The Truth About Tongue-Tie and Lip Tie

Lip tie and tongue-tie are a more common diagnosis than health care professionals think. There are approximately 184,000 infants born per year with this condition in the United States.   There are over 1.1 million children 6 years of age or younger who have or have had a lip-tie or tongue tie. 

I personally examine at least 2 to 3 children per week in my office with this condition.  It is very important to understand that both of these conditions affect breastfeeding and bottle feeding in infants and toddlers.  Surgical correction of each condition can be done in a dental office using local anesthetic by a properly trained and educated pediatric dentist.  Unfortunately,  pediatricians and family practice physicians are NOT trained to perform this procedure.   ENT physicians usually perform these lip and tongue-tie procedures under general anesthesia in  the operating room.   

Lactation consultants usually ENCOURAGE to mothers to continue breastfeeding but rarely recommend correction of the condition.   The most common symptoms of lip-tie and tongue-tie infants are burping, gas, stomach aches,  lack of weight gain and frequent feeding.   Mothers will  have painful, cracked, and sore nipples.

Not every child that has a lip-tie or tongue tie needs to be corrected.   The extent of the symptoms determine the surgery necessity.   The mother's desire and need to breastfeed is also important.  Oftentimes, the infant will have difficulty sleeping through the night,  because they are hungry.   

Ultimately,  the parents will decide whether to correct the condition or not.  My experience is that most parents want the correction earlier rather than later.  The correction is done to improve feeding  and digestion, because the most severe outcome of no correction is ACID REFLUX.  This can continue we into adulthood.   

My advice is for parents to educate themselves regarding lip and tongue-tie.  Seek a  early examination by a pediatric dentist and get a second opinion, because only a small percentage of pediatric dentists perform maxillary and mandibular frenectomies routinely.   I personally perform these procedures 70 to 100 times a year.  

I hope that this TRUTHFUL information is helpful to you.   

Dr. Steve Branam