Lip Tie Vs. Tongue Tie: The Philadelphia Pediatric Dentists Explain It All

Lip tie and tongue tie are common problems in children. A survey shows that around 17.1% of the children surveyed had undergone lip tie surgery. Both these problems cause a lot of stress for parents.

If you have just begun your parenting journey and want to know what exactly these problems are, hear from our experienced lip tie and tongue tie pediatric dentist in Philadelphia. At Best Dentist 4 Kids, we have helped so many kids have a healthy life, and yours can be next!

Understanding The Problem Of Tongue Tie In Philadelphia

In the medical world, tongue tie is called ankyloglossia. A tongue tie occurs when the membrane linking the tongue to the mouth’s floor is excessively thick or malformed.

It leads to difficulties as kids with tongue ties may struggle with feeding and swallowing. If not treated on time,  it can also influence a child’s speech.

We at Best Dentist 4 Kids examine children for tongue tie problems right from the beginning so that we can nip the evil in the bud.

What Is A Lip Tie?

Having understood what tongue tie is, we will now acquaint you with lip tie. A lip tie is a situation where the upper lip is still connected to the upper gum in kids. It may result in issues with speech and eating patterns, jaw discomfort and protrusion, jaw clicking, licking lollipops or ice cream, gaps between teeth, pain during breastfeeding and additional oral health concerns.

Lip Tie Vs Tongue Tie

Lip tie and tongue tie seem similar, right? But as a tongue-tie pediatric dentist in Philadelphia, we can help you decode the two.

Lip tie affects the piece of tissue that connects the upper lip to the gum above the upper front teeth. On the other hand, tongue tie impacts the tissue under the tongue that connects it to the floor of the mouth.

Kids show similar symptoms in both of these cases. A clear indication is difficulty with latching. Many infants with either condition may struggle to achieve a deep latch, leading to significant discomfort for breastfeeding mothers.

In minor cases of tongue tie and lip tie, children can overcome the condition as they grow. There are simple exercises your child can do that can help. If you need to know more about these exercises, visit our clinic at your earliest convenience.

In some more serious instances, individuals with lip or tongue ties might require a procedure called a frenectomy. A frenectomy is a fast and minimally invasive surgical operation in which a laser is used to eliminate a tiny section of the impacted frenum.

Visit Best Dentist 4 Kids For A Quick Examination

Children show subtle signs initially in both of these conditions. And you might not be quick enough to catch it. So, visit us and let us examine your little one for these conditions. If they have been diagnosed with it already, our dentists have helped many with lip tie and tongue tie in Philadelphia. Book an appointment soon!