrush
- Reduced milk supply
- State of mind: Anxious/Depressed
Infant’s symptoms:
- Prolonged latching/long feeding hours
- Unsettled after feed
- Short sleep duration
- Poor/ shallow latch
- Chewing onto nipples
- Reflux symptoms
- Colic symptoms/Gassiness
- Falls asleep during feeds
- Pulls body away from breast while feeding.
Toddler’s symptoms:
- Bruised (or) bleeding nipples
- Infected nipples / breast/mastitis
- Clicking sounds while feeding
- Short sleep episodes
- Food in feces
- Constipation
- Delayed speech
- Difficulty in brushing upper front teeth
- Gags easily
- The trouble with solids/chewing.
Children’s symptoms:
- History of difficulty in breastfeeding but not limited to the
symptoms mentioned above
- Speech difficulties
- No munching of foods
- Sluggish eater
- Frequent cold, cough & allergies
- Digestive problems – refluxes, colic
- Grinding teeth at night
- Restlessness & lack of attention over things
- Day time sleepiness
- Malaligned teeth
- Audible snoring/breathing at night.