Are you aware of this small membrane inside the mouth? (Frenulum)

Have you ever noticed a small, thin layer of tissue between your upper lip and gums, or under your tongue, when you smile in front of a mirror? You may have noticed it while brushing your teeth. Although many people don't pay much attention to it, this tiny layer is very important for the health of our mouth and its daily functioning. Today, we'll talk about this small, but very important layer.

Simply put, what is a frenulum?

A frenulum is a thin, strong band of tissue that connects two parts of our body. Think of it like a rope. These bands are found in many places in our bodies - in the brain, in the digestive system, etc. But we can most easily see them inside the mouth.

There are mainly two types of frenulum in our mouths:

1. Lingual Frenulum: This is the membrane that connects your tongue to the floor of your mouth. You can open your mouth and lift your tongue to see this clearly.

2. Labial Frenulum: This membrane connects your lips to your gums. Although there are several such membranes in the mouth, the one we see most often is the one located slightly above and between the two upper teeth.

Sometimes, if something happens to this membrane, such as an injury, there may be pain and swelling in that area. But this is normal, and most of the time it heals on its own within a few days.

But some people are born with this membrane slightly thickened or abnormally positioned. That is, if the membrane is raised or lowered where it is attached, it can interfere with our ability to eat, talk, and sometimes even brush our teeth.

What is the real function of this small membrane?

Simply put, the main function of these frenulum membranes is to keep our lips and tongue stable and in place. Just like a tent is secured to poles with ropes, this frenulum helps keep our tongue and lips in place.

Imagine what would happen if these membranes were not there. We would not be able to perform everyday tasks like eating and talking properly. Therefore, this small part has a big responsibility.

There are several such frenulums in our mouth. The main ones are:

• The lingual frenulum, located under the tongue.
• The labial frenulum is located above the two upper front teeth.
• The labial frenulum is located below the two lower front teeth.

In addition, there are small bands of tissue called buccal frenulums that run along the inside of our cheeks and back. These provide support and shape to our cheeks and lips.

What are the common problems that can arise from this frenulum?

Dentists often encounter these frenulum-related problems. Let's see what they are. I have put this information in a table below to make it easier to understand.

What symptoms can arise from these problems?

The above conditions can cause a variety of symptoms. Some of them are:

• Pain or swelling where the frenulum is located.
• Difficulty swallowing food.
• Problems with speaking (especially the inability to pronounce certain letters).
• Snoring at night.
• Mouth breathing is the act of constantly breathing through the mouth instead of through the nose.
• Difficulty sticking out the tongue or inability to lift the tongue up.
• Abnormalities in the development of the mouth and jaw (for example, malocclusion , tooth protrusion, and jaw deformity).

How are these conditions treated?

In most cases, if it's something like a small tear in a frenulum, it doesn't require special treatment, it heals on its own.

However, if a newborn baby has difficulty breastfeeding due to a tongue-tie, and if other methods cannot solve the problem, the doctor may recommend a small surgery called a frenectomy . This is a very simple procedure that can be done in a few minutes. This involves cutting or repositioning the shortened, tight frenulum to free it.

So, if you are having trouble breastfeeding your baby and you think it may be due to a tongue-tie, be sure to talk to your doctor about it. He or she will examine you and refer you to appropriate treatment if necessary.

How do you keep this frenulum in your mouth healthy?

The best and simplest thing to do for this is to maintain good oral hygiene .

Brushing your teeth thoroughly and flossing daily will remove harmful bacteria from your mouth, greatly reducing the risk of infection and inflammation in delicate tissues like the frenulum.

We don't often think about this frenulum, do we? In fact, if you haven't had any problems with it, you've probably never even heard of it. But these little strips of tissue have a big responsibility. They help babies suckle, they help young children process words, and they help you eat and talk without any problems.