One of your most important roles as a parent or guardian is to help keep your baby safe and healthy until they grow up enough to care for themselves. However, it can be challenging to know what your baby needs if they’re distraught but are too small to tell you what’s wrong.
For instance, if your infant seems frequently upset, struggles to eat, or cries more than most, it could be due to a lip or tongue-tie. Continue reading to learn more about how this oral concern might be contributing to your child’s distress!
Why Does My Baby Cry So Much?
It’s normal and even healthy for babies to cry, but excessive wailing could point to an underlying dental or general health concern. For instance, colic is a condition in which an otherwise healthy infant experiences inconsolable crying that typically lasts for more than 3 hours a day for 3 days a week over a period of 3 or more weeks.
Babies with this condition also tend to clench their fists, curl their legs, arch their back, or have a hard belly full of gas. The exact cause of this condition is unknown, but it’s believed various factors can contribute to its development, such as swallowing too much air when nursing or improper digestion after meals.
What is a Lip or Tongue-Tie?
Although there might be several reasons an infant struggles with breastfeeding, a lip or tongue-tie is often the culprit. This refers to a condition in which their frenulum, or the strip of flesh anchoring their tongue to the floor of their mouth or their lips to their gums, is overly tight, short, or thick. This restricts the movement of their mouth and can impede their ability to latch correctly.
Unfortunately, improper latching can cause babies to swallow excessive air, leading to bloating and gas that can leave them sore or irritated. Your child could also develop dehydration or struggle to gain weight if they’re unable to ingest enough nutrients to grow and develop normally.
How Are Lip and Tongue-Ties Treated?
Thankfully, a lip or tongue-tie can often be treated effectively with a frenectomy. This procedure involves using a specialized laser to gently sever the overly tight frenulum, restoring a full range of motion to your child’s lips or tongue. This method cauterizes the wound immediately, which helps reduce discomfort and bleeding and speeds up the recovery process.
In fact, many infants can, and are sometimes encouraged to, nurse relatively quickly after their procedure to soothe their system and aid their healing.
If you’re unsure whether your child’s fussiness is due to a lip or tongue-tie, you can learn more by contacting their pediatric dentist for an appointment!
Meet the Author
Dr. Nisha Mehta is passionate about helping children in Katy build and maintain happy, healthy teeth and gums. She earned her dental degree from the University of Illinois Chicago, where she earned numerous honors and awards. She remained there to complete her specialty pediatric training while earning her Masters in Oral Sciences, and today, is a valued member of various trusted organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (281) 849-3003.