Is Your Baby Having Breastfeeding Issues?

Find out if Your Baby is Tongue-Tied or Not with One Visit

By treating tongue tie as an infant, you can quickly and easily fix many issues your baby maybe experiencing now as well as avoid many problems that will last a lifetime. One quick and easy consultation at our Westwood (Los Angeles) office is all it takes to treat your baby and avoid a lifetime of issues.

Dr. Pinto’s interest in helping babies with breastfeeding issues turned into an undeniable passion after having her first son and experiencing her own successful breastfeeding journey.

​​​When a mother has breastfeeding problems, she should feel confident and comfortable turning to her established system of medical support for help.

– Dr. Chelsea Pinto

What Is Tongue Tie?

A tongue tie occurs when the thin membrane under the baby’s tongue (the lingual frenulum) restricts the movement of the tongue. All babies are born with some of this tissue, but for approximately 5% of newborns, it is so tight that they cannot move their tongues freely. This can affect their ability to breastfeed and lead to poor latch, nipple pain and trauma, decreased milk intake and a decline in milk supply over time.

The medical term for tongue tie is “ankyloglossia” and studies show the defect is likely hereditary.

What is a lip tie?

Many babies with a tongue tie, also have an abnormally tight membrane attaching their upper lip to their upper gums (the labial frenulum). This is called a lip tie. Babies with a lip tie often have difficulty flanging their lips properly to feed and can’t create a proper seal at the breast.

This can cause them to take in excess air during breastfeeding, which often makes these babies gassy and fussy.​

What Parents Should Know about Tongue Tied Babies and Breastfeeding

WHAT ARE SOME SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF TONGUE AND LIP TIES

Some babies with tongue ties and lip ties are able to attach to the breast and suck well. However, many of these infants have breastfeeding problems. The following signs are common amongst infants with tongue and lip ties and their mothers. However, it is important to note that these signs can be linked to other breastfeeding problems and are not solely related to ties.

Mothers may experience:

Infants may exhibit:

DR. CHELSEA PINTO

Dr. Chelsea Pinto is a skilled dentist and infant tongue-tie specialist at the Breathe Institute.

As a laser-certified dentist and member of the International Affiliation of Tongue Tie Professionals, Dr. Pinto offers in-office laser frenectomy treatment for assisting babies to latch on to the breast. In addition, she treats children and adults with a functional frenuloplasty technique, that integrates myofunctional therapy to best treat tongue restrictions.

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10921 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 912 • Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: (310) 579-9710
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