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Tongue-tie (Ankyloglossia), is a condition where a strip of skin connecting the baby’s tongue to the bottom of their mouth is unusually shorter, thicker or attached closer to the tip with differing degrees of severity and many variations. This condition mainly restricts movement of tongue causing difficulties in breastfeeding in newborns and infants and speech difficulties in older children and adults. Tongue tie may also cause narrowing of airway leading to sleep apnea. This can suppress movements that are vital for breathing, breastfeeding, sucking, eating, drinking, chewing, swallowing, digestion, speech, jaw growth, and postures.

Signs of Tongue-tie:

1. Breastfeeding difficulties: Tongue tie causes difficulties for both baby and the mother mainly because the baby cannot latch properly to the breast.
2. Difficulty in latching:

• For a successful latch, the tongue of the baby needs to cover the lower gum, however in tongue tie; due to short frenum tongue cannot extend beyond a certain point. 
• Babies may also have difficulty staying attached to the breast for a full feed. 
• Babies may feed for a long time, have a short break and then feed again
• Often clicking sound while feeding can be an indication for possibility of tongue tie
• Babies may remain unsettled and hungry

1. Problems to the mother:

• Mothers may experience sore or cracked nipples
• Since the baby cannot feed well, mothers may experience depletion in milk production
• Mothers may experience mastitis (Inflammation of breast)

1. Restricted tongue movement and speech difficulty: Tongue tie restricts movement of the tongue; difficulty lifting the tongue, touching the roof of mouth and side to side movements, which invariably leads to speech difficulties.
2. Jaw development: Tongue restrictions influences jaw growth and development leading to underdeveloped mandible which causes Class II malocclusion.
3. Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Due to tongue tie the muscles of the mouth may not develop properly and this associated with underdeveloped, posteriorly positioned lower jaw leads to the tongue to fall back and cause airway obstruction. Such people would experience episodes of shortened or absent breathing while sleeping.

Treatment:

Tongue-tie division (Frenectomy) wherein the short, tight piece of skin connecting the underside of the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is cut. In older children and adults, frenectomy should be associated with muscle training

Oral diseases have a direct adverse effect on the quality of life and may have a serious impact on an individual`s well-being, self-esteem, financial status, and social interaction. Increased blood sugar levels, can adversely affect your oral cavity by compromising the health of teeth, gums, and the bone that supports the teeth. If you are diabetic, it’s more important to take care of your teeth and gums by going for regular checkups, getting regular cleanings of teeth and gums, and getting the required treatments done at the right time before they worsen. A healthy mouth will also help manage your diabetes and prevent other diabetes-related health problems like heart and kidney disease. 

5 ways diabetes affects your mouth

Diabetes mainly affects your teeth, gums, and supporting bone by altering the saliva. The increased glucose levels in the saliva increase the chances of cavities and gum diseases as glucose feeds the harmful bacteria leading them to thrive. Some medicines used to treat diabetes, reduce saliva production causing dry mouth. The ability to fight infection and the capacity to heal from damage is also compromised, further compromising oral health.

1. Gum disease:

Increased levels of glucose in the saliva of diabetic patients, compromise the body’s ability to fight harmful bacteria. Simultaneously the wound healing capacity and the vascularity of tissues are compromised. Improper oral hygiene in such patients accelerates damage and the very first signs one would encounter is gingivitis (early gum disease); red, inflamed gums that bleed easily. This condition quickly progresses to periodontitis (advanced gum disease); enlarged velvety-red gums that bleed readily, pus discharge from gums, and multiple abscesses accompanied by loss of bone that support the teeth.

2. Tooth Decay:

Your mouth contains many naturally occurring bacteria which interact with the starches and sugars from food to form plaque on the tooth surface. The interaction of sugar and bacteria leads to the production of acid that acts on the enamel and dentin layers of the tooth, leading to tooth decay. In patients with uncontrolled diabetes, there is an increase in the sugar levels which favors the harmful bacteria leading them to thrive [greater number of streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli], which results in increased acid production, and more harm to tooth structure causing tooth decay. The process of tooth decay is further accelerated by reduced saliva production (dry mouth), in diabetics.

