A frenum/frenulum is a string of tissue that provides stability to the lips and tongue.

Having a lip frenum and tongue frenum is normal but if the frenum is restrictive or tight, it can cause problems (i.e. “tongue-tie” and/or “lip-tie”)

MOTHER SYMPTOMS:

• Pain while feeding
• Mastitis, blocked ducts, thrush
• Bleeding, blistered, cracked, creased nipples
• Poor or incomplete breast drainage

INFANT SYMPTOMS:

• Difficulty latching or staying latched
• Fussy at breast
• Colic and reflux symptoms
• Dried milk on tongue
• Milk spillage
• Top lip doesn’t flange around breast
• Blisters around mouth
• Inadequate weight gain
• Short sleeps/frequent feeds
• Difficulty breathing during nursing
• Snoring, heavy breathing, congestions

If an oral tie is diagnosed the treatment can be done in office with a laser.

Numbing gel is used to help with discomfort and the procedure takes about 30-60 seconds per tie.

You can feed your baby immediately after the procedure.

Post operative instructions are given and a follow-up visit will be scheduled.

Post-Frenectomy Aftercare

• Stretches to be done 6x a day for 3 weeks, starting the evening of the procedure. Do 5 stretches during the day and 1 session at night.
• Try not to go longer than 6 hours between sessions. Some caregivers do these stretches in the middle of a feed to help with discomfort
• In the 4th week, taper off by removing one session a day. Once you are at 3 sessions a day, you can drop the night session.
• Sucking exercises can be done before each of the stretches as they are tolerated better. You do not need to do sucking exercises at night.
• Exercises should be done with a clean or gloved hand. You can use coconut oil on your finger to do the stretches if desired.
• The wounds will heal with a yellow/white color. This is not an infection and is completely normal.
• Swelling and a small amount of bleeding is normal for the first 2-3 days.
• Discomfort is highest during the first 48-72 hours of the procedure. You may give Baby Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for babies under 6 months old, and Baby Ibuprofen (Advil) for babies 6+ month. Always follow the recommendation dose based on weight.
• Call our office if your baby is having uncontrolled bleeding, refusal to eat, and/or fever greater than 101.5 °F
  
  

Follow up:

• One week after the procedure, email a photo of your child’s tongue wound (you do not need to send a photo of the lip wound). Email photo to: [email protected]
• To take a photo, have one person lift the tongue as if you were doing the tongue exercises. Have a second person focus on the wound and snap the photo. Use flash if possible, or a well-lit area.
• If you have any concerns, please call our office at 306-764-4144