Tongue tie (ankyloglossia): symptoms, medications, etc. • hello healthy

What is tongue tie (ankyloglossia)?

Tongue tie or ankyloglossia is a birth defect that limits the movement of the child's tongue.

Quoted from Stanford Children's Health, it is said that everyone is born with a small fold of tissue or a short membrane from the floor of the mouth to the bottom of the tongue.

However, some newborns have an unusually short membrane (frenulum), which is tight, and sticks together so that they cannot move their tongue properly.

With this condition, short, thick, or tight bands of tissue can interfere with breastfeeding.

This condition can also cause serious health problems because it can affect the way your child eats, swallows, and how he talks later.

How common is tongue tie (ankyloglossia)?

Ankyloglossia is a birth defect that affects 4-11% of newborns. Tongue tie more common in boys than girls.

Sometimes this condition can affect the baby's diet, making it difficult to breastfeed properly.

This condition also occurs in toddlers and older children. Please discuss with your doctor for more information.

What are the types of tongue tie (ankyloglossia)?

Quoted from Breastfeeding USA, there are several types tongue tie in babies.

Here are some types of basic tongue abnormalities that are adapted to the conditions, such as:

Class 1, which is when the bond is at the tip of the tongue. This condition is the most common.
Class 2, i.e. ties a little further behind the tip of the tongue.
Class 3, which is the bond closer to the base of the tongue.
Grade 4, when the tongue can barely move at all.

Types of ankyloglossia classes 1, 2, and 3 are also known as anterior bundles.

Meanwhile, in grade 4 it is also known as the posterior bond (PTT) because it is under the mucous membrane covering.

It should be noted that in Class 4 strings, babies are often misdiagnosed as having a short tongue.

Babies can also get lip ties

Not only on the tongue, the tissue or membrane (frenulum) is also inside the upper lip.

If the membrane is too thick and stiff, it will be the cause of it lip tie.

Condition lip tie in infants classified as rare. However, it is possible that this can happen simultaneously tongue tie.

These two things can also make it more difficult for the baby to breastfeed, which results in weight gain.

What are the signs or symptoms of tongue tie (ankyloglossia)?

In order to feed properly, the baby's mouth needs to be attached to the breast and nipple tissue.

A normal baby's tongue also needs to cover the lower gums to protect the nipple from damage.

Please note that some babies with tongue tie unable to open the mouth large enough to latch on to the breast properly.

Here are some of the characteristics or signs of babies who experience tongue tie, namely:

V shape or heart shape on the tip of the tongue.
Unable to stick his tongue past the upper gum.
Inability to touch the roof of the mouth.
Difficulty moving the tongue from side to side or lifting the tongue into the upper teeth.

From the above symptoms, Gayi usually experiences symptoms such as:

Difficulty latching on to the breast or keeping its mouth against the breast during feeding.
Breastfeed for a long time, rest for a while, then breastfeed again.
Restless and looking hungry all the time.
Weight gain slower than it should be.
Makes certain sounds while breastfeeding.

Tongue tie and lip tie can also cause problems in nursing mothers. These problems may include:

Sore or cracked nipples
Low milk supply.
Mastitis (inflammation of the breast), which may keep recurring.

If you have difficulty breastfeeding your baby, contact your doctor immediately.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

What causes tongue tie (ankyloglossia)?

The lingual frenulum is a connective tissue that connects the tongue and the bottom of the mouth. In a child with ankyloglossia, this band is too short and thick, which restricts the movement of the tongue.

Until now, researchers still haven't found a definite cause tongue tie and lip tie. However, some cases of ankyloglossia have been linked to certain genetic factors.

What increases the risk of tongue tie (ankyloglossia)?

Although there are not many known risk factors, this abnormality of the upper lip or base of the tongue can happen to anyone.

Compared to baby girls, the condition tongue tie more common in boys.

Then, this condition is sometimes passed down in the family.

When to see a doctor?

You should call your doctor if your baby has any of the following:

1. Difficulty breastfeeding

Your baby has signs tongue tie that causes problems, such as having difficulty feeding.

When experiencing this condition, he cannot open his mouth wide enough on the breast to latch on properly.

2. Difficulty speaking

The ability to speak or say certain words to children is likely to have an effect when experiencing tongue tie.

