Have you heard of the phrase “tongue-tied”? If you haven’t, it’s when the thin tissue in your mouth called a “frenum” is overgrown. A frenum is a thin band of connective tissue.
You have two main frena in your mouth:
Your lingual frenum connects the base of your tongue to the bottom of your mouth.
Your labial frenum connects the insides of your lips to the front of your gums. You have two labial frena, one at the front of your upper jaw and another at the front of your lower jaw.
The lingual frenum can be seen by looking in the mirror and lifting your tongue to the roof of your mouth. It is the tissue that connects your tongue to the base of your mouth
Being tongue-tied prevents the tongue from moving freely, and constricts it in the mouth. Moderate tongue-ties may be a simple issue of not being able to stick your tongue out fully. More severe cases can cause impairments such as:
Speech impediments
Difficult nursing as a baby
Receding gums
Discomfort
Bite misalignment
A frenectomy is a simple procedure that involves removing excess tissue on the frenum, leaving you with more mobility of your tongue.
It is a simple procedure that Dr. Mizrahi at Miracle Mile Medical Group can perform with minimal pain. Recovery time is about three to five days.
If you have any questions in regards to a frenectomy, feel free to give us a call at 323.433.7744, or contact us at our Contact page today!
