Tongue Tie
Tongue tie can cause developmental problems, orthodontic problems that can cause sleep issues later in life.
Tongue tie which is also known as “ankyloglossia” is a condition that restricts tongue’s range of motion. This is a congenital condition i.e., present at the time of birth. The movement is restricted by a thin membrane called lingual frenum which is present under the baby’s tongue. In tongue tie, this membrane is found to be unusually short, thick and tight band of tissue that tethers the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth.
Tongue tie is found to be more common in males than females and can run in families. Tongue tie can lead to various issues in relation to breast feeding, oral hygiene maintenance and speech difficulties.
SYMPTOMS OF TONGUE-TIE
The symptoms of tongue-tie can include:
the tongue can’t poke out past the lips
the tongue tip can’t touch the roof of the mouth
the tongue can’t be moved sideways to the corners of the mouth
the tongue tip may look flat or square, instead of pointy when extended
the tongue tip may look notched or heart-shaped
a baby with tongue-tie may have difficulties breastfeeding or bottle-feeding