A tongue tie is a tiny thing, but it can have a major impact on an infant’s development. The inability to nurse properly because a tongue tie prevents latching means baby can’t get enough nourishment to meet the needs of their rapidly growing body. That’s what happened to our patient, Tanisha, and her 10-day-old son, Asa.
At 10 days old, Asa was having trouble nursing, causing frustration and pain for Tanisha. After learning about tongue-tie release from her midwives, Tanisha came to Dr. Stamm for a consultation. A quick laser procedure was all it took for Asa to nurse properly and start thriving!
Watch this video to hear Tanisha’s story.
What Is a Tongue Tie?
The tongue is attached to the bottom of the mouth by a thin piece of skin called the frenum or frenulum. This piece of skin is essential for the tongue to move and function properly. When the frenum is too short, it limits the tongue’s movement, leading to difficulty nursing in infants and numerous developmental problems, including speech impediments and airway issues, later on.
Frenectemy, A.K.A. Tongue-Tie Release
To release a tongue tie, we can perform a procedure called frenectomy or tongue-tie release to expand the tongue’s range of motion, allowing baby to nurse properly. For a frenectomy, we use a special soft tissue laser to resize the frenum. The procedure itself takes only seconds to complete and is safe for infants, children, and adults. An infant can begin nursing immediately after a laser tongue-tie release since there is no cutting or stitching involved.
Immediate Relief
Baby isn’t the only one who suffers with a tongue tie, as Tanisha can attest. Asa’s tongue tie made nursing difficult for her too. She experienced soreness and bleeding because Asa was unable to latch. The tongue-tie release procedure we performed on Asa brought Tanisha much-needed relief as well, allowing her to finally relax and enjoy the experience of nursing her son.
Tongue tie is not a minor issue for babies or mothers. It can make nursing painful for the mother, impede proper infant development, and cause a lot of stress for both. Nursing should be a pleasant experience for mom and baby, not painful or frustrating. A tongue-tie release could be the answer.
If your baby or child has a tongue tie, contact Bradburn Village Dentistry for a consultation to learn how a tongue-tie release could make life better for them and for you. We would be happy to help!