3. Dry Mouth (Xerostomia):

Some diabetic people experience reduced saliva, the fluid that keeps your mouth wet. This occurs due to changes in the organ that produces saliva (Salivary gland), and consumption of drugs used to maintain blood sugar levels, with reduced saliva to keep your mouth moist and bathe the teeth, the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and thrush increases. Such people also complain of altered taste.

4. Burning Mouth: 

Many diabetic people complain of a burning mouth due to damage to the nerves, reduced saliva in the mouth, and/or a fungal infection called candidiasis.

5. Thrush (Candidiasis): 

People with uncontrolled diabetes are more susceptible to a fungal infection called candidiasis caused by the fungus candida Albicans. It presents itself as painful white or red patches in the mouth. The tongue papillae are usually diminished and there may be ulceration at the angle of the mouth associated with a burning sensation.

Oral health consideration:

To ensure good oral health, it is evident that diabetic patients take extra care of their oral health and maintain their blood sugar levels.

• Keep your blood sugar levels in check
• Visit your Dentist for regular checkups
• Get your teeth and gums cleaned regularly
• Brush twice daily
• Floss your teeth
• Reveal your diabetes history to your dentist
• Avoid smoking
• Have a healthy diet
• Keep an eye on early signs of gum disease like bleeding, red gums, or loose teeth

Daily, we all follow good oral habits like brushing our teeth. But we often indulge in some activities that may harm our teeth. Bad habits are easy to grasp but unfortunately difficult to break. People don’t realize that these normal-looking habits are actually ruining their teeth. Here are 6 habits that are actually bad habits for your teeth.

1. Drinking a lot of  soda, soft drinks, or citric fruit juices

These drinks remove enamel coating from your teeth. Enamel is an outer protective coating on your teeth which is hard compared to the inner parts of teeth. If enamel gets washed away from your teeth you may start experiencing sensitivity after having cold and hot beverages. The best way to save enamel is to reduce the intake, using straws and rinsing your mouth with water for about 20-30 seconds after ingestion of these drinks.

2. Acidity and regular vomiting

Some people have a habit to vomit whenever they have acidity, some follow the Ayurvedic Vamana therapy without guidance and some people with eating disorders like bulimia often do purging to get rid of extra food in fear of gaining weight. In our digestive system whenever food goes inside the stomach it becomes acidic to digest it. During vomiting or purging, this acidic food comes back to the oral cavity.  These acids wear off enamel from the teeth. The frequent habit of purging may result in erosion of your teeth and you may start experiencing sensitivity.

3. Nail/pen/pencil biting or pin holding in front teeth

This kind of habit chips off enamel from your teeth. It results in an unesthetic look and causes sensitivity of teeth. In the worst conditions, it may cause a tooth fracture.

4. Using your tooth to open your beer or tearing plastic tags?

Well, even this can chip off and fracture enamel and teeth. Gives you one more reason to have sensitive teeth! And if a tooth gets a lot of fractures, it may require removal. So, it’s wise to use a bottle opener or a scissor the next time you chill out or shop.

5. Brushing hard

The most common false belief is if I clean my teeth with force, they will get cleaned better. But unfortunately, it is not true! This can damage the enamel on your teeth. If you are using a toothbrush with hard bristles, it applies maximum pressure during brushing and creates notches on your teeth, gum recession, sensitivity, and abrasive loss of tooth structure near the gums.

Some people have a habit of biting on their toothbrushes. If your toothbrush bristles get spread out or splayed, and you continue to use such a toothbrush, this can also damage your teeth. So, if you observe your toothbrush bristles getting spread out, then that means it’s time to have a new toothbrush. Usually, toothbrushes must be changed once every 3 months.

6. Clenching and bruxism habit

Clenching and bruxism habits damage your teeth by removing enamel and dentin. That may result in fractured teeth, unesthetic looks, and shortened and sensitive teeth. So, if you think you have clenching and bruxism habits, consult your dentist and have night guards made by your dentist. A night guard is an appliance that you need to wear during sleep for tooth protection. Clenching and bruxism are usually due to stress.  so, keep your mind as calm as possible. You can do meditation for the same.

            Visit your dentist regularly once a year to check your oral health status of yours on our website, contact us about the right method of brushing, and the right toothbrush to use. If ever you find sensitive teeth because of the habits mentioned above, consult your dentist. Your dentist can suggest you the available treatment options for you.