Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz CA
A tongue tie is a common condition apparent at birth that results in the underside of the tongue being tethered to the floor of the mouth, restricting the tongue’s movement. There are different degrees of tongue ties and some result in more severe symptoms than lesser classes of tongue ties. However, regardless of how mild a tongue tie may be, it’s never a good idea to ignore it. Today on our newest blog, our Scotts Valley dentists at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry explain the problem with tongue ties and how we can help remedy this oral condition.
Tongue Tie Symptoms
Tongue tie symptoms can start as early as birth when a baby has trouble latching, fails to thrive, is colic, or has reflux issues. A nursing mother may also experience low milk supply, sore or tender breasts, and mastitis or breast infections from plugged ducts. Unfortunately, this makes a nursing mother feel defeated if she is unable to continue breastfeeding her baby.
Left untreated, these issues manifest into problems for children such as speech impediments, difficulty concentrating or attention issues, narrow airways, inhibited jaw growth, dental alignment issues, and more. Parents become frustrated because their child may be a picky eater or seem ill-mannered because they chew with their mouth open, showing their food. Kids with tongue ties may experience bullying as other children make fun of them for mispronouncing certain words or letter sounds or have severely misaligned jaws that cause their upper teeth to jet too far forward. Consequently, if these issues never resolve, adults with untreated tongue ties may exhibit mouth breathing, sleep apnea, fatigue, and an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease due to a lack of proper airflow and poor sleep quality that leads to chronic systemic inflammation, a precursor to these common diseases in adults. Adults with a lifelong tongue tie may also develop TMJ disorder and chronic migraines.
How does a tongue tie form?
You are either born with a tongue tie or you’re not. It’s not something that you can develop as you age. However, the impact of an untreated tongue tie begins at birth and can last your entire life. The best way to tell if you or your child has a tongue tie is to undergo a consultation at our Scott’s Valley dental practice, Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry. Through a simple assessment, we can determine if you have a tongue tie, and explain your treatment options.
What can be done about tongue ties?
Tongue tie treatment is available in Scotts Valley for ages 0-99. The procedure is quick and painless, although children and adults may receive a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area prior to releasing the tongue tie. Our laser dentist can release the tongue tie using a precise dental laser that cauterizes the oral tissue as it releases the restriction under the tongue. We use a laser to release tongue ties because it results in less discomfort and bleeding, both during and after the procedure. For children and adults, we often recommend a course of Myofunctional Therapy to help train your tongue to function properly while nasal breathing, and to establish proper oral posture. Babies are usually able to nurse immediately following their procedure.
Tongue Tie Evaluation in Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, and Los Gatos, California
If you believe that you or your child has a tongue tie, we invite you to schedule a consultation by calling Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry at (831) 438-4411. We offer tongue tie evaluations for infants, children, and adults. There is no age limit to treating a tongue tie. The sooner, the better!
