What to do if a child has torn the frenulum on the upper lip

Labial frenulum tears are injuries in the mouth. They may cause bleeding but rarely require medical attention.

The labial frenulum is a thin layer of tissue that connects the lips to the gums and bones of the face. There are two different types of labial frenulum:

• the maxillary labial frenulum, which connects the upper lip to the mouth;
• the mandibular labial frenulum, which connects the lower lip to the mouth.

The frenulum of the lips helps keep them in place while the jaw and facial bones grow.

These injuries are usually treated at home, but in some cases medical attention may be required.

First aid for a ruptured upper frenulum

Upper frenulum ruptures are common in children. The main symptom is bleeding from the upper gums and lips.

These injuries rarely require treatment and heal without stitches.

First aid tips for a torn frenulum include:

• Press your outer lip against your teeth for 10 minutes to stop bleeding;
• do not pull out the lip to check the injury, as this may renew the bleeding.

Be sure to check for other signs of swelling or infection after 3 days. After this time there should be no bleeding.

Possible consequences

Often minor damage does not cause any unpleasant consequences. The same thing applies if the mucous membrane has been restored to its normal state. If medical correction has not been carried out, the tissues have grown together incorrectly, this can cause problems as a person grows and in his later adult life:

• problems with pronouncing certain sounds, especially if the injury occurred before the baby first spoke;
• susceptibility to infections of the oral cavity, if the tissues have grown together crookedly, there is no normal oral hygiene;
• Gastrointestinal problems can occur due to the fact that children do not chew food well after gum injuries.

Kids are active and curious, they require the attention and responsible attitude of adults. Childhood injuries happen everywhere; the frenulum can tear even from excessive efforts when brushing teeth or a minor bruise; only the doctor decides whether to stitch it up or not. Many speech therapists do not see a connection between such damage and poor diction. Parents should not be afraid of a protruding lip after surgery. A child can even tear the mucous membrane several times; the main thing is not to panic and maintain a reasonable approach to the treatment and prevention of injury.

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Can it heal on its own?

Most frenulum tears heal on their own in 3-4 days. Infections or other complications are rare.

While the injury is healing, you can apply a cold compress to it for 20 minutes to relieve pain.

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol or ibuprofen are also helpful.

After a frenulum rupture, it is important to stay hydrated. A person should stick to soft foods to avoid chewing and avoid salty, sour or spicy foods. This may irritate the wound.

Is special training required?

The procedure does not require special preparation. Immediately before surgery, it is necessary to perform thorough oral hygiene. You also need to feed the child - hunger negatively affects blood clotting. In addition, it will be difficult to eat for several hours after the operation.

Since plastic surgery of the upper lip frenulum is performed mainly on young children, first of all, psychological preparation is necessary. Parents should reassure the child, assure him that the procedure is painless, this will help significantly speed up and simplify the doctor’s work.

Complications

If the labial frenulum is torn, there is a risk of infection. However, a doctor can easily treat these infections.

A labial frenulum tear is unlikely to cause serious complications. However, people with abnormal labial frenulum structure may experience:

• receding gums around teeth;
• large gap between the upper front teeth;
• Difficulty moving lips.

The surgeon can correct these problems through medical procedures, including frenulum removal.

Optimal age for the procedure

The operation is carried out quickly - it is convenient for the doctor and painless for the little one. If time is lost, plastic surgery of the frenulum of the lower lip is performed at 7-9 years, and the upper lip at 6-8 years, when the formation and eruption of permanent incisors occurs.

The main reason why upper lip correction is performed is to prevent periodontal disease. Deformations are the basis for the development of gingivitis, periodontitis, increased sensitivity of the enamel; food debris accumulates in the gum pockets, provoking the proliferation of pathogenic microbes. This can lead to rapid tooth loss.

When to see a doctor?

Most people can treat a frenulum tear at home. However, in some situations a doctor may be required.

A person should see a doctor within 24 hours if the injury appears infected but there is no fever.

You should consult a doctor immediately if the following symptoms appear:

• a deep tear that may require stitches;
• severe pain that lasts for several hours;
• difficulty swallowing liquids, including saliva;
• problems with fully opening or closing the mouth;
• increased pain or swelling after 48 hours;
• heat.

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How long does it take for the frenulum to heal after surgery?

When using a scalpel or scissors, silk sutures are placed at the end of the procedure. They are removed on days 5-7. But there are times when you need to walk around with the strings longer. It all depends on the characteristics of the body and the care of the postoperative wound. After the laser there are no stitches, but the care is the same. It consists:

• in maintaining oral hygiene,
• in optimizing the diet - food should be homogeneous and at the optimal temperature,
• in performing special gymnastics, which is prescribed by the doctor to develop the muscles involved in chewing and facial expressions.

Predisposing factors for the development of seizures

There are many factors for the development of inflammation. And with a detailed study of the medical history, at least one of the predisposing factors is discovered in patients suffering from seizures. And diabetes comes first. Therefore, if symptoms appear frequently, an examination is prescribed to exclude or confirm diabetes mellitus.

This disease undermines the immune system, activates yeast-like fungi and, as a result, causes inflammation. Diabetes predisposes to the development of numerous oral diseases: multiple forms of caries, periodontal diseases, etc.

There are other predisposing factors, including:

• bad habits, namely lip licking;
• anatomical features: it is known that people whose upper lip hangs over their lower lip most often experience pockets in the corners of the mouth. By the way, the lip can hang over due to bite pathologies;
• immunodeficiencies, for example, due to HIV infection, chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer pathologies, as well as other diseases;
• some genetic diseases, for example, Down syndrome, etc.;
• deficiency states. With poor nutrition, hypovitaminosis often forms due to which the body becomes more prone to infections and other diseases;
• diseases of the oral cavity, for example, multiple forms of caries, the presence of dentures/crowns, leading to chronic irritation of the mucous membrane, overbite;
• herpetic infection;
• dry red border of the lips, which can be explained by many reasons, including vitamin deficiency. Dry crusts and the formation of cracks predispose to the penetration of viruses, bacteria and fungi, which leads to inflammation.

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What to do and how to remove the defect?

Medicine does not stand still. Nowadays, doctors offer several ways to correct the frenulum. The baby who tore it will undergo appropriate plastic surgery. There is plastic surgery using a scalpel, gum scissors, and a new method of removal - laser. The doctor decides which method is best to resort to. Any procedure has its own indications and contraindications. This is discussed with a specialist.

Laser frenulum removal is an innovative method. It has a lot of positive reviews not only from doctors, but also from patients.

There are methods that have proven themselves to be positive over the years:

Procedure