Frena is the membranous fold that attaches and restricts the
movement of a muscle. In the mouth there are two frena. The plural form of
frena is frenum. The first one is located between the inside of the upper lip
and the gums. If you slide your tongue up, you can feel the thick piece of
skin. While the thickness varies among individuals it should not be between the
two front teeth or restrict the tongue from moving back and forward in the
mouth.
The bottom frena should allow free movement of the tongue up
and down and should not cause any pain when you move it around.
When your baby is born, you may notice that the frena is
thicker and restricts movement, “This is referred to as being tongue-tied,” says
Dr. Judith Strutz. This is one sign that may require surgery. While surgery
sounds scary for a baby, lasers make this procedure safe and can help to ensure
that breastfeeding is successful.
If your baby is struggling to latch onto the nipple during
breastfeeding, causing pain and lack of a proper suction you may want to look
in their mouth. The frenum should not restrict tongue movement. Your baby
should be able to freely move the tongue towards the back of the throat and
roof of the mouth.
Contact Dr. Strutzand her team today for more information.
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