'Tongue-tie' in babies can cause serious problems in breast-feeding moms
Experts have announced that the condition of “tongue-tie” in babies which interferes breast-feeding can be quickly diagnosed and be treated in many cases.
The condition is also known as ankyloglossia, occurs in 4 percent to 10 percent of newborns. The most widespread type is easy to identify and occurs, when a tight band of tissue causes heart-shaped tongue indentation at the front of the mouth.
Another form of the condition is difficult for finding out, according to Doctor Dale Tylor, the senior teacher of pediatric otolaryngology in the Medical center of University Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee.
“For the baby to properly breast-feed, the child should move his or her tongue to their lips to allow to suck, to occur,” Tylor in release of news of Vanderbilta has told. “If there is a tethering, the child has a hard time latching on and uses his or her gums or lips. It becomes painful for mum, and can even cause a bleeding.”
Other signs of tongue-tie include the child who nurses within an hour for once, is frustrated during feeding, or falls asleep before becoming full.
These problems can cause mothers to supplement breast-feeding with formula or give up breastfeeding altogether.
But Tylor has told more than two thirds of mothers of babies with tongue-tie can successfully breast-feed their babies after a simple, outpatient tongue-tie-clipping procedure called a frenotomy. Tylor also has told that her research shows that early treatment of tongue-tie reduces risk of speech problems. Left not cured, tongue-tie can cause other problems
“They can have problems, taking a spoon,” Tylor said. “Or they, probably, may not be able to lick an ice-cream cone or stick out their tongues with their brother, sister or peers. They could even have problems in adult life with common social activities like brushing their teeth or even kissing.”
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