Published on September 21, 2022, Updated on September 21, 2022
Tongue-tie, also known as Ankyloglossia, is a disorder in which a newborn is born with their tongue linked to their mouth, limiting tongue motions necessary for speaking, drinking, swallowing, jaw development, and feeding. Tongue-tie is often neglected, misdiagnosed, and dismissed by many healthcare experts, and individuals are prone to believe these beliefs when they are unfamiliar with the problem.
We’ve gathered a list of frequent tongue-tie misconceptions and their corresponding facts.
Can Clipping or Snipping with Scissors Work?
Clipping or snipping the tongue tied may seem to be a straightforward remedy, but it really leads to a more difficult situation. This technique leaves a thick tissue that must ultimately be removed. A complete release of constricted fascia will result in improved function and symptom relief. The laser offers comprehensive visibility of the surgical region with little bleeding and optimum accuracy, allowing us to remove all of the tight tissue while conserving vital structures under the tongue.
Will Tongue-Ties Will Stretch Out On Its Own?
The tongue-tie is composed of a thick fascial web that covers less than 1% of the body and is largely composed of type 1 collagen fibers. Although some children adapt admirably to having a constricted tongue, no child should miss out on healthy development and suffer with daily activities because of an issue that is so easily treated. It will last till maturity if left untreated.
Is Treating Tongue Ties A Fad?
Tongue-ties have been discussed for many years, and they were freely discussed up to the twentieth century since it was evident that they interfered with everyday tasks. In the 1920s, treating tongue ties became less common. Breastfeeding has been largely ignored for decades, and many parents and specialists are ignorant of the issues it may cause. As a consequence of the renewed focus on it, we are now seeing more diagnoses and therapies. Autism awareness and prevalence are increasing, yet its incidence seems to be increasing due to unknown factors. Autism therapy and tongue-ties are not passing fads.
Are All Feeding Issues in a Baby Are Related to Tongue and Lip Ties?
Contrary to popular belief, infant feeding issues may have a variety of reasons, especially in nursing communities where tongue-tie is a common issue. Feeding issues may be caused by anything from a baby napping in an uncomfortable position to the infant’s head and torso being positioned wrong while in the womb (for which craniosacral therapy, chiropractic, and physical therapy care can help). A baby’s total body muscular tone, oral muscle tone, degrees of jaundice, birth weight, weight loss, and other factors may all have an effect on suction strength, which is a feeding problem.
Does Tongue Tie Only Affect Bottle-fed Babies?
Since bottle-fed children do not have the same chance to tone their tongues, lips, and cheeks as breastfed children, your baby’s tongue tie is very significant. Tongue and lip knots in exclusively bottle-fed newborns may have an influence on their adoption of solid meals, dentition (how teeth come in), future speech, limited nasal airways, and so on. If you suspect your bottle-fed baby is lip- or tongue-tied, please get them tested by a lactation consultant (yes, we can work with bottle-fed newborns) or an infant speech pathologist.