Tongue Tie Center of Baltimore

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Tongue Tie Center of Baltimore

Located at Smile Solutions of Baltimore.

While we have been doing tongue/lip tie releases for years, the Tongue Tie Center of Baltimore is a new branch of the business that we started in October 2021 for tongue/lip tie releases only.

01/03/2023

BOTTLE FEEDING VS. BREASTFEEDING

This was some valuable information that I learned during Chelsea Pinto’s Breath Baby Course hosted by the . 🍼

In a previous series of posts that I had shared, I discussed how the surge of formula and bottle use masked the detection and diagnosis of tongue ties. 👅

Would love to hear input from other providers - SLPs, IBCLCs, OTs etc. Share the knowledge!🧠

07/26/2022

Come learn how a dental office in Illinois is helping hundreds of babies & toddlers with a new, prevention-based oral wellness program... ...and how your office can, too! During this live, 60-minute masterclass, we'll be covering: - The one service only a dental office can provide infants that has l...

04/15/2022

Happy Birthday to the GOAT 🐐 Ritter. Thank you for being such a remarkable husband and even better dad.

You’ve always kept me grounded yet let me leap towards amazing new possibilities. You let me dream. You love me for who I am. You make me a better mother and person. And I love you. ❤️

So grateful to have spent this week with our BFFs and looking forward to continuing our celebration! 🥳

04/11/2022

Spending some much needed quality fam time on spring break this week!💜

Ryan (6), Zara (4) and Elon (10 months) my hubby and I are making some memories down in Florida. 🌴☀️

Although I won’t be in the office my lovely team (the best crew ever!) will be there to assist you. Also if you’ve seen me recently and need to get in touch - you have my cell! ☎️

Have a great week everyone! 😎

04/08/2022

If you’re planning to breastfeed, get a lactation consultant. Do some research, interview and find one that works for you! BEFORE you have your baby.

Why, you ask?

Although breastfeeding is considered a natural experience, it’s new. And there’s SO much to navigate through as you enter a new chapter in your life.

Some benefits:

❤️ Having a lactation consultant to hold your hand and help you establish a great relationship with your baby from the start is INVALUABLE.

❤️ IBCLCs and LC’s can do something called a weighted feed. Which is an objective way to measure how much milk your baby is getting when feeding.

❤️ If your baby is struggling or you're having pain, an experienced consultant can help you find the source(s) of the problem. Whether that's by coming up with a plan to help you with your milk supply, creating a feeding/pumping schedule, or an appropriate referral for any other issue you may be having.

❤️ Building a milk supply is so important. Meeting with a consultant soon after having your little one, can help you maintain and bump up your supply.

❤️ Pumps are so weird. Having a consultant show you how to properly use yours and ensure you have the right size flanges is so important.

❤️ Also, having met a lactation consultant beforehand is really helpful, as you’re not left scrambling.

Here are some things to consider when choosing a lactation consultant:

👂🏽Personality - are they supportive? Will they listen to your needs?
👎🏽 Do they trash other lactation consultants? If they do…run!
🏠 Location - Where will they see you? At home, or at a specific location?
🤝🏼Teamwork - Do they have relationships with other providers like bodyworkers?
👅Tongue tie knowledge - can they identify a tongue tie? Can they tell if your baby is having difficulty bc of a TOT or is there something else going on?
🀄️Billing - Do they participate with your insurance? If not, do they provide you with an option to get reimbursement? *Be careful with this one though. Quality and experience are what are most important IMO.

Have I missed anything?! Why do you think a lactation consultant is important to have lined up? What was your favorite thing about a lactation consultant that you've worked with? ❤️

03/28/2022

I choose to numb my patients when doing a tongue tie release. The type of anesthetic I use as well as the method is different for each age group.

For infants I use a topical anesthetic. We use just a little at the site of release. And make sure to give the anesthetic adequate time for absorption in the tissues. We try not to give too much so that the baby can feed right after the release.

For children and adults we use topical anesthetic and base our decision on how much local anesthetic to use on their weight. As well as whether or not they can tolerate the injection (i.e. children).

Every provider’s school of thought is different, especially when it comes to infants. Some use sugar water, Endo Ice on a cotton roll (a form of refrigerant spray) or rely on the numbing effects of the laser. And some don’t use a numbing agent at all.

With children 2 years of age and younger, we have to be diligent in ensuring that the substance we are using does not contain a component called benzocaine. The reason being that benzocaine can cause methemoglobinemia - a condition that adversely affects the hemoglobin in blood.

Each provider has a different philosophy for why they choose to numb or not, and why they use a particular material and method. Especially when it comes to infants.

In my opinion, if just a bit of topical (that is proven to be SAFE) for infants can make he/she more comfortable, then I will do what I can to ease their pain and make the process more manageable for them and mom.

Make sure to ask your provider what they do to make you or your child comfortable during a release.

03/23/2022

I recently had a wonderful dyad come in for a consultation. She had many of the typical symptoms of a tongue/lip tie. However, as I was reviewing her form I noticed that her baby was on a medication - Pepcid AC. And that he had been on it for a few weeks at this point.

