Lip and tongue ties have been around for as long as people have been around (there are even mentions of them in Medieval manuscripts), but they seem to be much more common in children these days compared to past decades. Why is this the case? You don’t have to search very hard to find countless sites, message boards, and social media groups in which thousands of parents share their woes about having to deal with these conditions. Are more babies being born with these problems, or is something else going on? Thankfully for everyone involved, the answer is quite simple.
Big Reason #1: Higher Rates of Breastfeeding
Baby formula as we know it today was invented in the early 1900s, and to say it was beneficial for families at the time would be an understatement. Any mother who has breastfed will tell you that it is not easy due to a wide variety of factors, and if a child has a lip or tongue tie, it can be near impossible.
Baby formula gave parents the option to primarily bottle-feed their children, and many chose it because of its convenience (there were wars to fight and factories to work in). This caused many lip and tongue ties over the years to go unnoticed. However, as the decades went by and the additional benefits of breastfeeding compared to formula became apparent (increased bonding between parent and child, better immunity, etc.), more parents started primarily breastfeeding again.
Because of this, lip and tongue ties started to become more obvious due to the fact that they directly affect a child’s ability to latch properly. So while the rate of these conditions probably hasn’t changed, their visibility has.
Big Reason #2: Better Diagnostics
Diagnosing a lip or tongue tie requires a keen eye and the right instruments, and just like every other aspect of medicine, the methods and efficacy have greatly improved over time. As a result, pediatricians and dentists are now better able to find lip and tongue ties that might have been missed in previous generations. This is good news for everyone, because while these conditions are closely associated with infants, they can affect older children and adults as well by causing speech, digestion, and even orthodontic problems over time.
Are lip and tongue ties becoming more common? In short, no, but the world has become better at finding them, so it seems like the rate is increasing. Thankfully, the procedure needed to fix them (called a frenectomy) is quick and easy these days thanks to laser technology. In many cases, a dentist can diagnose a child and perform the procedure in a matter of minutes in a single appointment. And often, the child will be feeding comfortably minutes later.
About the Author
Dr. Ray Voller has over 40 years of experience as well as countless hours of continuing education under his belt. He holds Mastership status in the Academy of General Dentistry and has completed all seven levels of courses offered by the world-renowned Pankey Institute. He’s proud to provide quick and comfortable laser frenectomies at his practice, so if you think your child is suffering from a lip or tongue tie, he’s more than ready to help. To schedule a consultation, just click here or call (724) 543-4948.