The Tongue-Tied Infant: A Simple Condition with Serious Consequences 

On the surface, it may seem that a tongue tie is just a small anomaly for an infant with no serious consequences. There are many infants with the condition that seem to do quite well, even though they have this condition. Unfortunately, for those who are adversely affected, the consequences can be severe.

Problems for Mother and Child

Now that more mothers are choosing to breastfeed their babies, infant tongue tie is becoming more noticeable with those infants who have the condition. Tongue tie can cause difficulty for the baby and the mother due to problems with latching on and proper swallowing.

When a baby’s tongue has restricted movement, latching onto the breast can be particularly challenging. These infants work harder to get their milk and they are frequently unable to get an adequate amount of milk when they do feed. Consequently, they tend to fall asleep when they should be nursing, and they fall off the breast. Because they are not getting their full meal, they are hungry more often and need frequent feeding.

It is common for mothers of such infants to experience painful breastfeeding. Sometimes the baby will bite because it is having trouble getting a good latch on for sucking. Some mothers give up on breastfeeding altogether because of the pain and the frustration, not even realizing the cause for the problems.

Additional Consequences

The most disturbing consequence of infant tongue tie is the possible connection with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS.) It appears that tongue tied infants have a higher risk of SIDS than those who do not have this condition. More research is being conducted on the risk factors associated with the problem.

When not treated, tongue tie can also lead to sleep problems that can begin in infancy. Structural and functional changes in craniofacial development have also been associated with untreated tongue tie, resulting in problems with the respiratory system that may impact the individual’s sleep into adulthood. Mouth breathing is one symptom that can occur. This can lead to disrupted sleep through the night. While the quantity of sleep may be adequate, the quality of sleep is not, since mouth breathing does not allow for the deepest level of sleep at which healing in the body takes place.

Tongue tie may seem like a small problem. Once diagnosed, the remedy for tongue tie is a small procedure. If you suspect your baby has this condition, contact South Carolina Tongue Tie Center for diagnosis and treatment. Prevent a small problem from causing big issues for you and your baby.