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Is your child frequently fussy and upset without an obvious cause? It can be difficult to figure out why your infant is so uncomfortable. When it comes to caring for a new member of the family, colic can result in a lot of stress. A condition that could be causing your baby’s colic is called “tongue-tie.” Continue reading to learn more about tongue-tie and its connection to colic.
What Is Tongue-Tie?
Tongue-tie is a condition that restricts the tongue’s range of motion. This condition is usually present at birth. It consists of a short, tight band of tissue that keeps the tongue restrained the tongue to the floor in the mouth. Ultimately, it can interfere with breastfeeding and affect how the child eats and speaks.
Babies who have tongue-ties often have difficulty latching when feeding time comes around. Whether your infant is breast-fed or bottle-fed, having a poor latch means that they are likely to ingest more air when they are eating. This can result in colic-like symptoms, including crying, pulling up the knees, and a bloated stomach. Having a tongue-tie can also cause or exacerbate reflux symptoms.
What Are the Signs of Tongue-Tie?
It can be difficult to recognize the symptoms of tongue-tie. Here are some of the ones that you should be on the lookout for:
- Difficulty latching
- Poor weight gain
- Long feeding times
- Agitation when feeding
- Constantly hungry
- Clicking sounds when feeding
- Chewing instead of sucking
How Are Tongue-Ties Addressed?
When a child has a tongue-tie, there is a simple procedure that can make a huge difference. A laser frenectomy is a minor surgical procedure in which the tissue that is holding the tongue to the floor of the mouth is removed, giving your child more function of their tongue.
The procedure uses a highly concentrated beam of light to remove the smallest amount of tissue necessary to achieve the desired results. The laser cauterizes the blood vessels as it works, reducing bleeding, discomfort, and inflammation. Most infants don’t even need a local anesthetic. The procedure only takes a few seconds, and the recovery time is quick.
What to Expect After Treatment
After the laser frenectomy, many babies experience immediate improvement. Other infants need some time to recover before seeing results. Every child is different, so some take more time than others to adjust after the procedure.
If you think your baby’s colic could be a result of tongue-tie, you should consider reaching out to a lip and tongue-tie specialist. This way, you can discuss the best way to address your child’s discomfort.
About the Practice
At Chicago Tongue-Tie Center, we have a team of two Board-Certified Pediatric Dentists who are experts in lip and tongue-tie. They perform laser frenectomies at their practice. To learn more about tongue-tie, or to schedule a consultation for your child at their practice in Chicago, visit their website or call (312) 248-2455.