Are Stretches and Exercises Really Necessary after Tongue Tie Release?

The surgery that is commonly used to treat tongue tie and lip tie, known as a frenectomy, is simple and fast. In fact, it typically takes just a few minutes! However, you should not view that as the end of the matter. Dr. Thomas will likely admonish you to perform some exercises and stretches with your baby during their recovery period. But are those steps really necessary? This blog post explains why the answer to that question is yes.

The Risk of Reattachment

The human body is efficient at healing and wants to put things back in place. If you don’t do anything, it sometimes heals in a way that is not ideal! That can happen after a lip or tongue tie is released. We either have to stretch or stitch as per Dr. Thomas. For obvious reasons we cannot place stitches on a baby unless they are sedated. The frenulum (also called a frenum) that was modified or removed during the surgery could reattach, effectively undoing the results of the frenectomy. In fact, in some cases, the tissues grow back tighter than before!

Exercises and stretches play a big role in preventing reattachment and can spare your child from having to undergo surgery a second time.

Why Do Some People Say Exercises and Stretches Are Not Necessary?

It is important to do stretches with your baby a few times a day while they are recovering from a frenectomy. As a busy parent, that might seem overwhelming because you already have so many things to do! That is understandable, but please note that if anyone — including medical professionals — told you that stretches are not necessary, you should view that advice with skepticism.

Rarely, you will come across a dentist who dismisses the importance of post-treatment stretches. They may do so because they are not fully educated in the risk of reattachment. They may also not be diligent about doing follow-up visits with their frenectomy patients.

How to Do Exercises and Stretches with Your Child

Fortunately, post-op care following a frenectomy is quite simple. Dr. Thomas and our team can show you exactly what to do, but the concept is easy to grasp. You can simply take a clean finger and run it under your child’s tongue and/or lip a few times each day. You can also carefully lift their tongue or lip. We advise that it be done at a certain frequency which is different for every patient and we will go over that during the consultation.

Do not dismiss the importance of post-treatment care after your child’s frenectomy! If you have questions about the steps you should take following the procedure, talk to Dr. Thomas and our Team.

About Enclave Dental

Dr. Preetha Thomas is a holistic dentist who serves families in the Southlake, TX, area. She uses advanced laser technology to perform frenectomies. As someone who is passionate about educating patients, she is always happy to address questions and concerns that pop up. To learn more about her and how our team may be able to serve you, contact Enclave Dental at 817-912-1218.