Common Symptoms of Lip & Tongue-Tie - Franklin, TN
What to Look Out For
Before we can offer effective treatment for your child’s lip and tongue-tie, we need to be able to accurately diagnose the issue. Most patients are diagnosed and treated for lip and tongue-tie as infants or young children, so it’s helpful if parents are aware of the common symptoms of lip and tongue-tie, and let our Franklin, TN specialty dental team know. Let us know right away if you notice any combination of the common warning signs for lip and tongue-ties. We’ll schedule an examination and consultation to determine your child’s needs. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time if you have questions about lip and tongue-ties. Dr. Paige and our caring team are here to help whenever you need us.
Common Symptoms for Babies
Looking for the warning signs in infants is important since they can’t tell us when something is wrong. Reach out to Dr. Paige right away if your child presents any of the following common symptoms of lip and tongue-tie:
- Poor latch
- Colic/excessive fussiness
- Clicking or other sounds while nursing
- Inadequate weight gain or weight loss
- Early fatigue during feeding
- Failure to thrive
- Fussiness and frequent arching away form the breast or bottle
- Diffuculty establishing suction to maintain a deep grasp on the breast
- Ineffective milk transfer sometimes cause frequent feedings
Common Symptoms for Nursing Mothers
Many nursing mothers believe that breastfeeding issues are their fault. Parents believe that they did something wrong or there’s something wrong with them physically. Dr. Paige knows personally how frustrating, painful, and stressful breastfeeding complications due to lip and tongue-tie can be. That’s why she’s dedicated to helping infants and nursing mothers breastfeed successfully. Pay attention to your child while feeding, and let us know if you notice any of the following signs:
- Pain while feeding
- Nipple trauma
- Mastitis/Clogged Ducts
- Low milk supply
- Discouragement with breastfeeding
- Distorted nipples
Common Symptoms for Older Children
Older children are more capable of expressing their concerns, but they are unlikely to understand that a lip or tongue-tie is the cause. As your child gets older, you may notice some of the following symptoms:
- Inability to thoroughly chew solid foods
- Gagging, choking, and vomiting foods
- Finicky about certain foods
- Difficulty with oral hygiene
- Delayed speech development and speech impediment
- Behavioral issues
- Need for early dental intervention/frequent cavities
- Diminished self-confidence due to feeling and sounding “different”
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Common Symptoms for Adults
In the vast majority of cases, patients are diagnosed and treated for lip and tongue-ties as children. However, some cases go untreated into adulthood. In most situations, these lip and tongue-tie cases are not severe, as the person has been able to function and remain relatively healthy throughout their childhood. For these patients, we recommend discussing lip and tongue-tie treatment if they experience any of the following symptoms:
- Inability to chew hard foods like steak or apples
- Speech impediment that is not improved through speech therapy
- Concentration and effort are needed to speak clearly
- Unclear speech when fatigued or hurried
- Frequent choking while eating
- Difficulty with oral hygiene due to blocked access by lip or cheek that is too close to teeth
- Struggle with frequent tooth decay or gum disease
- Chronic headaches/migraines
- Persistent neck and shoulder pain
- TMJ disorder