What causes cleft tongue?

What causes cleft tongue?

A bifid or cleft tongue (glossoschissis) is a tongue with a groove or split running lengthwise along the tip of the tongue. It is the result of incomplete fusion of the distal tongue buds. A bifid tongue may be an isolated deformity and has also been reported to be associated with maternal diabetes.

Can babies grow out of tongue-tie?

The condition may not cause any problem, and the tightness may subside as the baby grows. If tongue-tie is left alone, babies can often grow out of it as their mouth develops. However, some cases of tongue-tie may require surgery for correction.

What happens if you don’t fix tongue-tie?

Some of the problems that can occur when tongue tie is left untreated include the following: Oral health problems: These can occur in older children who still have tongue tie. This condition makes it harder to keep teeth clean, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum problems.

Is tongue-tie surgery necessary?

Babies with tongue-ties rarely need surgery to help them feed, a US study suggests. It found two-thirds of babies referred for the procedure did not need it and were able to feed with other support. Tongue-tie occurs when the strip of skin connecting the tongue and the floor of the mouth is shorter than usual.

What happens if cleft palate is not treated?

Children with cleft palate are at increased risk of ear infections since they are more prone to fluid build-up in the middle ear. If left untreated, ear infections can cause hearing loss.

At what age can tongue-tie be treated?

Tongue-tie can improve on its own by the age of two or three years. Severe cases of tongue-tie can be treated by cutting the tissue under the tongue (the frenum). This is called a frenectomy.

Should I have my baby’s tongue-tie cut?

Professor Mitch Blair, a consultant and officer for health promotion at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, says tongue-ties used to be routinely snipped, but some doctors now think the risk of infection and tongue damage means babies should be watched, not automatically cut.

Should I cut my baby’s tongue-tie?

Does tongue-tie procedure hurt baby?

Tongue-tie division is done by doctors, nurses or midwives. In very young babies (those who are only a few months old), it is usually done without anaesthetic (painkilling medicine), or with a local anaesthetic that numbs the tongue. The procedure does not seem to hurt babies.