Unfortunately, the so-called ankyloglossia, or a short frenulum of the tongue, is not so rare in children. This is a congenital defect, in that the tissue of the junction of the child’s tongue with the lingual bridle is too short. Due to this movement, which the language can make is limited, as a result, speech suffers. Sometimes a baby cannot speak at all if the situation is absolutely deplorable.
A short frenulum of the tongue in children does not appear out of nowhere. This defect is inherited, and if the baby was born with such a problem, then one of the next of kin had exactly the same vice. Other reasons may be the use of drugs by the mother during pregnancy and congenital deformation of the face and mouth (this is already caused by changes at the chromosomal level). Fortunately, this is only a physical disability, in no way connected with the development of the baby and does not cause any other health problems.
I must say that a short frenulum of the tongue in children does not always require surgical intervention. It can be stretched by using a speech therapist. However, you should not leave the problem unattended, because this disease can cause a number of unpleasant consequences.
Firstly, a child may have difficulty eating during his infancy: due to a too short bridle, he will not be able to firmly adhere to his mother’s chest. In this case, you may even have to resort to artificial nutrition. Well, at a more adult age, the child will not be able to clean his tongue from eating his teeth, playing wind instruments.
Secondly, growing up, the baby will not be able to pronounce quite a few letters (n, s, l, s, t, e), since the tip of the tongue is simply not able to rise to the level necessary for pronunciation. Such speech defects can cause ridicule by peers and a lack of understanding of the child’s speech.
Thirdly, from here it develops quite logically that insufficiently high self-esteem and difficulties with adaptation in society develop, which will affect the whole subsequent life of the baby. So to launch this problem and leave it without a solution is simply impossible.
A short frenulum of the tongue in children is recognized very quickly and simply: during a medical examination of the oral cavity. It checks the length, the degree of adjacency to the tip of the tongue, and at an older age - also the movement of the tongue, its shape.
If the problem does not resolve itself as it grows older and speech therapy sessions, it is imperative to solve it surgically.
Plastic surgery of the bridle, the price of which varies somewhat in different clinics, will help to correct the child’s self-esteem and speech, and will enable normal integration into the public environment. It is done after two years (up to a year, even plastic is not needed - just press the bridle).
The frenum of the tongue is cut with a laser or with standard surgical intervention. Painkillers are generally not used. After the procedure, you need to rinse your mouth with an antiseptic solution and infusion of medicinal herbs. Everything heals in a week. Shortly after surgery, the child easily licks his lips, sticks out his tongue. His appetite and speech are improving. Perhaps this will not happen immediately, and you just need to wait. An adult child may have to relearn certain sounds.