Tongue Tie and Lip Tie FAQ

Dr. Bobby Ghaheri is an ENT surgeon, who has a clinical interest in helping babies with breastfeeding difficulites. Dr. Ghaheri has written many wonderful articles disucssing tongue-tie, tongue-tie & breastfeeding and tongue-tie laser surger. To learn more about Dr. Ghaheri, please visit his website DrGhaheri.com.

1) Can a tongue tied baby stick her tongue out past her lips?
Absolutely. Just because the tongue has normal motion in one direction doesn't mean that the tongue has normal motion in ALL directions. The most important movement for the tongue during breastfeeding is UP and not OUT, so the normal outward movement of the tongue is as relevant as normal shoulder movement for the purposes of breastfeeding.

2) Can laser revision cause scar tissue?
Yes. Any wound can have scar tissue. The precision of laser and the lack of collateral damage because of focused energy is thought to minimize that scar tissue. Regardless of the technique used, however, if the entire tongue tie is released (including the posterior portion), then there is a higher chance of scar tissue because the wound is deeper and the opposing edges of the release site are closer together, increasing the chances of scarring.

3) Are stretches necessary to prevent reattachment?
Stretches are necessary to prevent reattachment for the lip and a released posterior tongue tie. If someone just releases the anterior component, then I don't really think that stretches matter. The opposing raw edges of the wounds in a lip tie or posterior tongue tie are too close, and will stick together to some degree without stretching.


To read the above article follow this link to Dr. Ghaheri's website.
To read other articles written by Dr. Ghaheri please visit his website DrGhaheri.com

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles 
Tel: 717-259-9596 
418 West King Street
East Berlin, PA 17316
USA

Like Parent, Like Child: Good Oral Health Starts at Home

Parents are a child's first teacher in life and play a significant role in maintaining his or her overall health. Providing oral health education to mothers and families is essential to teaching children healthy habits and preventing early childhood tooth decay, according to an article published in the May/June 2010 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

With all of the challenges that new parents face, they may not think much about the link between their child's oral health and overall health. In fact, an understanding of oral hygiene can help parents to prevent tooth decayóthe single most common chronic childhood disease in Americaóand to create a lifetime of healthy habits for their child.

"Ideally, the oral health education for any family will begin with prenatal education and the establishment of a dental home by the time the child is 12 to 18 months of age," says Tegwyn Brickhouse, DDS, author of the study. "Many people don't realize that the oral health of the mother affects both the infant's future oral health and the child's overall health. In fact, some studies show that periodontal disease has been linked to preterm labor. That's why pregnant women should be evaluated for cavities, poor oral hygiene, gingivitis, loose teeth and diet."

After the child is born, families should become familiar with their child's dental and oral health milestones, which will be determined by discussion with the family dentist or a pediatric dentist. Children should have their first dental visit at age 1 or within six months of the eruption of their first tooth. A dentist will be able to discuss when parents can expect to see a child's first tooth and the best technique for brushing his or her new teeth.

Diet is another factor that affects a child's oral health. Frequent and long-term exposure to liquids that contain sugars commonly results in tooth decay. In addition to eliminating sugary drinks altogether from a child's diet, parents can adopt other habits to prevent tooth decay due to beverage consumption.

"Parents should avoid giving their children milk, formula, juice or soda at naptime or nighttime," says Bruce DeGinder, DDS, MAGD, spokesperson for the AGD. "The sugars will linger on their teeth and gums for a prolonged period of time, promoting decay."

Parents are responsible for their child's oral hygiene practices and are advised to meet with a general dentist to determine the best way to establish and maintain their child's oral health. A general dentist also can provide families with oral health literature that is designed to educate both the parent and child. This education has multiple benefits; as Dr. Brickhouse notes, "Healthy teeth in early childhood can provide a positive self-image and improve the child's quality of life."