So what's the big deal right? Baby’s spitting up - why not give them some reflux medication?

Pepcid, Zantac, Nexium etc. are all used to treat the cause of acid reflux. The problem is - it’s likely that an infant isn’t having acid induced reflux. Reflux in a baby is likely due to swallowing air, or aerophagia.

When a baby has a poor seal - they’re more likely taking in pockets of air. This air can cause a baby to feel gassy, fussy and uncomfortable. AND they can also cause your little one to have reflux.

With all the build up of air in your baby’s belly, the milk that is consumed can come back up us “spit up.” Sometimes a little. Sometimes a lot!

I also want to mention that not all reflux is related to aerophagia or a tongue tie. Sometimes there is an intolerance to mom’s diet or something in the formula.

Now I’m not a GI doc. So I don’t want to presume I know everything about how acid reflux medications affect a baby. However, according to a study done by Dr. Scott Siegel, many of a baby’s reflux symptoms were reduced or eliminated after a tongue and/or lip tie was released.

In my opinion it’s worth investigating whether or not your little one has a tongue/lip tie. As the side effects of acid reflux medications are many. Including brittle bones, diarrhea and impeded absorption of essential nutrients (just to name a few).

In this post I have attached an excerpt from Dr. Richard Baxter’s book “Tongue Tied.” In the excerpt he covers a study done by Dr. Scott Siegel titled Aerophagia Induced Reflux in Breastfeeding Infants With
Ankyloglossia and Shortened Maxillary Labial Frenula
(Tongue and Lip Tie).

03/21/2022

So excited to have taken this incredible course hosted by the Breathe Institute

03/17/2022

Alright, so we’ve covered baby’s symptoms. Now it's on to mom. What has her experience been like while breastfeeding her baby? Is she having pain or discomfort? Has her supply dipped? These and other symptoms can be associated with a tongue tie!

I remember when I had my first son, Ryan. I was experiencing discomfort, a drop in supply and major anxiety. It was my lactation consultant DeeDee, who stepped in and diagnosed the tongue tie. She took the time to ask me questions, answer my questions, and do a thorough eval of my son.

Without her aid I don’t know if I would have attempted to breastfeed at all past that low point early on in motherhood. I also likely wouldn’t have been in this field hadn’t she stepped in and changed my whole perspective on breastfeeding and motherhood!

A mom needs to be heard. So aside from just learning about how a tongue tie can affect a mother, it’s also important to listen to them and support them through such a novel experience. I think my favorite part of what I do is getting to know these ladies and being an ear for them as they navigate these new waters.

03/15/2022

In continuation with the theme of the previous post, I’m going to cover the rest of a baby’s symptoms that may be associated with a tongue or lip tie.

The main purpose of this series is to hone in on the point that your providers should be doing a thorough investigation into why you may be experiencing breastfeeding struggles. Whether that’s your pediatrician, tongue tie release provider or anyone else that is caring for you and your little one.

Are they providing you with the appropriate support needed or referring you to someone who can help you progress on your journey? Sometimes that looks like seeking counsel from a lactation consultant, feeding therapist or body worker.

This question goes out to the other providers - is there something you wished that tongue tie release providers would do to support you?

03/13/2022

In my Infant Assessment form, there is a section dedicated to mom’s symptoms, and a section dedicated to baby’s symptoms.

In this post I wanted to review some of the baby’s symptoms and how they are related to a tongue tie. Because there are SO many, I’m only going to cover half of the ones listed on my form for this post and will cover the rest in later posts.. I also wanted to mention that in order to get the BEST assessment of tongue function that I believe an IBCLC, COM or an SLP is your go to person to get the full picture.

Are the members of your support team asking you these questions? Did your tongue tie release provider do a thorough assessment prior to doing an exam and release?

02/09/2022

On this episode of “I won't do that” I will be discussing why I do not release TOTs solely based on appearance.

As a TOT release provider, part of my duty is to play detective and investigate the symptoms associated with a TOT - in both mom and baby.

Why? Because if I solely base the diagnosis on just appearance, there is so much that could be missed. For instance, the elusive “posterior” tongue tie. It looks harmless but can have a major negative impact on your baby’s tongue function. Also, based on the symptoms, I can also gauge what other providers would be a great addition to your support team. In an effort to gain the most beautiful results!

For instance - Does your baby prefer to nurse on one side vs. the other? A bodyworker would be a great resource to help loosen up your baby’s fascia and be more prepared for a release!

So - after all of the symptoms and medical history is reviewed I THEN perform the extra and intra oral exam.

The form that I use is adapted from Drs. Kotlow and Baxter infant assessment forms. I love this form because it really helps me get an idea of what the breastfeeding experience is like for the dyad.

And so - time to kick off another series! I will cover which symptoms we review during an appointment. And how a tongue tie can contribute to those symptoms. Stay tuned!

Address

6601 York Road
Baltimore, MD
21212

Telephone

+14103772000

Website

http://www.tonguetiecenterofbaltimore.com/

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