The lingual frenulum is a thin and small membrane that joins the tongue to the palate. Some babies are born with this membrane that is too short and tight, causing the tongue to not be able to perform its functions correctly. This dysfunction is called Ankyloglossia, which means that the tongue is tied to the lower part of the mouth. The lingual frenulum can cause problems when breastfeeding, since the baby has difficulties to latch on to the breast well.
Although not all pediatricians are in favor of intervening the frenulum, there is a high percentage of doctors who recommend intervention in the first months life of the baby. So if you notice that your baby is having difficulty breastfeeding, don't hesitate to tell your pediatrician. It is also possible to observe it with the naked eye when the baby cries, it is clearly seen how the membrane ties the tongue.
The decision to intervene on the baby will always be up to the parents. In many cases, this problem resolves naturally after a few months, but this is not always the case. Therefore, you must know all the consequences that the lingual frenulum can have for the future of your child.
Consequences of tongue tie or lingual frenulum
- Difficulty feeding: The newborn that presents this dysfunction has difficulty for the correct suction on the breast. So it may be more difficult to establish satisfactory breastfeeding. In addition, it can also be a problem when starting complementary feeding. The baby can make strange movements with the mouth, it will take much longer to eat and may even reject food. You may even have a hard time swallowing.
- Speech problems: The lingual frenulum causes the tongue to not be able to perform its functions. One of those functions is speech. If the tongue cannot move, the child will have difficulty babbling. It is even possible, that frustration at not being able to articulate sounds causes the child to withdraw and refuse to speak. Significantly hindering proper development.
- Mispronunciation: Surely you know someone who mispronounces some phonemes such as erre, ce, la de or ele. This is due to the frenulum prevents the tongue from being raised towards the palate.
How is the frenulum cut?
The intervention to eliminate tongue tie is really quick and easy. Is a minor surgery that does not require hospitalization, no stitches. The surgeon makes a small cut with sterile scissors, without the need for anesthesia. You will simply apply pressure with a gauze pad previously soaked in an antiseptic solution so that it does not bleed. The saliva itself will act as a healing agent and in a few minutes you will be able to take your baby and breastfeed him correctly.
Is it necessary to perform the intervention?
As I mentioned before, the decision must be made by the parents, always taking into account the pediatric recommendations. It is normal that you feel sad having to intervene with your baby when he is still so small. But it is important that you value the consequences that may appear in the short and medium term. With a small cut very fast and hardly painless, you can avoid greater evils.
Think that the frenulum does not only influence the feeding of your child, maybe that can be solved with bottles and patience. But a problem in speech is much more difficult to solve. When your son or daughter is older, going through surgery can be much more traumatic, even if it is a minor intervention. Instead, when they are babies they do not have to go through the anguish of knowing what is going to happen. They will not have that moment in their memory, so it will not be traumatic.
Instead, arriving at school and interacting with other children when they have a speech difficulty, it can cause problems in your child's self-esteem. Therefore, if you notice that your baby has the frenulum too close to the tip of the tongue, discuss it with your pediatrician so that together you can make the best decision. Always for the benefit of the little one.