Your baby’s first few months on Earth are precious and crucial. As a parent, you want the best for your child, and you likely already know about the important role breastfeeding plays in delivering essential nutrients and antibodies. But did you know that breastfeeding can help promote the proper development of a child’s oral structures and potentially lower their risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Lip and tongue ties can interfere with breastfeeding. And when breastfeeding isn’t successful, a baby’s risk of developing problems like OSA can increase. But there are ways we can intervene. Assessments and treatments are available in Vernon, BC.
What Are Tongue Ties & Lip Ties?
Tongue ties and lip ties are structural problems that can affect how a baby latches on. Problems with breastfeeding can affect the nursing parent as well, leading to problems like nipple soreness and discomfort.
What Are Tongue Ties?
To breastfeed successfully, a baby needs to manipulate their tongue in certain ways.
Everyone has a lingual frenulum, which is the tissue that connects your tongue to the bottom of your mouth. When this tissue is too tight or too thick and restricts movement, a baby is considered to have a tongue tie. Symptoms of a tongue tie include:
- Difficulty latching on
- Clicking or coughing during breastfeeding
- Not consuming enough milk, leading to longer or shorter feeding sessions; also, pauses during feedings
- Fatigue or fussiness after feedings
- Sore nipples in the parent
- Poor milk production from the parent after sufficient production with a previous child
If you suspect a tongue tie, consult with a healthcare provider. There are other possible reasons a baby may not successfully breastfeed.
What Are Lip Ties?
A lip tie is similar to a tongue tie, except it affects the frenulum that connects the lip to the gum. When this tissue is too thick or too tight, it can also affect how a baby breastfeeds. Lip ties are less common than tongue ties, and there is less research on them, but the symptoms are often similar.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious condition that causes pauses in breathing during sleep. These pauses, called apneas, can last for 10–30 seconds or more, and they can repeat dozens or even hundreds of times per night.
There are multiple types of sleep apnea. OSA happens when something blocks the airway, such as the tongue or fatty tissue. The airway may also be too narrow or have trouble staying open.
Sleep apnea is a common condition. According to the Canadian Lung Association, 20% of adults have mild sleep apnea. It’s a serious condition that increases an individual’s risk of motor vehicle accidents, cardiovascular disease, and even premature death. However, there are many treatment options for managing sleep apnea, including simple dental appliances, such as the Vivos Method.
How Tongue Ties & Lip Ties Affect Babies
Breastfeeding plays a key role in the proper development of oral structures in babies. This includes the tongue’s role in swallowing, the alignment of their teeth, and the shape of their hard palate.
High palates, narrow dental arches, large necks, and a retruded lower jaw are physical features associated with a higher risk of OSA. Interestingly, research shows that before baby bottles and pacifiers became widely used, these features were rare.
Therefore, if tongue ties and lip ties are not treated, a baby’s ability to breastfeed may be negatively impacted. This, in turn, can raise their risk of sleep apnea.
Babies with untreated tongue ties and lip ties may:
- Have difficulty latching on
- Not gain enough weight
- Experience digestive issues, such as colic, reflux, and gas
- Develop narrow dental arches and high palates
- Wean early or rely on pacifiers and bottles
- Have a higher risk of snoring, speech difficulties, sleep apnea, and other developmental issues
The Importance of Assessment & Treatment
Our team believes in proactive assessment and early intervention. If you suspect your baby may have a tongue tie or lip tie, we can assess their tongue, airway, and general oral development. Then, we can discuss personalized treatment options to help prevent future problems.
How We Treat Tongue Ties & Lip Ties
We can perform frenectomies (for lip ties) and frenotomies (for tongue ties) with our Solea dental laser. This laser makes a small incision in the tissue and frees up the child’s lip and tongue. The procedure causes minimal discomfort; in fact, we sometimes don’t even have to use anesthesia!
Take the First Step
If your baby needs it, a frenectomy or frenotomy can significantly improve their quality of life. It can lead to better sleep, proper speech development, and proper jaw growth.
We often hear parents tell us they wish they’d known more about the impact of tongue ties and lip ties. As a dental clinic in Vernon, our team at Elevate Dental strives to be a good local resource for information and support. To learn more about tongue ties and lip ties, or to schedule your baby’s assessment, contact us today.
