If your child is tongue-tied they have a condition known as ankyloglossia. This happens when the band of skin that attaches to the floor of the mouth, known as a frenum or frenulum,  is too close to the tip of the tongue. This band of skin sometimes attaches too close to the gums behind the lower front teeth as well. When the frenum attaches too close to the tip of the tongue, the tongue is not able to move as freely. 

Children may not be able to stick their tongue out further than their lips or can’t touch the roof of their mouth. When sticking out the tongue the tip may look heart-shaped rather than coming to a point due to the restricted movement.

So why does it matter of my child is tongue-tied?

Some children have trouble sucking and, therefore, the first problem is noticed when breastfeeding or nursing. Some children may have trouble with certain speech sounds, especially “l, r, t, d, n, sh, th, and z” sounds. Others may develop a lisp. Additionally, these children can have difficulty removing food stuck to their palate or sides of their mouth; they also may have more plaque and tartar build-up. A frenum that is attached too closely behind the bottom front teeth can cause gum recession.

What can be done if my child is tongue-tied?

Some children who have mild tongue-tie may be best treated by careful observation and consideration of speech therapy by a Certified Speech Pathologist. Others may benefit from a minor surgical procedure, called a frenectomy, which can be performed in the office. A frenectomy is done with a special laser that relocates the attachment of the frenum to a more favorable position that frees up the movement of the tongue.

Do you have questions about your child’s tongue-tie? Give Drs. Tracht and Briskie, specialists in pediatric dentistry, a call or schedule an appointment. See here for more information about what we do and how we can help your child.

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Welcome to Drs. Tracht and Briskie’s blog!

As specialists in pediatric dentistry, we are often asked about concerns parents have regarding their children’s oral health. Today, we are sharing insight on a commonquestion we often hear from parents of our patients:

My child grinds his/her teeth! What should I do?

Bruxism (the formal word for grinding or gnashing of teeth) is seen very commonly in children. Two to three out of every 10 kids will grind their teeth. Bruxism usually occurs at night during sleep, but can be demonstrated throughout the day, too. The good news is most will outgrow it!

Causes

Children's bites are very flexible and therefore subject to change as they grow. Occasionally, children will exhibit an abnormal bite causing them to grind because of the placement of their teeth.

Stress can sometimes be another cause. So any changes in routine such as a test in school or tension with a friend, sibling, or parent may prompt grinding. It’s good to talk to kids about stress.

Drs. Tracht and Briskie mostly see grinding in children younger than 7 years old. A lot of children will stop grinding once their permanent molars erupt. Their permanent teeth “bite” (occlusion) begins to establish itself once those molars erupt. 

Side Effects

Signs to watch for are grinding during sleep, complaints of a sore jaw, especially in the morning, and pain in the jaw when chewing. Usually, it’s more bothersome to other family members because of the nighttime grinding sound! Some parents say they can hear the grinding in a different area of the house from where their child is sleeping.

This habit, continued consciously or unconsciously over a long period of time, can result in excessive wearing of tooth structure. In permanent teeth, and far more commonly in adults, bruxism can lead to periodontal disease (bone loss) and/or a TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder, resulting in headaches, facial pain, jaw “clicking” etc.

Treatment

Children usually outgrow the habit with no lasting side effects; treatment is usually not necessary. However, if intervention is needed, bruxism can be diagnosed at a routine dental visit.  Drs. Tracht and Briskie’s treatment may include bite adjustments, or a bite guard appliance.

Do you have questions about your child’s teeth grinding? Give Drs. Tracht and Briskie, specialists in pediatric dentistry, a call or schedule an appointment. See here for more information about what we do and how we can help your child.

Want to learn more? Join us as we share tips on Facebook and Twitter.

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Welcome to Dr. Tracht and Dr. Briskie’s blog! As specialists in pediatric dentistry, we are often asked about a wide-range of topics that are important considerations to keeping your children healthy.  

Today we’re sharing insight from the pediatric dentist’s perspective on a very common concern for parents of little ones:

Is thumb sucking bad? Can thumb sucking lead to permanent damage?

The answer: It all depends.

It’s not uncommon to see a baby put a variety of things into his or her mouth – a favorite toy, a finger – maybe even a toe. Sucking is a natural reflex for babies and offers a sense of relaxation, comfort or security.

Prolonged sucking habits can interfere with the proper growth of the jaws and tooth alignment. How intensely a child sucks, and the length of time, influence the degree of dental problems. Children who suck their thumb, fingers or pacifier commonly develop problems with their front teeth sticking out too far (from the persistent pressure of sucking), or with the front teeth not able to bite together. Children who rest their thumbs or fingers passively in their mouths will have less distortion than those who suck vigorously.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, most children stop thumb sucking between the ages of two and four. However, as pediatric dentists, Dr. Tracht and Dr. Briskie see some children continue sucking well beyond the preschool years. If your child is still sucking after age 4, it is time to consider taking action.

Should you need to help your child end the habit, Dr. Tracht and Dr. Briskie recommend these tips approved by the American Dental Association:

• Praise children for not sucking, instead of scolding them when they are.
• Children often suck their thumbs when feeling insecure or needing comfort. Focus on correcting the cause of the anxiety and provide comfort to your child.
• For an older child, involve him or her in choosing the method of stopping.

As pediatric dentists, Dr. Tracht and Dr. Briskie can offer encouragement to your child and explain the consequences of long term sucking habits.Additionally, our pediatric specialists are happy to offer habit control intervention programs, appliances, including early orthodontic treatment when necessary.

Are pacifiers a better alternative?

Not in all cases. Pacifiers can affect the teeth and jaws the same as fingers or thumbs, but can be more easily controlled. There are some pacifiers that have been designed to cause less bite distortion than others.

Do you have questions about your child’s non-nutritive sucking habit? Give Dr. Tracht and Dr. Briskie, Specialists in Pediatric Dentistry a call or schedule an appointment. See here for more information about what we do and how we can help the little ones you love.

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Thanks for reading!

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Welcome the official blog of Dr. Tracht & Dr. Briskie!  Thank you for visiting and we look forward to sharing our upcoming blog posts soon.  In the meantime, please be sure to click on our social media icons to the left.  By liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter, we will keep you well-informed regarding the present and future oral health needs of your children.  Thanks for connecting!