Can an Adult Be Treated for a Lip or Tongue-Tie?

Difficulty breathing, speaking, and even eating can take its toll on your overall health and well-being. While there are many reasons these issues might occur, one possibility that is often overlooked is a lip or tongue-tie. Commonly treated among infants and small children, problems may not occur until you are older, resulting in symptoms that manifest in various ways and ultimately affect your quality of life. Keep reading to find out why this happens and how a frenectomy might be the ideal solution.

Adults with Lip or Tongue-Ties: How Does This Happen?

It’s not that the banded tissue located behind the upper lip or underneath the tongue suddenly forms during adulthood. Instead, a lip or tongue-tie that becomes more prominent once you are older is often the result of an untreated condition that you’ve had since you were a child.

Although more oral healthcare professionals are recognizing the disadvantages and harmful effects of lip and tongue-ties among infants and children nowadays, this is not always the case. It’s also possible that these tethered oral tissues (TOTS) do not become more problematic until years later when speech and eating habits as well as more oral movement are required.

How Can You Recognize a Lip or Tongue-Tie in an Adult?

A formal diagnosis cannot be made until you see a trusted expert for an examination; however, several signs can indicate a lip or tongue-tie exists:

• Difficulty eating certain foods
• Trouble speaking clearly
• It is a challenge to breathe while asleep (you may be a mouth breather)
• Kissing can be difficult
• Consuming beverages can be problematic
• You may be unable to stick your tongue out of your mouth
• Your tongue appears heart-shaped when you try to stick it out
• Difficulty lifting your tongue and moving it from side to side

Can Adults Receive a Frenectomy?

Yes! An adult like yourself can undergo a frenectomy to create a wider range of motion for your lip and/or tongue.

This simple and highly effective procedure can be performed using a dental laser that gently lacerates the soft tissue located behind the upper lip and/or underneath the tongue. The device’s optimal precision targets only the area that requires treatment, leaving all healthy oral tissues untouched.

Also, there is minimal bleeding and swelling, and because the laser sterilizes while it cuts, the risk of infection drastically decreases after the procedure is finished.

Not only will it allow for improved breathing, eating, speaking, drinking, and even kissing, but the use of a dental laser will significantly reduce your recovery time at home as well. This gentle and effective approach will change your life for the better.

About the Author
Dr. Justin Braga is a board-certified periodontist with more than 15 years of experience. Completing his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco, he attended the University of Southern California, achieving his certificate in periodontics and a master’s degree in craniofacial biology. Leading the team at Huntington Beach Periodontics & Dental Implants, he offers frenectomies to individuals struggling with lip and tongue-ties. If you need help to breathe better, eat the foods you love, or speak clearly, contact us at (714) 587-9094.