Garcia-DeMartino Lip & Tongue-Tie Specialist Blog

Lip and tongue tie are congenital conditions that restrict the movement of the lip and/or tongue. They occur because connective tissues within the mouth, called frenulums or frenums, are too thick or short, thereby limiting how well the oral structures can function. Sadly, some cases of lip and tongue tie are not diagnosed until a person is well into childhood — some people do not receive treatment until adulthood! The earlier these conditions are recognized and treated, the better. Why exactly is early detection of lip and tongue tie so important? This blog post explains.

Of all of life’s early milestones, few are as important or memorable as learning how to speak! Speech allows us to shape our relationships with others and connect with the world, and if we couldn’t talk, things would be much quieter and boring, to say the least. But speech starts at an early age, and unfortunately, there are some challenges that children face when learning to communicate. Among them are tongue and lip ties, conditions that affect the oral tissues inside the mouth that grant us the ability to form words. Continue reading to learn more from your dentist about lip and tongue ties and how they have the potential to impact speech development in children, as well as why professional treatment is an effective answer.

Among infants, lip and tongue ties are becoming a more commonly diagnosed and recognizable problem that parents can now tell the early signs of. These issues date far back, being depicted in 17^th century woodcuttings showing physicians performing frenectomies. Granted, today, the procedure looks a lot different. Read on to learn more about why this issue is being more frequently diagnosed and understand the history and treatment behind lip and tongue ties.

As a parent, it’s very frustrating when your infant cries a lot. This situation is stressful and leaves you with frayed nerves. Still, your little one isn’t distressed for no reason. The reality is that lip and tongue ties can cause colic. Consequently, a child with either issue should get professional treatment. Your Phillipsburg pediatric dentist can even tell you why. To that end, here’s a summary of lip and tongue ties, how they cause colic, and why they need dental care.

Is your child scheduled for a frenectomy? This simple surgery can provide freedom from lip and tongue tie, making life easier for both you and your young one. Still, you may have some anxiety about the post-op period. How long does it take for a child to recover from a frenectomy? What can you do to help your child heal properly? This blog post provides practical information.

The transition from bottle-feeding to solid foods is quite a milestone for your child, and you might be pretty eager to see your little one start trying out all of the new foods they’ll have access to! However, did you know that an unresolved tongue or lip tie can make things quite difficult for your child? Here’s more from your trusted pediatric dentist about these issues and their impact on feeding, along with how things can be resolved.

If you’re a parent of a young child it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information you need to remember about their health. There are some common things like colds that every parent will watch out for, but there are other conditions exclusive to babies that you might have trouble staying on top of.

Lip and tongue ties are a great example. Most parents may not have even heard much about them before having a child, and what they have heard may not be true. Here are some common misconceptions about lip and tongue ties.

Breastfeeding is an essential part of a baby’s growth and development. Not only is it a source of nutrition, but it also provides the baby with antibodies that help them fight infections. However, to ensure that breastfeeding is effective, a proper breastfeeding latch is essential. Read on as we discuss what a proper breastfeeding latch is, what a good breastfeeding latch looks like, and the signs that your baby is not latching properly.

When it comes to children’s oral health, things such as cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss are just a few issues that are worth preventing and addressing if they occur. That said, one aspect of oral health that is often overlooked is the functionality of orofacial structures, such as the tongue and lips. These parts of the mouth are just as important as the teeth and gums, and if they become compromised, serious problems might unfold. Fortunately, orofacial myology therapy can usually help! Here’s more about what this treatment entails and when it’s typically a good option for your child.

Frenectomies have been done for a very long time, but many people still don’t know much about them or how life-changing they can be. A frenectomy simply shortens the frenulum, a thin ligament that connects the lips and tongue to the other tissues in the mouth. Some people have a frenulum that’s too large, so trimming it allows them to move their lips and tongue more freely.

Frenectomies have been done since at least the 1700s, but how they’re done has progressed significantly. In particular, there’s been a growing distinction between traditional and laser frenectomies. If you or your child needs this treatment, here’s a guide that can help you pick between the two.