Ankyloglossia or short lingual frenulum is behind many cases of breastfeeding failure. Although the first enemy of ankyloglossia is breastfeeding, there are others such as: poor palate development, inability to swallow or swallow food and nasal breathing. Children are born with a narrower face in order to pass through the birth canal and then the mobility of the tongue in the mouth opens the jaw and palate. Therefore, if this movement does not take place, the palate becomes narrow and this causes breathing and swallowing problems. This leads to an excess of respiratory infections and repeated otitis, as well as the need for orthodontics due to poor dental occlusion. Another difficulty is breathing through the nose, as the closed palate leaves less space for the nasal cavities and causes those with frenulum to suffer from oral respiratory syndrome, which translates into more snoring, a back position that causes cervical problems and even scoliosis.
Data from the Spanish Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery estimate that it affects 9.3% of children and other studies also estimate the prevalence at around 10%.
With regard to the breastfeeding Tongue frenulum can have consequences for both mother and baby. Problems with the baby's tongue movements make it difficult for the baby to suckle and let down milk. A short lingual frenulum prevents the baby from wrapping the tongue around the base of the areola and the underside of the nipple.
Consequences for the mother:
- Sore and cracked nipples, due to friction and poor grip.
- Poor drainage of the ducts. Together with cracks, they can promote the development of infection in the breast.
- Decreased milk production due to lack of effective stimulation.
- Tiredness and frustration, due to long takes.
- As a consequence of the above, early weaning often occurs.
Consequences for the child:
- Poor grip on the chest.
- Very long shots.
- Higher intake of milk from the beginning. As it is rich in lactose, it is more difficult to digest. As a consequence, more digestive problems such as colic, gas, etc.
- Lower milk intake with low weight gain.
- Increased incidence of respiratory problems such as snoring, pneumonia and bronchitis. It may also influence the occurrence of sleep apnoea.
- Alteration in the bite when teeth erupt.
- Speech-related problems.
It is therefore recommended that phrenectomy be performed early in life, as it is not an aggressive procedure and can be beneficial during lactation or for speech when they are older, thus avoiding general anaesthesia when diagnosed later in life.
If you need more information or have any doubts, please do not hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to help you in any way we can.
