Short frenum of the tongue in children. Ankyloglossia

A short frenum in a child (ankyloglossia) is a blemish in the development of the oral cavity. This pathology causes difficulties in the process of feeding. This is due to the limited mobility of the language. In the presence of this defect, children are unable to reach them to the lower lip. In this case, the tongue itself looks thickened. In some cases, it has a cleft on its tip. In medical practice, there are also cases of complete fusion of the tongue with the bottom of the oral cavity (the absence of a bridle). However, this is extremely rare.

If the baby has a short frenum of the tongue, then during feeding, he usually quickly gets tired and falls asleep. However, due to unsaturation, it often wakes up. Due to the fact that the short bridle of the tongue, the newborn can not properly take the nipple of the mother. This leads to painful lactation, the formation of cracks on the nipples. Such children are recommended to be transferred to artificial feeding. A short frenum of the tongue further provokes difficulties when swallowing food, as well as pronunciation of individual sounds.

As practice shows, this pathology is detected in approximately one child per thousand. Most often, a short frenulum of the tongue is observed in boys, rather than in girls. This violation also has a hereditary character. According to the results of the research, about half of the children with this vice have the same relatives.

Treatment, as a rule, is surgical. During the operation, the bridle under the tongue is dissected. Such intervention is recommended until reaching the age of nine months. When the operation is performed in a later period, the child will have serious difficulties. Mostly, he will need to again learn to pronounce correctly individual sounds.

Operation of very young children is carried out using local anesthesia. With the use of special scissors, the bridle is cut. After the baby is given a drink or put to the chest.

Children who have a thickening of the bridle, or who have teeth, surgical correction is performed under general anesthesia.

As a rule, the operation is not difficult. Healing of the formed small wound occurs within no more than a day.

How to determine if the length of a child's frenum is normal?

It should be noted that indeed, the connecting web can have different lengths.

If a toddler can stick out a tongue whose tip does not bifurcate and take the shape of two semicircular petals, poke with tongue or lick a saucer, then, most likely, there will be no obstacles to setting separate sounds.

In a child of five years, the normal length of the hyoid frenum should be at least eight millimeters.

Consequences of ankyloglossia

A short sublingual membrane causes difficulty in moving the tongue, particularly when lifting it to the upper sky. In this connection, the pronunciation of such sounds as x, y, p, w, p, w occurs.

In addition, the displacement of the center of the tongue, its small mobility and asymmetric development are often observed. This, in turn, creates obstacles in the formation of the correct articulatory position of individual sounds.

A short hyoid membrane often causes a disorder of diction (clarity and intelligibility of speech).

In many cases, vice affects the development of the child's lower jaw. This can be manifested by the rejection or exposure of the teeth.

The likelihood of developing gingivitis or periodontitis is high. When identifying a short sublingual membrane, consult an orthodontist.

In addition to surgical correction, stretching is also used. This method is suitable when the shortening of the bridle is insignificant.