Dental Advice faq from Seattle Area Dentist

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My three year old daughter has a "frenum" (I think that is the word) that comes out from between her two front teeth and attaches to her lip. She did not have this as a baby. It hurts her to brush her teeth. What is this??

Fortunately, most people have a frenum, so your daughter's condition may not be a major concern. In rare instances, this frenum may be larger than normal, and if health problems arise, it may easily be surgically removed. If this frenum is sore during brushing there may be a number of factors causing this, but most likely the frenum has been traumatized. I recommend not brushing it for a while to see if heals on its own. A dentist who specializes in children, or a Pedodontist, will be able to tell you the condition of your daughter's frenum with an examination.