Tongue-tie is a medical condition otherwise known as
ankyloglossia. It occurs when the tissue (frenulum) that attaches the tongue to
the floor of the mouth is too short or tight. It is many times congenital and
hereditary, which can produce a challenge to the breastfeeding infant.
“Sometimes the frenulum will recede on it’s own, but in some
that is not the case and it can cause other challenges long term,” says Dr.Denine Rice from her Riverside Periodontal and Implant practice. “When the
tongue is unable to move freely, there is the possibility it could cause
lisping.”
A lisp is a speech impediment where a person has difficulty
pronouncing certain sibilants, such as ‘th’, ‘s’, ‘d’, ‘l’ and ‘t’. A lisp is
not the only challenge that can come from being tongue-tied. A tongue-tie might
also prevent a person from being able to play certain wind instruments or it
could cause a gap between the lower front teeth, which might mean an
orthodontic referral.
The good news is the treatment for tongue-tie is easy.
“Previously, many dentists would treat tongue-tie by clipping the tissue and
freeing the tongue. Now we can do it using the laser, which means little
discomfort, less bleeding and immediate results,” adds Dr. Rice.
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