{"id":191,"date":"2025-04-25T16:35:57","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T16:35:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.washparkpediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=191"},"modified":"2025-06-13T19:57:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T19:57:23","slug":"not-just-a-phase-why-and-how-treat-lip-and-tongue-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.washparkpediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/2025\/04\/25\/not-just-a-phase-why-and-how-treat-lip-and-tongue-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"Not Just a Phase: Why and How to Treat Lip and Tongue-Ties"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.washparkpediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/AdobeStock_224788756__1746462615_17054-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"crying newborn in mom\u2019s arms\" class=\"wp-image-192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.washparkpediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/AdobeStock_224788756__1746462615_17054-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.washparkpediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/AdobeStock_224788756__1746462615_17054-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.washparkpediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/AdobeStock_224788756__1746462615_17054.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Waking up for feedings in the middle of the night, napping during the day, wearing diapers, eating mashed foods\u2014these are all things that babies eventually outgrow. As they develop, they learn coordination, control, and skills to function better in the world. So, when a friend suggests that your baby who has a hard time breastfeeding and thriving might have a tongue-tie, you wonder whether this issue is something else that will go away on its own. When it comes to a lip or tongue-tie, don\u2019t try to postpone treatment! Keep reading to learn more about this problem and why it needs to be addressed sooner than later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When and How Do Lip and Tongue-Ties Form?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While a fetus is in utero, the mother can do many things to help the baby grow and be healthy, but there are many things outside her control. For instance, as the fetus develops, a tiny piece of tissue connects the tongue and upper lip to the inside of the mouth. Typically, this tissue is resorbed before birth, allowing the tongue and lips to function more freely. In some babies, however, this tissue, called a frenulum, stays and restricts flexibility and motion of the tongue or lips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do Lip and Tongue-Ties Go Away without Treatment?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although your baby has decades of growth ahead of them, some things don\u2019t naturally disappear once they are born. Unfortunately, a lip or tongue-tie doesn\u2019t diminish or fade away with time and development. In fact, if this issue isn\u2019t treated, it can continue to interfere with your child\u2019s quality of life well into adulthood with conditions like sleep apnea, speech impediments, and eating and nutritional issues becoming serious concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is the Process of Getting a Frenectomy for My Baby or Child?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you think your baby or child has a lip or tongue-tie, the sooner you have them examined and treated, the better! Take them to a pediatric dentist who can identify whether their oral function is impaired and carry out a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washparkpediatricdentistry.com\/frenectomies.html\">frenectomy<\/a>, the procedure to remove the limiting tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the procedure, the pediatric dentist will apply a topical anesthetic to the tissue, numbing the area. Using an appropriate surgical tool, they will then separate the tissue, releasing the tongue\u2019s range of motion. In all, this treatment takes only about 15 minutes and requires relatively minimal aftercare. You\u2019ll need to keep the area clean as your baby heals to prevent an infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At some point, your baby will no longer wake you up consistently at night. Eventually, they will learn to walk more steadily. Their tongue-tie, however, is here to stay unless you treat it. Even if you catch a lip or tongue-tie when your child is older, it\u2019s always a good idea to resolve it as soon as you can. Improved oral function can help your baby or child have a healthier future and thrive more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About the Practice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Denver, CO, Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry offers a uniquely inviting environment for kids to begin their dental health journey. Board-certified pediatric dentists <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washparkpediatricdentistry.com\/meet-dr-patrick.html\">Dr. Patrick Bowman<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washparkpediatricdentistry.com\/meet-dr-kathleen.html\">Dr. Kathleen Waguespack<\/a> have dedicated their careers to patients from birth to age 18. As parents, they also have personal experience with little ones and can perform frenectomies. To schedule an appointment at our office, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washparkpediatricdentistry.com\/contact-us.html\">contact us online<\/a> or call us at 720-647-6310.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Waking up for feedings in the middle of the night, napping during the day, wearing diapers, eating mashed foods\u2014these are all things that babies eventually outgrow. As they develop, they learn coordination, control, and skills to function better in the world. So, when a friend suggests that your baby who has a hard time breastfeeding [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Not Just a Phase: Why and How to Treat Lip and Tongue-Ties - Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Although some baby tendencies and struggles eventually go away, lip and tongue-ties don\u2019t. 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