Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a disorder in infants in which the frenulum of the tongue is too short. As a result, the baby's tongue becomes unable to move freely. Generally, tongue tie more common in boys than in girls.
The frenulum is a thin layer of tissue under the center of the tongue, which connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Normally, the frenulum separates before the baby is born. However, in infants with tongue tie, the frenulum remains attached to the floor of the mouth.
Tongue-tie is a congenital abnormality that is estimated to occur in 3-5 percent of newborns. If not treated immediately, this condition can cause a number of complications, one of which is that the baby has difficulty breastfeeding.
Reason Tongue-Tie
Until now, it is not known exactly what is the cause tongue tie. However, in some cases, infants with tongue tie have parents with a history of the same condition. Therefore, there is a conjecture tongue tie related to genetic factors.
Symptom Tongue-Tie
Suffering baby tongue tie generally have the following signs and symptoms:
- Difficulty moving the tongue up or to the side
- Can't stick tongue out past front teeth
- The tongue looks shaped like a heart or the letter V
- Tendency to make chewing movements rather than sucking while feeding
- Repeatedly inserting and removing the nipple, so that the breastfeeding process takes longer
- Difficulty gaining weight due to not getting enough breast milk
- Always feeling hungry
When to go to the doctor
Check with the doctor if your baby shows the symptoms and signs above, especially if you also experience symptoms such as:
- Pain in the nipples during and after breastfeeding
- Cracked and sore nipples
- Mastitis or inflammation of the breast
- Low milk level
Need to know, tongue tie is not the only cause of problems in breastfeeding. Therefore, an examination by a doctor is necessary so that you get the right diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosis Tongue-Tie
Before checking the baby's condition, the doctor will ask the baby's mother if there are problems breastfeeding her baby. After that, the doctor will perform a physical examination of the baby's mouth to see the shape and movement of his tongue.
In children with the condition tongue tie, the doctor will ask to move the tongue and pronounce certain letters, such as R or L.
Treatment Tongue-Tie
Treatment tongue tie depending on the severity. If the baby or child is suffering tongue tie can still eat well, the doctor will wait and monitor the progress of his condition. This is because the frenulum of the tongue can stretch over time, so tongue tie resolves itself.
While on tongue tie which makes it difficult for the baby to eat, the doctor will perform a surgical procedure whose type is adjusted to the severity. These surgical procedures include:
frenotomy
Frenotomy was performed on tongue tie which is light. In this procedure, the doctor will cut the frenulum using surgical scissors.
Frenotomy is rapid and can be performed with or without anesthesia. The bleeding from the frenotomy is minimal, so the baby can breastfeed immediately after the procedure.
Frenuloplasty
If the frenulum is too thick to cut, the doctor will perform a frenuloplasty. In this procedure, the doctor will cut the frenulum of the tongue with a special tool and then suture the scar. These stitches will come off on their own once the wound has healed.
Frenuloplasty is performed after the patient is sedated first. In some cases, this procedure is performed using a laser.
Complications Tongue-Tie
Tongue-tie can affect the way you swallow, eat, and talk, which can lead to complications, such as:
- Problems with breastfeeding
baby with tongue tie can have difficulty breastfeeding. Instead of sucking, the baby chews on the mother's nipple. This condition in addition to causing pain in the mother's breast, also makes it difficult for the baby to get enough breast milk, so that it can cause the baby to be malnourished and difficult to grow.
- Difficulty in speakingTongue-tie can cause difficulty in children pronouncing certain consonant letters.
- Difficulty doing certain activities with the mouthAffected baby or child tongue tie may have difficulty performing simple movements that rely on the tongue, such as licking the lips.
- Unhygienic oral conditions
Tongue-tie This can make it difficult for the tongue to remove food debris from the teeth. This condition can cause tooth decay and swelling of the gums.
Prevention Tongue-Tie
As mentioned above, it is not clear what the cause is tongue tie. Therefore, it is not yet known how to prevent this condition.
However, if your baby or child suffers tongue tie, you can prevent complications due to this condition. The trick is to visit a doctor to get an examination and treatment.