To read the entire article please visit KnowYourTeeth.com

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Frenotomy - Patient Care Information

Dr. Bobby Ghaheri is an ENT surgeon, who has a clinical interest in helping babies with breastfeeding difficulites. Dr. Ghaheri has written many wonderful articles disucssing tongue-tie, tongue-tie & breastfeeding and tongue-tie laser surger. To learn more about Dr. Ghaheri, please visit his website DrGhaheri.com.  

What is a Frenotomy?
A frenotomy or frenectomy is a procedure used to correct a congenital condition in which the lingual (tongue) or labial (upper lip) frenulum is too tight, causing restrictions in movement that can cause significant difficulty with breastfeeding, and in some instances, other health problems like dental decay or spacing, speech difficulties and digestive issues. When it affects the lingual frenulum, this condition is commonly called a tongue tie (the medical term is ankyloglossia). Approximately 5% of the population has this condition, so your lactation consultant or doctor may feel that a procedure is warranted to improve symptoms.

To learn more about the before, during and after care on a Frenotomy please visit Dr. Ghaheri's website.

To read the above article follow this link to Dr. Ghaheri's website.
To read other articles written by Dr. Ghaheri please visit his website DrGhaheri.com

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

 

Dr. Kotlow shows how to examine an infant for a posterior tongue tie

Dr. Kotlow shows how to examine an infant for a posterior tongue tie.

The above video is found on Dr. Kotlow's YouTube Channel.

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

The Importance of a Good Diet

In a perfect world, there would be no cavities - but unfortunately that would mean there would have to be no sugar, and let’s be honest, that’s never going to happen.

Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet isn’t just important to your overall health, its important to your oral health as well. Frequent or prolonged intake of sugary foods enables bacteria to maintain an acidic environment on the surface of your teeth. Soft and sticky foods cling to the biting surfaces of the teeth and stay there until itís brushed off. Saliva will spread the sugar between the teeth, and to the front and back.

So how do cavities occur and that ugly dental decay?
Every time you eat, plaque and bacteria in your mouth mix with the sugar and starch from the food you ingest, creating an acidic environment in your mouth. This acid softens the enamel of your teeth, and without proper oral hygiene, can expose your teeth to troublesome cavities.

How to reduce the risk of decay:

• Brush daily with fluoridated toothpaste.
• Follow your country’s food guide necessary for a healthy diet.
• When eating starchy foods such as bread, cereal and pasta, minimize the time teeth are exposed by eating them with meals rather than snacking on them throughout the day.
• Substitute sugary snacks with sugar-free gum and mints. Xylitol found in some chewing gums has been found to reduce risk of cavities. This can help reduce cavities and increase saliva flow.
• Drink high-sugar beverages through a straw, then rinse mouth with water and brush within 30 minutes. But be careful, brushing to quickly following a meal can damage your teeth’s enamel.
• Rinsing with water after eating can help cleanse the teeth before brushing.

To read the entire article please visit Plus.HealthyTeeth.org

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Tongue Tie vs Lip Tie: Which is More to Blame?

Dr. Bobby Ghaheri is an ENT surgeon, who has a clinical interest in helping babies with breastfeeding difficulites. Dr. Ghaheri has written many wonderful articles disucssing tongue-tie, tongue-tie & breastfeeding and tongue-tie laser surger. To learn more about Dr. Ghaheri, please visit his website DrGhaheri.com.

As awareness about the impact of tongue tie and lip tie on breast­‐feeding has become more widespread, more and more people are having questions about how to best evaluate babies with breastfeeding problems. Many people focus on lip tie as the major problem with breastfeeding. I receive many pictures of babies' lips from parents who are wondering whether a simple lip revision will take care of their problems.

 

To read the above article follow this link to Dr. Ghaheri's website.
To read other articles written by Dr. Ghaheri please visit his website DrGhaheri.com

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles 
Tel: 717-259-9596 
418 West King Street
East Berlin, PA 17316
USA