Did you know that sources estimate approximately 4% to 11% of newborns have lip or tongue-ties? If the band of tissue under the tongue or behind the lip, or frenulum, is overly short, tight, or hard, its movement is restricted, resulting in a limited range of motion that can impact their dental health, growth, and development.
But many adults who struggle with basic skills, such as speaking, eating, breathing, or kissing, don’t realize their challenges might also be due to a lip or tongue-tie. If you’re unsure whether your struggles are associated with this condition, continue reading to learn more!
Can Adults Have Lip or Tongue-Ties?
Many people mistakenly assume that lip and tongue-ties eventually stretch out or resolve on their own. As a result, it’s often believed that the issue should have taken care of itself by the time a patient reaches adulthood, but that’s unfortunately not true.
Lip and tongue-ties don’t usually improve naturally and require professional intervention to be resolved. For example, many dentists provide laser frenectomies that can sever the additional tissue to restore a full range of motion while simultaneously cauterizing the wound to reduce discomfort, bleeding, and recovery times. If a child’s condition remains untreated, it is likely to continue to impact them as they grow.
How Do I Know if I Have a Lip or Tongue-Tie?
Understanding the signs of a lip or tongue-tie in adults can help you identify symptoms so you know when to contact your dentist. Potential indicators can include:
- Speech difficulties. You might struggle to clearly enunciate sounds like “r”, “l”, “d”, “t”, “th”, or “n”, or develop a lisp, slur, or sore jaw after too much speaking.
- Struggle to chew or swallow. A limited range of motion in your lip or tongue can make it harder to manipulate food in your mouth to sufficiently grind and swallow food.
- Oral health concerns. You might struggle to reach certain parts of your mouth, like the back of your molars, which increases the risk of cavities or gum disease.
- Snoring. You might experience frequent or persistent snoring or mouth breathing.
- Jaw pain. The joints anchoring your jawbone to your skull might become overworked, causing aches and inflammation.
How Are Adult Lip or Tongue-Ties Treated?
A frenectomy is the tried-and-true treatment to address this condition, and thankfully, it’s considered a safe and effective procedure for people of all ages. However, some patients also require additional services to improve their skills and abilities, such as speech therapy, special exercises for the mouth and tongue, or a combination of these options with surgery.
If you’re unsure whether you have a lip or tongue-tie, you can learn more by scheduling an appointment with your dentist!
About the Practice
Patients at South Texas Periodontics & Implants benefit from the expertise of three providers eager to help them improve their lives by enhancing their oral health. Dr. Garcia, Dr. Wu, and Dr. Hood share decades of combined experience and collaborate to deliver a variety of complex and surgical procedures, including frenectomies, tailored to meet your unique needs. Their compassionate approach is combined with advanced technology to deliver more comfortable and accurate results that are intended to last. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (361) 992-7641.