ANKLYOGLOSSIA , it is commonly known as tongue tie. To understand tongue tie, we need to first know what is lingual frenum. Lingual frenum is the band of muscle fibers which attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Tongue tie occurs when the lingual frenum is short or gets attached to the tip of the tongue. It limits the range of movements of the tongue. The tongue needs to have unrestricted movement for it to function normally.
Tongue tie is not life threatening but it reduces the quality of life as it affects the speech, eating and ability to play wind instruments.
In children it affects how they eat and can cause speech impediments. In infants it can interfere with breastfeeding.
If it is left undiagnosed , it can also be seen in adults causing difficulty in speaking and affecting the confidence. It can also lead to improper oral hygiene as the sweeping action of tongue is reduced.
The signs of tongue tie :
- Having difficulty in moving tongue outside the mouth past the lower teeth
- Unable to touch the back teeth with tongue
- Trouble moving the tongue left and right
- Unable to lift the tongue freely to touch the upper teeth
- Tongue which was band of tissue attached at the tip, giving appearance of notched tongue
- Speech impairment with certain syllables
Early diagnosis is important. The treatment is removing the tissue and releasing the band of muscle fibers. This treatment is called lingual frenectomy which is followed by tongue exercises.
Many patients go through life without knowing they have tongue tie. They adapt and cope with it. It is never too late to get tongue tie diagnosed. If you feel yourself or someone you know might have tongue tie, visit us at Denticare Dental Clinic. We will diagnose and correct your tongue tie and also help you improve your speech and quality of life.
