{"id":140,"date":"2023-05-04T15:54:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-04T15:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.texasdentistryterrell.com\/blog\/?p=140"},"modified":"2023-06-27T15:57:27","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T15:57:27","slug":"how-lip-and-tongue-ties-can-impact-the-transition-to-solid-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texasdentistryterrell.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/04\/how-lip-and-tongue-ties-can-impact-the-transition-to-solid-foods\/","title":{"rendered":"How Lip and Tongue Ties Can Impact the Transition to Solid Foods"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The shift to eating solid foods is a pretty big step for children, and if your little one is about to reach this milestone, you\u2019re probably pretty excited to see them begin expanding their palate and trying out all sorts of new foods! But this transition isn\u2019t always easy, and sometimes complications such as lip and tongue ties<\/a> can present themselves and cause a lot of trouble and frustration for your child when it comes to eating. Here\u2019s a closer look at these issues and their impact on feeding, along with why it\u2019s always worth resolving the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

A Closer Look at Lip and Tongue Ties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lip and tongue ties occur when the frenulum, which is the soft piece of connective tissue linking the tongue to the lower jaw, is restricting normal oral functionality. And believe it or not, this condition occurs in around 5% of all children, making it fairly common! That said, it can cause a variety of complications, including speech impediment and impacted dental development. But most notably, it can affect the ability of children to bite and chew their food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Lip and Tongue Ties Affect the Ability to Eat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lip and tongue ties can cause children to encounter difficulties with breastfeeding due to their limited tongue movement. For instance, they might be unable to maintain a proper latch during nursing sessions. This sometimes causes parents to shift too quickly to bottle-feeding, which means the issue remains unresolved as the child nears the transition to solid foods. Since these foods rely on the teeth and tongue working in unison to be chewed and swallowed, your child won\u2019t be able to move their tongue as normal. This leaves larger pieces of food in the mouth, which isn\u2019t just a choking hazard\u2014it can also cause indigestion and malnutrition, among other issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Identifying the Issue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your dentist will be able to identify any type of issue with your child\u2019s frenulum upon a close inspection; however, there are a few signs you can watch for to provide you with a hint:<\/p>\n\n\n\n