Tongue-tie or ankyloglossia is a condition that restricts the mobility of one’s tongue. This can cause problems in eating, swallowing, breastfeeding, and speaking, and is usually corrected by frenulum surgery. Tongue tie surgery recovery might take a few weeks, during which the patient is advised to perform certain exercises. If you or your child require tongue tie surgery in Lake County, IL, contact Greenwood Dental Care for an immediate consultation.
Tongue-tie surgery is performed on both children and adults, especially when the symptoms affect their day-to-day functioning. To know more about frenulum surgery recovery and what to do after tongue tie surgery, call us at 855.528.3961.
How to Recover After Tongue Tie Surgery
The tongue-tie is a medical anomaly present from birth. It is caused due to the lingual frenulum (the mucous membrane that connects the tongue to the base of the buccal cavity) being too short or too thick. For infants, doctors may perform immediate frenulum surgery as it can affect breastfeeding.
With a little planning, tongue tie surgery recovery can be quick and comfortable. If you’re considering a frenulum surgery, these basic steps will thoroughly guide you on how to recover after tongue tie surgery:
- Practice Tongue Stretching Exercises: A successful frenulum surgery recovery involves regularly performing tongue stretching exercises as directed by the dentist. This prevents the chances of any tissue reattaching itself, boosts the muscles of the tongue, and improves its flexibility and mobility.
- The exercises are usually suggested to be performed several times a day for four to six weeks.
- Avoid Certain Foods: Since the wound area is still very soft and sensitive, avoid foods that might cause burning or irritation. Try to avoid spicy dishes, cookies, French fries, or citrus fruits. Slowly resume your usual diet.
- Drink Plenty of Water: It is important to keep yourself rehydrated at all times. Drink eight to ten glasses per day, but avoid fizzy drinks, alcohol, or beverages with high sugar content. Make sure that the water is room temperature and not too warm.
- Rinse Mouth with Salt Water: After surgery, a diamond-shaped wound is often present on the operated site. The wound will slowly heal on its own. Be careful not to touch the area. The stitches usually dissolve within a week, or they may be later removed. However, to keep the wound area clean, you can rinse your mouth with salt water every day.
- Take Pain Medication: There might be some bleeding and pain after the surgery. For effective pain management, your doctor may recommend Tylenol or ibuprofen tablets.
- Consider Speech Therapy: If the surgery was performed to help ease difficulties in pronunciation and articulation, the patient might need some time to adjust. They might need help to learn to correctly use the tongue muscles. A few speech therapy classes will correct their breathing posture and guide them to speak properly.
Find Quality Oral Healthcare Services at Greenwood Dental
At Greenwood Dentalcare, we are committed to finding effective solutions so our patients can “smile” again.
We offer a range of services and programs that cover the full spectrum of dental health and oral appearance. Whether you need cosmetic implants for a “smile makeover” or you’re considering root canal therapy for dental disease, our team of expert doctors and nurses will guide you through every step at our clinic in Lake County, IL. We closely work with each client to create a customized dental plan and provide full dental care from start to finish.
The quality of your teeth affects the quality of your life. Call us at 855.528.3961 and check up on your dental health today.
