Aerophagia & reflux symptoms associate with lip and tongue tied babies

One of the complaints from breastfeeding mothers is that babies have difficulty in achieving a good latch at the breasts during breastfeeding. Dr. Ghaheri and Kotlow write blogs and articles on both the lip and/or tongue ties that restrict the movement of the lip and tongue and cause problems for the baby to latch on the mothers’ breasts incorrectly during breastfeeding. Some moms describe the latching as weak or shallow.  How does weak or shallow latching at the breasts affect the breastfeeding babies?  Some babies swallow an excessive amount of air, which reaches the stomach and causes abdominal distension, gassiness, and pain.  Some parents describe their babies having symptoms of reflux; difficulty sleeping when lying down, problems swallowing, spitting up, and constant crying among other symptoms.

What is aerophagia?

Aerophagia originates from the Greek word aerophagein, which means to “eat air,” is the excessive swallowing air (Chitkara et al., 2005; Courtiol, 2100; Fernando, 1998: Loening-Baucke, 2000).        Babies with lip tie attempt to latch the mother’s breasts; the upper lip frenum restricts the upper lip to flange outward and the baby will either pop off the breast completely or briefly relax and latch off the breast.  Tongue tie babies have a difficult time lifting the tongue; the frenum restricts the movement of the tongue and causes problems for the baby to latch onto the mother’s breast during breastfeeding. Tongue and/or lip ties may cause incorrect latching.  The consequences of an incorrect latch at the breast during breast feeding may include poor suck, poor seal around the breast, loud clicking noises, extended feeding times, poor infant weight gain, infant fussiness, and irritability during and after breastfeeding.

An inadequate seal around the breasts during breastfeeding may cause the baby to experience aerophagia, swallowing or sucking air into the stomach.  The babies may experience these symptoms:

·       abdominal distension

·       gassiness (flatulence)

·       belching (burping-swallow excessive air)

What is reflux?

*Reflux or GER (gastroesophageal reflux) in a baby may show up as irritability and pain, sometimes with constant or sudden crying, or colic-like symptoms.  Babies can be inconsolable, especially when laid down flat.

Signs & symptoms:

·       Difficulty sleeping when lying down

·       Arching their necks and back during or after feeding

·       Problems swallowing, gagging, coughing

·       Hiccupping and drooling

·       Feeding refusal or constant feeding

*Normal movement of the tongue is difficult or impossible if the tongue is tethered to the floor of the mouth     *Clinical Lactation 2011, Vol.2-4

Treatment

Aerophagia and reflux symptoms are experienced in lip and tongue tied babies and can be misdiagnosed as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).   Unfortunately, some babies are treated with prescription medications, such as Zantac or Prevacid to reduce the reflux symptoms.

* Dr. Larry Kotlow’s article, Infant Reflux and Aerophagia Associated with Maxillary Lip-tie and Ankyloglossia (Tongue-tie), suggests that a maxillary lip and/or tongue ties may be a contributing factor of babies’ inability to create an adequate seal for correct latching at the breasts during breastfeeding.

**There is a lack of literature and research looking at a potential causal relationship with aerophagia and reflux in breastfeeding infants.  More studies and researches are needed.

*Clinical Lactation 2100, Vol.2-4

**Int J Clin Pediatr.2016; 5(1):6-8

How to treat lip and tongue tied babies?

Both lip and tongue ties can be treated in quick procedure that is nearly painless, it usually may not require anesthesia.  The procedure is called frenectomy; the removal of frenum that connects to the lip or tongue.  Frenectomy can be performed with the following instruments:

·       Scissors-bleeding

·       Scalpel or sharp surgical knife-bleeding

·       Laser-minimal bleeding, faster surgical time, decreased postoperative pain, quick healing

Dr. Anna Lee is a general & cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  Dr. Anna Lee is an experienced provider for Laser lip and tongue tied frenectomy (releases).  If you have any questions about lip and tongue tied frenectomy, please visit us at www.annaleedds.com or call for a consultation at                  626-335-5114. 

A New Year’s Resolution

A New Year’s Resolution can include practicing good dental care, brush 2x/day and floss daily.  You may traditionally focus on losing weight, improving your health, reading more and other New Year’s resolutions. Now is the time to focus on the health of your smile. Your smile health can impact not only your appearance, but it can decrease your overall health as well. Bacteria and dental decay can cause you to feel tired, decrease self-confidence, and cause health problems in the long run. Targeting your dental health this year can be a decision that will keep you healthy for a lifetime.

Research shows it takes twenty-one days to turn something into a new habit. Start by getting up every day and brushing and flossing. That is one day, one time. Then before you go to bed, brush and floss. 2x down as easy as that. Continually brushing and flossing at the same time every day can help to establish the healthy habit you need to keep your smile beautiful.

This year instead of focusing on losing weight or improving your relationships, begin your New Year with a resolution that can potentially change your life for the long run.

If you have any questions about your teeth or dental care, schedule a dental appointment with the Glendora Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Anna Lee at 626-335-5114.  Email: drannalee1@gmail.com

Sleep Apnea

                                                  

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts while the patient is asleep.  There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central and complex.                        

 Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep.  Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain does not send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Complex sleep apnea is a combination of the obstructive and central sleep apnea.  Of the three, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. People with sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer. In most cases the sleepers are unaware of these breath stoppages because they don’t trigger a full awakening.

It is estimated that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, with 80 percent of the cases of moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea undiagnosed.  Untreated sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, chronic heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. OSA is also associated with type 2 diabetes, liver problems, depression and daytime fatigue.

OSA can strike people of any age, including infants and children, but it is most frequently seen in men over 40, especially those are overweight or obese.

For more information, contact Dr. Lee & her team today.

Children’s Smile and Dental Care

Your children’s smile brings you joy.  The best way to keep your child’s smile healthy is to begin dental care early in life. Teaching good habits of brushing and flossing of their teeth early in life keeps teeth healthy.  Healthy teeth help your children chew and enjoy food, help build self-esteem and create healthy smiles!

Begin Dental Care Early in Life

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends parents take children to a dentist no later than their first birthday.   Parents can start to provide dental care for their babies, toddlers and older children at home:

·      Begin cleaning the baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping the gums with a clean washcloth

·      Baby’s front four teeth erupt at about 6 months of age (some children have their first tooth at 12-14 months); 

·      Brush twice daily with an infant toothbrush

·      Floss daily when baby teeth touch each other

·      For children younger than 3 years old, use only a “smear” of fluoridated toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) on the bristles of toothbrush; brush 2x daily.  Parents continue the supervision and remind the child not to swallow the toothpaste

·      For children 3 to 6 years of age, use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste and brush 2x daily.  Parents continue the supervision and remind the child not to swallow the toothpaste

·      After age 6, continue to brush and floss the children’s teeth daily until parents are comfortable that the child can brush on his or her own

                              Contact Dr. Anna Lee & her team today for more information.