Baby Tongue Tie Treatment

The medical term for a tongue tie treatment is Ankyloglossia. This is required when the little piece of tissue underneath the tough is attached to too much of the tongue. This prevents the tongue from being able to stick out far enough.

In some cases this is not an issue or other cases this can be a major issue and lead to different problems. These problems include difficulties nursing as well a creating a heart shape at the tip of the tongue. If this procedure is done within the first month of a babies life it is a very easy problem to fix. All it takes is a small clip using specialized scissors. There is no long procedure and usually takes around ten minutes to do. The only real issue is finding the the right doctor to do it.

After a couple of months the piece of tissue will thicken and require a more intensive procedure. The procedure should be done well the child is under anesthesia or they are old enough to sit still. Unless there is a speech concern it is best to hold off until the child is olde enough to sit still for the procedure. This is around the age of ten years old.

It is possible for this procedure to be done quick and easy as long as the problem is caught early enough. If not the procedure can be a more intensive and should be done once the child is old enough to sit still.

For more information about this treatment please visit http://www.woodbridgekids.com/tongue-tie-baby/

Preventative Care

Brushing our teeth is a way to physically remove plaque, which is full of bacteria, and food from the teeth. It is very crucial that your child goes to sleep with their teeth being as clean as possible. While your child is awake, their saliva acts as a defense and helps slow bacterial action in the mouth.

When your child is asleep, there is much less saliva flow resulting in much less protection against bacteria. Baby teeth are most likely to get cavities in areas that their toothbrushes cannot reach. Once the gaps close between your child’s teeth (usually by 4 years old), it is recommended that flossing be incorporated into the child’s everyday oral hygiene routine. Flossing removes plaque and food while also promoting healthy gums.

Regular dental checkups are extremely important. You should be bringing your child to the dentist for a check up every six months to guarantee that cavities are caught as early as possible, to monitor their dental growth, and to strengthen oral hygiene habits. 

Those who are prone to getting cavities or who are undertaking orthodontic treatment will benefit from going for checkups on a regular basis. Check-ups consist of a professional who performs a dental cleaning and a fluoride application to ensure your child’s teeth are clean and without cavities.

Sealants are offered, which are protective coatings that are placed on children’s molars that work to seal off the grooves to prevent any cavities from developing. They do wear down over time and require touch up, but sealants can last for many years and stay in good condition.  

Laser Dentistry

Soft tissue laser treatments are now being offered at Woodbridge Kids Dentistry. Laser Dentistry is becoming progressively widespread in children’s dental care because of quick healing time and little postoperative pain. We want you to be aware of the procedure and what it entails.

Laser can be used to treat many different conditions such as tongue tie, which is when the tongue is stuck to the bottom of the mouth and will not touch the lip. Laser can correct this problem instantly. The different types of tongue tie are posterior tongue tie, maxillary tongue tie and lingual tongue tie. Nursing problems are often a result of lingual tongue tie. Woodbridge Kids Dentistry is one of the few Pediatric Dental Clinics in the GTA that can offer this kind of treatment to you and your children.

Our soft tissue laser treatments can also efficiently and safely treat, lip tie, frenectomy, gingivectomy, cold and canker sores, biopsies, and expose unerupted teeth. A labial frenum will unfortunately result in a gap between the front two teeth. The gap is referred to as diastema. The labial frenum is a piece of skin and doesn’t allow muscle movement.

Soft tissue laser treatment can remove this fold of skin and fix the problem. Orthodontic patients often have this process done to help close the gap between teeth and prevent it from resurfacing. There is little to no pain after the procedure and there’s a quick healing time. Sedation may not be necessary depending on the case.