Ankyloglossia, or tongue ties, affects roughly 5% of babies, making them rather frequent. In reality, a lot of kids with mild tongue ties don't experience any problems as they get older. However, tongue knots in certain kids might make it difficult for them to eat and perhaps result in speech issues in the future. We'll cover all you need to know about tongue knots and how they could impair your child's speech in this blog post from 24/7 Local Dentist.

First, let’s go over the basics of tongue ties. A tongue tie occurs when the band of tissue (lingual frenulum) attaching the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is over-developed. When this tissue is too thick and stiff, your child’s oral range of motion is affected. Basically, they can’t move their tongue freely.

This is why kids with tongue ties may have trouble latching onto the breast or a bottle when feeding. They can’t form a proper latch with their tongue. Their tongue may also look “notched” or “heart-shaped,” since the tongue tie is pulling it downward.

Since tongue ties restrict the movement of the tongue, it isn’t difficult to imagine how the condition can affect speech. Due to the tongue’s inability to move properly, children with tongue ties often have trouble pronouncing certain sounds, known as “phonemes.” 

That’s because the tongue is really important for speech. Take the phoneme “D” as an example. When you make the “D” noise, your tongue contacts the roof of your mouth, then flicks downward. If you don’t have a tongue tie, it’s easy to move your tongue properly and make this sound.

It’s important to note that tongue ties typically don’t interfere with your child’s ability to learn speech. They will not lead to developmental delays, and your child will still be able to speak relatively normally. 

But their speech may be indistinct. They may sound “slushy” or “lispy” when they speak. If you think your child may have tongue ties, you should consult with a speech-language pathologist for a diagnosis.

The best option is usually a frenectomy. This is a simple surgical procedure where a specialist like Dr Jarod snips the band of tissue that attaches your child’s tongue to the bottom of their mouth. Along with some simple physical therapy exercises, this restores your child’s oral range of motion.

Earlier is always better. In fact, infant frenectomies are usually recommended if the issue is noticed early, as soon as a few weeks after birth. The sooner you get treatment for your child’s tongue tie, the easier the procedure will be.

Come To 24/7 Local Dentist For Frenectomies In Muscatine

If your child has been diagnosed with tongue ties, Dr Jarod is here to help. Thanks to our investment in laser dentistry, we offer safe, pain-free frenectomies in Muscatine. We’re dedicated to the comfort of you and your child and are always accepting new patients. Contact us online or give us a call at (833) 220-2448 to schedule your appointment today.