Hello and welcome to the first newsletter of 2026!

If you were with me last month, I promised I’d share my word of the year. My word for 2026 is Connect.

I started January fully leaning into that intention by traveling to a small town in Switzerland for an International, Interdisciplinary Tongue-Tie Conference. It was unlike anything I’ve experienced before.

I’ve been immersed in tongue-tie education since 2017, with most of my formal training taking place in the U.S., largely through the AOMT and The Breathe Institute in Los Angeles. Those experiences were invaluable, but this conference felt different in a way that’s hard to fully capture.

Hosted by Dr. Ralf Dornieden and his wife, Mieke, who provide osteopathy and IBCLC support in their Swiss community, the event was intentionally designed to hold space for open, honest global discussion, with an emphasis on education that was not tied to any single tool, company, or training philosophy. Speakers came from all over the world, representing a wide range of perspectives, especially around topics that remain controversial in tongue-tie care.

What stood out most was the humility in the room. Speaker after speaker acknowledged that we know more today than we did a few years ago, and that we still have much to learn. There is no global consensus yet on the “best” tools or wound care protocols, and our understanding continues to evolve. Some speakers shared robust research to meet evidence-based demands, while others offered deep clinical wisdom gained from years of hands-on experience.

A few highlights that really stayed with me:

• Dr. Suraj Vatish on emerging wound care approaches, including photobiomodulation (red light therapy) and enzyme support
• Samantha Weaver on tongue ties with co-morbidities like Ehlers-Danlos, Autism, and ADHD
• Dr. Louis Chan on using laser acupuncture to support patients in his dental clinic
• Dr. Marjan Jones on neurological impacts of oral ties, including a case study where seizures resolved after release
• Dr. Scott Wustenberg, who presented a truly mind-expanding hypothesis on the deeper root causes of tongue ties through an embryology lens (I’m still processing this one!)
• Dr. Zaghi shared a deeply emotional reflection on his mentorship with the late Dr. Guilleminault, and how that relationship set him on the path he has followed ever since.

Beyond the learning, the connections were everything. I reconnected with mentors from Indianapolis and Chicago, met one of my favorite authors in real life (yes, Breathe, Sleep, Thrive by Dr. Shereen Lim), spent time with incredible providers from Portugal (fondue included), and met clinicians from all over the world. I even got to witness that “lightbulb moment” for participants seeing the bigger picture for the very first time. It’s a true rite of passage.

All of it felt like a deeper connection to my purpose, and a way to bring even more clarity and support back to the families I serve.

Before I wrap up, a few other things I wanted to share with you this month:

📖 A must-read article I had to share this piece: ADHD Is Easily Misdiagnosed: Here Are Some Alternative Causes. It pulls together many of my favorite voices and resources into a thoughtful, well-rounded discussion. I’ve spoken about this topic before, and this article does a beautiful job covering all the angles at once. If it brings up questions for you, I’d love to hear them.

🎧 Conversations worth listening to I recently listened to a discussion with Dr. David McIntosh and Dr. Bill Harrell. While I’m not convinced to subscribe the Brad Lea channel, I genuinely appreciated the dialogue, especially the very common “What’s the big deal?” tone from the host. The explanations were clear, grounded, and approachable. Fair warning, you may have to eyeroll your way through some of the host's commentary, but I feel it's worthwhile to listen to the bigger picture.

On the flip side, if you’d like to hear me sharing more about why airway health matters, check out my recent conversation with Heather Gray on BioEnergetic Beats. Heather covers health from so many angles, and it was a joy to bring airway dentistry into her community.

✨ Two exciting invitations

For Parents: I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be contributing to the new OraBiologics platform, founded by Dr. Teresa Scott and her team. This community is bringing biological dentistry resources directly to parents, and it’s such a needed space. I have an article coming soon in their resource library, and I’ll be speaking live on February 8th. Yes, it’s Super Bowl Sunday. I scheduled this without realizing it because I now blissfully live in the land of futbol. ⚽ You can sign up to attend live, or simply join the community and explore everything that’s being offered.

For Professionals: Last month, I hosted focus groups with providers and listened to the challenges of collaborative care. I took those struggles and turned them into solutions. In the coming days, I’ll be introducing a new Collaborative Care Kit designed to make interdisciplinary work clearer and more effective.

If you’ve ever felt this:

• The right providers are hard to find
• Communication hits a wall or wires get crossed
• Families get overwhelmed by inconsistent messaging

This kit was created for you.

If you’d like a sneak peek, reply to this email, and I’ll send you a short YouTube walkthrough of what’s inside.

January was full and inspiring. I’m so grateful to share it with you.

Until next time,

Dr. Julia