A short bridle in a newborn is a fairly common problem that parents increasingly face today. With its timely detection, there is no reason to worry. In this article, we will explain why such a defect appears, how it can be detected independently, in which cases an operation is required.
Anatomical features of the frenulum under the tongue
The bridle is the thinnest bridge, which is localized under the tongue and connects it to the lower part of the oral cavity. It is completely covered by the mucous membrane. Due to the membrane in the sublingual region, this organ is constantly held in a certain position.
Also in the oral cavity there are two more jumpers: the upper bridle and the membrane between the lower lip and gums. Together, they provide lip motility, articulation, and the process of chewing food.
The length of the hyoid frenum in an adult is not more than 3 cm, in a newborn - only 8 mm. Normally, it does not interfere with the movement of the tongue, conversation and eating.
A short bridle in a newborn is considered a pathology. The severity of this defect depends on the length and location of the organ. The most difficult case is when the front end is attached directly to the tip of the tongue, tightening it. In this case, the language practically does not rise. Even in silence, he remains between his teeth.
The main causes of the defect
In approximately 50% of cases, the pathology is inherited from one of the parents of the child. The formation of the bridle is directly affected by the behavior and well-being of the mother in the first trimester of pregnancy. Taking hormonal medications and antibiotics can adversely affect the formation of the baby’s oral apparatus.
A certain role in the development of this anatomical defect belongs to the age of the woman in childbirth, adverse environmental conditions, addictions. All of these factors together can affect the health of the child. As medical practice shows, a short bridle occurs in one newborn per thousand babies, and the pathology is more often diagnosed in boys.
Signs of defect
A short bridle in a newborn has a number of characteristic signs, so it is very easy to determine the presence of a defect. Usually it is eliminated in the hospital.
The very first sign of pathology is a heart-shaped tongue with a slightly drawn back tip. Also, doctors call other symptoms:
- The feeding process takes a lot of time, the baby cannot hold his chest in his mouth for a long time.
- A newborn does not gain weight well due to the fact that he does not overeat.
- When feeding, the baby chews and bites the nipple, smackes.
- At the end of feeding, the baby spits up, his stomach swells, which is always accompanied by painful colic.
- In a woman, the appearance of the nipples changes , characteristic cracks appear.
Sometimes the amount of milk produced in a mother decreases, as this process requires some stimulation, and the child cannot fully provide it.
Short bridle and breastfeeding
This anatomical feature is easy to determine by improper grip, as well as sucking the breasts of newborns. If you do not trim the bridle in a timely manner, the baby will not be able to eat fully and will eventually begin to noticeably lose weight. Denying him breastfeeding also should not be, because a woman risks losing milk.
As a rule, babies with such a pathology often ask for a breast, quickly refuse it, or it simply constantly slips out of their mouth. The child cannot correctly "stick" and fix the tongue in the right position. The latter is directly involved in the process of milk production. When the mobility of the tongue is limited due to the anatomical features, the newborn has to use it while feeding the gums and lips. As a result, the baby begins to bite and chew the nipple, which is accompanied by unpleasant sensations for the mother. The child himself is also very tired. Due to the strong overstrain of the jaw muscles, tremors are sometimes observed.
Thus, attachment to the chest is usually ineffective, discomforting and requires a lot of effort for a newborn with a diagnosis of “short frenum of the tongue”.
How to identify a defect yourself?
The length of the bridle in the newborn should be at least 8 mm. To identify a defect, it is enough to pull the lower lip so that the child opens his mouth. Visually, you can determine if the bridle is really short. This is evidenced by the fact that the tongue is attached near the tip itself, that is, it barely touches the lips.
The easiest way to identify pathology in children 2-3 years old, when they are already starting to talk. With incorrect diction or pronunciation of some sounds, parents usually lead the child to a speech therapist. It is a specialist who identifies a birth defect. If parents find it earlier, treating a short bridle can do with massage or articulation exercises.
How to eliminate the pathology?
If an anatomical defect is found in a newborn baby who cannot suckle, the problem is fixed immediately in the hospital. Such an operation does not require anesthesia, since the bridle is devoid of nerve endings, therefore, is insensitive to pain. The procedure itself is very easy and absolutely safe. After this, the child is immediately applied to the chest. Milk helps stop bleeding and quickly heal the injured area.
You can cut the bridle in children of several months of life. In this case, the operation is performed under local anesthesia. The classic method using surgical scissors is also applicable, but today more and more doctors prefer to resort to electrocoagulation. Modern laser surgery has the necessary techniques to eliminate this defect.
At what age is it best to have surgery?
To make the surgery as painless as possible, it is recommended that it be performed in the first weeks of the baby's life. Over time, the membrane thickens. For example, a nine-month-old baby already needs anesthesia and suturing during surgery.
If this time is missed, the next suitable moment is the period when the baby is already 2.5 years old. At this stage, the milk bite is fixed, but the pronunciation is not yet fully formed.
The next favorable period is five years. At this age, milk teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, an occlusion is formed.
Modern laser surgery allows for this kind of surgery at any age. Intervention is not particularly difficult for a qualified doctor. The operation lasts several minutes and is not accompanied by complications in the future. However, after surgical treatment of older children, additional speech therapy is required.
Possible complications
Difficulty with feeding is not the only problem that a short bridle in a newborn entails. Incorrect functioning of the tongue affects the formation of the jaws, bite. Sometimes this pathology serves as a predisposing factor to the occurrence of gingivitis, periodontitis and other problems of a dental nature.
If the anatomical defect is not eliminated in a timely manner, in the future the child may have difficulties with diction, sound pronunciation. In such cases, additional help from a speech therapist is required. Among other unpleasant consequences, experts include the formation of an interdental gap, excessive production of saliva, night snoring.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, today in newborn children, doctors are increasingly diagnosing such a pathology as a short bridle. What to do with such an anatomical defect, how to independently identify it, can be found in the materials of this article.
With the timely detection of pathology and surgical intervention, the prognosis for most children is favorable. Thanks to trimming the frenulum, breathing improves, the child gains weight. The unpleasant symptoms by which it is possible to determine the presence of such an anatomical defect gradually disappear. The sooner the specialist performs this procedure, the higher the likelihood of preventing an incorrect bite and problems with diction. Remember: the health and well-being of the baby is in the hands of the parents.