Cleft Lip and Palate

Each and every one of us had a cleft lip and palate during the early stages of our development in the womb. Under normal circumstances, the tissues that form the upper lip and the palate come together and join in the middle. However, in about one out of every 700 babies, these two sections don’t meet. A child born with a separation in the roof of the mouth and upper lip is said to have cleft lip and palate.

If your child has cleft lip and palate, then surgery is required. Over the years, medical professionals have made great progress in treating children with cleft lip and palate, and can do a great deal to help your child lead a healthy and normal life.

Cleft Lip and Palate Repair

The type of surgery and the timing depend upon several factors, which include the surgeon’s preference, the nature of the cleft, and the health of your baby. Most surgeons agree that cleft lip and palate should ideally be repaired around 3-18 months of age. Surgery is timed in such a way to restore the partition between the mouth and the nose. Often, additional surgical procedures are required as your child grows.

Cleft Lip And Palate Preventive Measures

According to recent medical surveys, Folic Acid is said to reduce the occurrence of cleft lip and palate. These studies have shown that using Folic Acid supplements during the early stages of pregnancy can reduce the risk of your child developing cleft lip and palate by nearly one-third.

This data is based on a study involving babies born between 1996 and 2000. 377 had cleft lip (with or without cleft palate), 196 cases had cleft palate only, and 763 infants were absolutely healthy. The results were adjusted taking into consideration certain factors like the mothers’ alcohol and drug intake, smoking habits, vitamin consumption, and reproductive history. In addition to daily folic acid supplement intake, a diet rich in vegetables, fruits and other foods containing folic acid were also found to reduce the risk of cleft lip and palate.

Beans, legumes, wheat bran and other whole grain foods, citrus fruits and citrus juices, green leafy vegetables, liver, poultry, pork and shellfish are dietary sources that are rich in folic acid. It is important to take folic acid supplements during the early stages of pregnancy to reduce cleft lip and palate risk.


For more information, please contact us at 1-800-344-4068 or info@craniofacial.net.