Identifying tongue tied infants
Ankyloglossia, or commonly referred to as a "tongue tie", is a condition seen in newborns when the lingual frenulum (the connecting membrane that supports the tongue) is short. The act of cutting the frenulum is called a lingual frenectomy. Two types of frenectomies exist. There are labial frenectomies (membrane is attached toward the lips) and lingual frenectomies (membrane is attached at the tongue). A labial frenectomy is performed when the frenum pulls on the gum tissue.. A tissue pull can cause the recession of gum tissue or the exposure of a root surface. A tongue tied infant can have a moderate to severe issue with their tongue. A severely tongue tied infant is when the frenulum of the child is attached from the tip of the tongue to the lower mandible gum tissue. This problem allows only the sides of the tongue to lift and move and not the center. When the tongue is lifted, it gives …show more content…
When the infant begins to suckle, the tongue and jaw move forward in a wavelike motion. Upon nursing the tongue begins to ripple back and forth towards the throat while the lower jaw squeezes milk from the sinuses or ductiles. This process causes tongue depression which leads to subsequent swallowing and negative pressure. When a child is tongue tied the tongue cannot extend over the lower jaw. Since the tongue cannot extend properly, the mother's nipple cannot extent into the soft palate.
Problems for nursing mothers with tongue tied babies
This insufficient latching often causes a "chomp" which is when the mandible bites down onto the mother's nipple. This causes a lot of maternal pain. In addition, splitting of the nipples, ischemia, and greater incidence of mastitis can occur. Many nursing difficulties are correlated to a tongue tie issue.
Correcting tongue tied issues on
Ankyloglossia, or commonly referred to as a "tongue tie", is a condition seen in newborns when the lingual frenulum (the connecting membrane that supports the tongue) is short. The act of cutting the frenulum is called a lingual frenectomy. Two types of frenectomies exist. There are labial frenectomies (membrane is attached toward the lips) and lingual frenectomies (membrane is attached at the tongue). A labial frenectomy is performed when the frenum pulls on the gum tissue.. A tissue pull can cause the recession of gum tissue or the exposure of a root surface. A tongue tied infant can have a moderate to severe issue with their tongue. A severely tongue tied infant is when the frenulum of the child is attached from the tip of the tongue to the lower mandible gum tissue. This problem allows only the sides of the tongue to lift and move and not the center. When the tongue is lifted, it gives …show more content…
When the infant begins to suckle, the tongue and jaw move forward in a wavelike motion. Upon nursing the tongue begins to ripple back and forth towards the throat while the lower jaw squeezes milk from the sinuses or ductiles. This process causes tongue depression which leads to subsequent swallowing and negative pressure. When a child is tongue tied the tongue cannot extend over the lower jaw. Since the tongue cannot extend properly, the mother's nipple cannot extent into the soft palate.
Problems for nursing mothers with tongue tied babies
This insufficient latching often causes a "chomp" which is when the mandible bites down onto the mother's nipple. This causes a lot of maternal pain. In addition, splitting of the nipples, ischemia, and greater incidence of mastitis can occur. Many nursing difficulties are correlated to a tongue tie issue.
Correcting tongue tied issues on