Tongue frenulum surgery: recovery and care

The frenectomy or frenuloplasty is a simple surgery in which a small ligament attaching the tongue to the floor of the mouth is sectioned . Sometimes it is just mucosa, sometimes there is fibrous tissue, and sometimes there is some muscle.

It can be done under local or general anesthesia. An experienced professional with the appropriate equipment available can perform it in his office and under local anesthesia without problems, even in young children.

It is a fairly simple procedure and it does not generate practically any discomfort.

The normal function of this frenulum is to limit the movement of the tongue. When the frenulum is thicker or shorter (ankyloglossia) than normal, it triggers a series of problems in the person suffering from it, such as:

Feeding problems

For example, sucking or swallowing. Breastfeeding can be difficult for babies, since not being able to perform normal tongue movements, it can be difficult for them to extract milk from the breasts.

Alterations in pronunciation

A person with a shorter-than-normal frenulum may have difficulty pronouncing some letters, especially those in which the tongue needs to be raised up to the roof of the mouth, such as r, td, l, n.

Alteration in the shape of the tongue

A person with a short frenulum will notice that trying to stick out the tongue will not be able to do so completely. The tongue will be appreciated with the typical heart shape.

Link with the middle fascia

There are perspectives, above all, accepted in the field of dentistry that link different areas of the body located in the midline to each other through the fasciae. According to this view, a problem in the lingual frenulum can be linked to difficulties in breathing and posture, for example.

As we have mentioned, a frenectomy or frenulopasty is usually a simple procedure that is performed under local anesthesia in the office.

Often, there may be a little bleeding during the intervention, but it is not usually of great importance, even less if the professional has experience and the appropriate elements. A lingual frenulum is a fibrous tissue, usually, and this means that when it is sectioned, it does not bleed much.

At the end of the lingual frenulum operation, it is advisable to spend a short time in the office or under medical supervision because the most sensitive people may suffer a drop in tension.

If other procedures are associated with the same intervention, the recovery may be a bit more complex because there may be another area that could cause pain or bleeding. Of all this, the professional who performs the intervention will warn you.

Similarly, if the operation is performed under general anesthesia, recovery is likely to be slower. After general anesthesia, you must remain in a special room where the state of health and the body’s responses are monitored while the anesthetic effect wears off. Afterwards, hospitalization is usually required for a few hours until the tolerance of water and food is normal. If so, you are ready to go home.

Typically, tongue tie surgery requires some fairly simple post-operative care:

Do not eat food immediately

The effect of local anesthesia usually lasts for 40 minutes. For this reason, it is recommended that no food be eaten until sensitivity in the area has completely returned.

Foods to Avoid

Like any procedure that is performed in the mouth, certain foods that cause irritation or burning should be avoided, such as citrus fruits, strawberries, tomato, banana, spicy, strong seasonings.

Something else that you should keep in mind is that you should not eat foods that are very hard or that can scratch the operated area: french fries, crunchy cookies, snacks, since they can cause the “tissue” formed in the first days to fall off and bleed to appear. .

On the other hand, it is important to maintain a healthy diet that will help healing to be faster and better. Try to avoid processed and refined and choose more whole grain products, fruits and vegetables.

Drink water

Water is enough to maintain body hydration and clean the operated area. Avoid drinks with sugar, preservatives, colorants, carbonates and alcohol.

Avoid touching the area

As in all surgery, in the first moments and days is when you must be more careful. That includes not touching the area where the frenectomy was performed.

Do not expose yourself to heat

Exposure to heat sources, such as the sun or a kitchen, should be avoided for the first few days. This is because the heat promotes inflammation and favors the appearance of bleeding at the surgical site.

Not exercising

You must be cautious or cautious with physical activity for the first few days until healing occurs properly.

Speech-language pathology rehabilitation

If the operation is performed on an infant or young child, it is very likely that professional rehabilitation with speech therapy will not be needed.

On the other hand, if the frenulum is corrected with the intention of improving pronunciation in a child close to 5 years or older, it may take some practice to be able to speak properly.

Rehabilitation sessions may also be necessary for those adults who undergo frenuloplasty to correct breathing or posture, as they will need to correct the use of their muscles.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Tongue frenulum surgery: recovery and care , we recommend that you enter our Teeth and mouth category .