Taking care of my daughter’s dental health has always been a priority, and when her orthodontist suggested a necessary procedure to close the gap between her front teeth, I knew we had to act. The small strip of tissue connecting her lip to her gums was not only affecting her smile but also holding her top lip back, making braces less effective. It was a daunting recommendation, but understanding the long-term benefits for her oral health and confidence, we decided to proceed with the procedure. Here is our journey through this experience and the challenges we faced along the way.

Braces and Orthodontist Recommendation

My daughter’s orthodontist recommended that, during her first phase of braces, she see a periodontist to have the small strip connecting her lip to her gums snipped, as it was causing a gap between her front teeth. They also mentioned that this procedure would enhance her smile since it was quite prominent and held her top lip back. Without it, getting braces would feel pointless, as it contributed to the gap in her teeth and bite. I always had concerns about this small strip, but everyone said she could cut it on her own. So I did not think anything of it like no big deal.

Procedure with a Periodontist

The procedure involved several stitches extending from her teeth up to where her lip meets her gums, and possibly even behind her teeth. We opted for laughing gas during the procedure, which turned out to be a wise choice because once it was over, she began to cry from the pain. Unfortunately, this experience left her feeling anxious about future dental visits.

Two Week Recovery

She stayed home from Tuesday to Friday that week to recover and couldn’t exercise for two weeks. For a week, we were instructed not to brush her teeth and to use a special mouthwash instead. We had a baby toothbrush that we gently used to clean her bottom teeth, the backs of her front teeth, and the back molars, as we couldn’t disturb her gums while brushing. Additionally, she was restricted to a diet of very soft foods for two weeks.

Recovery Diet

She was disappointed about missing her smoothies and only consumed the following: for breakfast, she had a watermelon drink and scrambled eggs (we blended watermelon into a liquid). For lunch, she had oatmeal (made with milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon), yogurt, and mashed banana. Dinner consisted of buttered noodles, top ramen, or mac and cheese. Although she disliked this restricted diet, she enjoyed her daily oatmeal.

Pain for Two Weeks

Throughout this time, she experienced considerable pain. Her gums remained puffy and swollen for over a month afterward, and we were given a special surgery brush to clean her gums after two weeks, but brushing still caused her significant discomfort.