Tongue and lip ties cause dental problems

Tongue and lip ties can cause dental problems in toddlers, children of all ages, and adults.  The dental problems may include dental decay, gum disease (gum recessions), gap between front teeth (diastema), crooked teeth, malocclusion, teeth grinding/clenching, and others

These are some of the dental problems that may be caused by tongue and lip ties:

Lip and Tongue Ties and Diastemas (gap between teeth)

·       Lip tie that has band of thick tissue that connects the underside of the lip to the gums can cause a gap between the upper front teeth

·       Tongue tie that has a band of thick tissue that connects the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth can cause a gap between the lower front teeth

·       Pediatric dentist, Larry Kotlow, D.D.S. recommends that the best time to perform the lip and tongue tied releases for gap closure is before 18 months old or when the permanent teeth are erupting

·       Lip and tongue tied releases allow for gap closure without the need for braces

Poor oral hygiene

·       Can be painful when parent lifts the lip to assist the toddler/child with brushing.  The tightness of the lip tie hurts the child

·       Can be painful when the toothbrush hits the lip tie (frenum)

·       Difficult for toddlers/children to keep up with their oral hygiene when tooth brushing (hitting the tie) is painful

·       Food, juice, or milk  traps  in the pocket between the lip and the teeth and cause dental decay

Dental Caries

·       Lip tie can trap food between the lip and the teeth and make it difficult to brush

·       Tongue tie restricts the tongue from lifting and sweeping the food stuck between the cheeks and teeth. Tongue is restricted and unable to clean the back teeth and the palate.

·       Prolong exposure of food debris on teeth surfaces without thorough cleaning them off would cause dental decay and oral health issues

Teeth Grinding/Clenching

·       Teeth grinding may be caused by stress

·       In his book, “Tongue Tie,” Pediatric dentist, Richard Baxter, D.D.S. talks about the new thinking is that nighttime teeth grinding can be a sign of sleep-disordered breathing.

·       Dr. Baxter discussed that one possible reason children and adults grind their teeth at night may be because of airway obstruction. “If the tongue is held down by a tongue-tie, the tongue often falls backward during sleep and blocks the airway,” said Dr. Baxter

·       When the airway is blocked, the body tries to open up the airway by protruding the lower jaw and grinding teeth.  It is a body’s defense mechanism of arousing the person to breathe when the airway is obstructed. (88, 89)

88.  Kostrzewa-Janicka J, Jurkowski P, Zycinska K, Przybylowska D, Mierzwinska-Nastalska E. Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders and Buxism. Adv Exp Med Biol 2015; 873:9-14.

89.  Jokubauskas L, Baltrusaityte  A.  Relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and sleep bruxism:  a systematic review. J  Oral Rahabil 2017; 44(2): 144-53.

Gum disease (gum recessions)

·       Gum recession is a form of gum disease

·       Gum recession is common in patients with lip, tongue and buccal ties

·       The strong muscles of the tongue, lips and cheeks pull on the gums over time and exert a traumatic force and cause the gums to recede and expose the roots

·       Tongue ties cause gum recessions on the insides of the lower front teeth

·       Lip ties cause gum recessions outsides of the upper and/ lower front teeth

·       Buccal ties cause gum recessions outside of the canines or premolars

Orthodontic treatment

·       Orthodontic treatment is often needed in patients with lip and tongue ties

·       Lip ties (band of thick tissues) can create a gap between upper and/ lower front teeth

·       Tongue ties can affect the growth of jaw bones and cause the bones to grow too little which lead to teeth crowding issues and malocclusion

·       Tongue tie restricts the tongue sitting in the palate and causes poor palatal growth. 

·       Poor palatal growth is the palate that is high arched and V-shaped (narrow) and it may be the cause of crooked upper teeth and other health problem, such as sleep apnea

·       The ideal goal is the unrestrictive tongue sitting in the palate and it should be broad and U-shaped

Dr. Anna Lee is a general & cosmetic dentist in Glendora.  Lip and tongue ties can cause dental problems in toddlers, children and adults.  Dr. Lee is an experienced provider for Laser lip and tongue tied frenectomy (releases).  If you have questions about lip and tongue ties and how they can affect your dentition and oral health, please call for a consultation at 626-335-5114 or visit us at www.annaleedds.com