Children with this condition may have difficulty pronouncing some consonants such as t, d, z, s, r, etc.

3. Having difficulty eating

When your child complains of a tongue problem that bothers him when he eats, talks, or moves his tongue, it is also time to see a doctor.

If your child has any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult a doctor. Moreover, considering the condition of each child's body is different.

How is tongue tie diagnosed?

In babies, ankyloglossia as well lip tie only diagnosed if:

Babies have difficulty feeding or eating.
Has difficulty pronouncing consonants such as "t", "d", "z", "s", "th" and "l". It is more difficult to pronounce the letter "r".
Mother has visited a lactation consultant 2 to 3 times due to breastfeeding problems.

This condition can only be diagnosed after carrying out a physical examination.

During the physical exam, your doctor may ask questions about the breastfeeding process. The doctor will also examine your child's tongue, mouth, and teeth.

When doctors diagnose ankyloglossia in babies, they may see:

The tip of the tongue when the baby cries.
If there are eating problems, the doctor may monitor the time of the meal session.

In older children, the medical professional will examine the tongue as the child raises it up to find the length of the frenulum.

How to treat tongue tie (ankyloglossia)?

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

If your child has mild ankyloglossia, they may not need to receive treatment. This is because it can be overcome naturally as the baby grows older.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, treatments to treat ankyloglossia are controversial.

Some doctors and lactation consultants recommend correcting it immediately, even before the baby is discharged from the hospital.

Meanwhile, some doctors and lactation consultants choose to take another approach.

This is because the lingual frenulum can become loose at a later date. In other cases, tongue tie or lip tie will remain without causing any problems.

Meanwhile in some cases, a lactation consultant can help you on how to properly breastfeed children.

Surgical procedures for tongue tie and lip tie as frenotomy or frenuloplasty necessary if it causes problems. Here's the full review:

1. Frenotomy (frenulectomy)

In this treatment option, the thinnest portion of the frenulum is cut to allow the tongue or mouth to move freely.

If surgery is performed on older children (older than six weeks), the surgery can be performed in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia.

In this process, the doctor examines the lingual frenulum and uses sterile scissors to cut the frenulum. This procedure is quick and causes little discomfort.

The bleeding that occurs during this process may only be a drop or two of blood. After the procedure, the baby can breastfeed as soon as possible.

Complications from this procedure are very rare, such as bleeding, infection, and damage to the tongue or salivary glands.

2.Frenuloplasty (or frenectomy)

A broader procedure known as frenuloplasty may be recommended if the condition requires repair or the lingual frenulum is too thick.

Note that this procedure can be performed if the frenulum is thick and has many blood vessels.

This operation will cut and remove the patient's frenulum. The wound is then closed with stitches.

In babies who are several months old, the procedure is usually performed without anesthesia, or under a local anesthetic that numbs the tongue.

Complications from this procedure are very rare, as are the frenotomy procedures, such as bleeding, infection, and damage to the tongue or salivary glands.

Then, scar tissue may appear due to a reaction to the anesthesia.

Care after surgery

You can breastfeed your baby immediately after the procedure. Most mothers immediately feel the difference in the way their babies breastfeed.

After a few hours, the baby's mouth will start to hurt. If you have this, doctors usually recommend over-the-counter analgesics.

Your baby may also be fussy, but this condition usually passes quickly. Don't be surprised if your baby temporarily refuses to feed.

During this time, you can pump breast milk and compress the breasts to relieve swelling.

You can also feed your baby with a spoon, glass or bottle.

Baby with tongue tie cannot latch on properly. So, once the tongue ties are untied, the baby needs to learn to suckle with a different muscle.

When the baby's mouth grips the nipple properly, the mother will feel more comfortable while breastfeeding.

What are some of the home remedies that can be done after the procedure?

If your child has had any of the above procedures, you can also do tongue stretches to speed healing.

One way is to do a gentle massage on the incision as a way to stretch the tongue. This is done 2 to 3 times a day for two weeks.

Tongue muscle exercises such as licking the upper lip, touching the palate with the tip of the tongue, and side-to-side movements should be done to improve tongue movement.

If you have questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your baby's problems.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.