Ankyloglossia, also known as a tongue-tie, is a condition people are born with that limits their tongue’s range of motion. When you have a tongue tie in Seattle, there’s a band of tissue under your tongue that connects your tongue to the bottom of your mouth. Sometimes, having a tongue doesn’t cause any problems, but for others, it can cause issues with how they talk and even breath.
How do I know if my child or I have a tongue tie?
You or your child might have a tongue tie if:
- You have issues lifting or moving your tongue from side to side.
- Your tongue looks heart shaped.
- You can’t or struggle with sticking the tongue out past the lower front teeth.
What problems can having a tongue tie cause?
Complications with having ankyloglossia include;
Struggle with oral hygiene – Adults and bigger kids will struggle with cleaning under the tongue and cleaning food debris from the teeth. This can cause tooth decay and gingivitis.
Struggle with talking properly – People with ankyloglossia will have issues with words such as th, d, s, r, and z.
Trouble breastfeeding – To be breastfed, a baby must keep their tongue over the lower gumline; otherwise, they will chew instead of suck.
When should I see a doctor?
You should see a doctor if:
- Your child is struggling to breastfeed.
- Your child conplains about problems with their tongue.
- A speech-language pathologist says the tongue tie is causing problems.
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