A short frenum of the tongue in children is a problem that can not be run

Unfortunately, the so-called ankyloglossia, or a short frenum of the tongue, is not so rare in children. This is a congenital defect, consisting in the fact that the tissue connecting the baby's tongue with the lynx bridle is too short. Because of this movement, which can make a language, are limited, as a result, suffers speech. Sometimes a kid can not speak at all, if the situation is quite deplorable.

A short frenum of the tongue in children does not appear anywhere. This defect is inherited, and if the baby was born with such a problem, then someone from the next of kin had exactly the same vice. Other reasons include the use of drugs by the mother during pregnancy and the congenital deformity of the face and mouth (this is already caused by changes at the chromosome level). Fortunately, this is only a physical defect, in no way associated with the development of the baby and not causing any other health problems.

I must say that the short frenum of the tongue in children does not always require surgical intervention. It can be stretched with the help of a speech therapist. However, leaving the problem without attention is not worth it, because this disease can cause a number of unpleasant consequences.

First, the child may have difficulty eating while still in infancy: because of the too short bridle, he can not fit tightly to the mother's breast. Perhaps, in this case, even have to resort to artificial nutrition. Well, in a more mature age a child can not clean his tongue from eating teeth, play with wind instruments.

Secondly, growing up, the kid can not pronounce a lot of letters (n, c, l, s, t, d), because the tip of the tongue is simply not able to rise to the level required for pronunciation. Such speech defects can cause peers ridicule and lack of understanding of the child's speech.

Thirdly, from here it is quite logical to develop an insufficiently high self-esteem and complexity with the adaptation in society, which will affect the entire subsequent life of the baby. So you can not just run this problem and leave it without a solution.

A short frenum of the tongue in children is recognized very quickly and simply: with a medical examination of the oral cavity. The length, degree of contiguity to the tip of the tongue is checked, and at the older age - also the movements of the tongue, its shape.

If the problem is not solved by itself as you grow up and speech therapy, you must necessarily solve it surgically. The plasticity of the bridle, the price of which varies somewhat in different clinics, will help to correct the self-esteem and speech of the child, will enable to integrate normally into the social environment. It is done after two years (up to a year even plastic is not needed - it is enough only to press the bridle).

The bridle of tongue is cut by the laser or by means of standard surgical intervention. Anesthetics are usually not used. After the procedure, you need to rinse your mouth with an antiseptic solution and infusion of medicinal herbs. All heals in a week. Soon after surgery, the baby easily licks his lips, puts out his tongue. It improves appetite, speech. Perhaps this will not happen immediately, and you just need to wait. An adult child may have to re-teach certain sounds.