Garcia-DeMartino Lip & Tongue-Tie Specialist Blog

Whether your child’s first words were “mama” or “dada,” you’ve likely sealed that moment in your memory. Hearing them speak for the first time probably led you to encourage them to say more words as the years passed. But at some point, you noticed a change that made you pause and wonder if something might be amiss. If that point is now, a tongue-tie could be to blame. A minor lisp or slurred speech can signal a problem that, if left untreated, can cause more issues later. Keep reading to find out how this abnormality affects your child’s speech and what you can do to fix it.

As a parent, you want to make sure your child heals without issue after a laser revision. The dentist will explain what to expect and what is normal in the days and weeks after the procedure, but trying to discern for yourself isn’t always easy. Is that scar tissue forming? Should you be worried about what you’re seeing? Don’t jump to conclusions just yet. Instead, learn more about the healing process and how to help ensure your child has a successful recovery.

After your child’s frenectomy, you will receive instructions provided by their lip and tongue-tie specialist. The details should be easy to follow, but as a parent, you’ll want to know what you can do to help them heal at home. How can you help manage discomfort? What should you do if you notice something that appears “off?” Keep reading to learn how you can ensure they heal successfully after treatment.

Now that your child has had their frenectomy, they can begin to enjoy all the benefits of greater tongue or lip mobility, including easier nursing and speech. But in the initial days after treatment, it is important to pay attention to their surgical site to ensure that it is healing properly.  Here’s a closer look at what to keep an eye out for, and some important indicators that their mouth is on the road to recovery!

Lip- and tongue-ties are becoming more well-known, but there can still be some confusion surrounding these two oral health conditions. It doesn’t help when terms like “frenectomy” and “frenotomy” look and sound almost the same!

To be clear, a frenectomy and a frenotomy are both treatments that can address lip- and tongue-ties. Dental lasers can also be used during both procedures to improve comfort and recovery times. There is, however, one key difference. Keep reading to learn what it is and why a specialist might recommend one over the other.

Tongue tie, also known as ankyloglossia, is a condition present at birth in which the band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is unusually short, thick, or tight. This can restrict tongue movement and sometimes affect feeding, speech development, and oral function. As awareness of tongue ties has increased, questions have emerged about what causes them, including whether folic acid supplementation during pregnancy may play a role.

The short answer is that there is currently no conclusive evidence proving that folic acid causes tongue ties in children.

When you think of tongue-tie, you may think of the feeding difficulties that it causes for infants and their breastfeeding mothers. The truth is, though, that this condition can cause a full range of problems in individuals of all ages. It can even increase the risk of tooth decay! How does it do so, and how can treatment help? This blog post explains.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, a nationwide campaign dedicated to promoting healthy smiles for kids of all ages. Led by the American Dental Association, one of the most well-known dental organizations around, this annual observation helps families understand the importance of good oral health habits from an early age. Here’s a little more about this month and why you should prioritize the health of your little one’s developing smile through February and beyond!

In recent years, more parents have heard the terms lip tie and tongue tie during newborn checkups or breastfeeding consultations. These oral conditions, which can affect feeding and oral development, seem to be diagnosed more often today than in the past. This has led many parents to wonder whether lip and tongue ties are truly becoming more common or if they are simply being identified more frequently. The answer is complex and involves changes in awareness, diagnostic methods, and infant feeding practices.

Breastfeeding is often described as “natural,” but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Unfortunately, many parents receive misleading advice that can cause unnecessary pain, stress, and guilt. One of the most common phrases new parents hear is, “Breastfeeding is supposed to hurt.” Let’s clear up that myth—and a few others—so nursing parents can feel more informed and supported.