Dubai, UAE – A lip tie is a condition where a piece of tissue behind the upper lip called the frenulum is too thick or stiff, keeping the upper lip from moving freely. Although it’s similar to a tongue tie, a lip tie is less common and therefore many parents may learn about it only when their little one gets a diagnosis from their pediatrician .

While the condition doesn’t pose any danger, babies born with a lip tie often face difficulties similar to those with a tongue tie, especially with breastfeeding. The good news is that once identified, lip ties can be easily rectified at your pediatrician’s office, allowing your baby to feed, gain weight and grow up healthy and strong as he should.

In some cases, a lip tie may not pose significant issues for a newborn and can remain undiagnosed for longer. However, as the child grows, they may have difficulties with speech, affect tooth alignment and can cause cavities.

“A lip tie can occur separately or together with a tongue tie,” notes Dr. Yasmin Kottait, one of the best Pediatric Dentists in Dubai, currently associated with myPediaclinic. “There is a common misconception that babies born with lip tie have a tongue tie or vice versa because of the way the newborn’s tongue and lip move when they try to breastfeed. If a baby is suspected to have one or both conditions, we evaluate them separately to give a proper diagnosis.”

To rule out the possibility of a lip tie, parents are advised to take note of whether the newborn or mother is showing symptoms including-
Baby shows nursing issues such as the inability to form a deep latch onto the nipple, make clicking sounds, sputter or choking, and finding it hard to stay on the breast.
The baby may also cluster feed, become excessively fussy, or exhibit slow weight gain.
Consequently, the mother may have a painful breastfeeding experience with misshapen nipples, breast engorgement, or blocked ducts and have milk supply issues (either low supply due to poor feeding or oversupply due to cluster feeding).
You can also examine your baby’s lips if you suspect a lip tie. Start by laying your newborn on your knees, facing you. Gently run a clean finger under their lip by flipping the upper or lower lip open. If you feel some resistance or if you feel that the tissue connecting the lips to the gums is too thick or short, reducing the mobility of the lips, a lip tie may be present.
The child may also develop significant spacing or gap between upper or lower front teeth and will be prone to cavities.

If your little one shows any of these symptoms, parents are advised to take a professional opinion from their pediatrician or kid’s dentist in Dubai. Your little one’s pediatrician will be able to provide a diagnosis and treatment for a lip tie during when they are a newborn or an older baby. Toddlers and children can get a diagnosis and rectification treatment from a qualified children’s dentist near you, if the condition has gone undetected or overlooked for a longer period.

Looking for more information on lip tie diagnosis and treatments? Avail pediatric dentistry services with Dr. Yasmin Kottait today.

About Dr. Yasmin Kottait: Having dedicated 16 years of her career to spreading smiles and imparting knowledge of oral hygiene to children, Dr. Yasmin is a renowned name and face in the field of pediatric dentistry in Dubai. Her joyful personality and magical kid-whispering powers make dental appointments for kids an easy sail – and lots of fun, that they never miss a single dental appointment with her! Dr. Yasmin is also one of the few Autism friendly dentists in the region, with a diploma in Cognitive Based Hypnotherapy and IBCCES Autism certification.