There are bumps on both sides of the tongue tie

The human tongue can often rotate flexibly, thus playing a good stirring role for the food eaten into the mouth, allowing the food and saliva to mix together and then be digested by the human digestive system for easy absorption by the human body. The reason why the tongue can rotate flexibly is because there is a frenulum connected to the tongue. Some people may find that small bumps suddenly grow on both sides of the frenulum of their tongue. Let’s find out what to do if there are bumps on both sides of the frenulum of the tongue.

1. What is tongue tie?

The frenulum of the tongue, commonly known as the tongue tie, is a thin strip of tissue between the tongue and the floor of the mouth when a child opens his mouth and lifts up his tongue. A normal tongue tie allows the tongue to move freely, and the tip of the tongue can naturally extend out of the mouth or lick upwards to the upper gums.

2. What is the cause of the bumps on both sides of the tongue tie?

There are bumps on both sides of the frenulum under the tongue, thread-like bumps under the root of the tongue, and on the sides of the tongue. These are circumferential papillae and are normal tissues. The small bumps on both sides of the frenulum are the openings of the sublingual gland duct at the bottom of the mouth. This is not a disease and there is no need to worry. If it does not hurt or itch, it is a normal phenomenon and does not require special treatment. The normal sublingual mucosal surface of the floor of mouth area is not smooth and has many small granular substances. If there is a lesion, symptoms will generally appear. For someone like you who has no obvious lesions and no symptoms, there will not be a big problem. Don't worry, if there is no pain, it's okay. This is normal sublingual caruncle tissue.

3. What is tongue tie?

A normal tongue tie allows the tongue to move freely, and the tip of the tongue can naturally extend out of the mouth or lick upwards to the upper gums. However, the frenulum of a few children develops abnormally and may cause a short frenulum (commonly known as tongue hanging). The clinical manifestations are that the tongue cannot extend forward freely and normally, and the part of the tongue that extends out of the mouth is not as long as that of normal children. Moreover, when the tongue extends forward, the tip of the tongue becomes concave due to being pulled by the tongue muscles, and the tip of the tongue becomes W-shaped (the tip of a normal person's tongue is V-shaped when it is extended). It may also affect breastfeeding or rub against the lower front teeth, causing ulcers.

4. Is it abnormal for babies to have a short tongue tie?

Some parents find that their baby’s frenulum is relatively short, the tip of the tongue cannot curl up when the mouth is opened, and the tongue is not flexible, and they think it is abnormal. In fact, the baby's tongue tie is in the development stage. In the neonatal period, the tongue tie extends to or near the tip of the tongue. During the development of the tongue, the frenulum gradually retracts toward the root of the tongue. In normal children, the tip of the tongue gradually moves away from the frenulum after the age of 2. Therefore, the tongue tie is often in a tense state during infancy, and the frenulum may be "too short". This is a temporary physiological phenomenon and should not be considered abnormal. As age increases and deciduous teeth erupt, the frenulum of the tongue will gradually move downward to the floor of the mouth, becoming thinner and looser. The tongue's mobility will also become more flexible, and the frenulum will no longer be short.