Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating today! I’m feeling the holiday spirit in a big way—and being five years out from our COVID Thanksgiving has me reflecting on just how much life has shifted.

Five years ago, I was practicing biological dentistry in Chicago. Since then, I’ve moved to a new country, stepped back to rediscover the part of dentistry I love most, and built a business dedicated to guiding parents through the often murky world of airway health. This month, a full-circle moment reminded me just how far things have come.

A Full-Circle Moment with James Nestor

If you’ve followed my story, you know my early foundation in airway dentistry started when I worked as a research assistant for Dr. Kevin Boyd. We were comparing modern pediatric skulls with ancient ones from the Morton Collection. This research ended up in the book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor (released in 2020!).

So sitting in a small group earlier this month listening to James speak felt surreal. I found myself nodding along to everything he said. Whenever someone asks what I do, I often ask whether they’ve read this book—because this captivating explanation of why modern humans are breathing so poorly (and why we should care) really sets the stage for what I do.

I also found myself wanting to leap out of my seat to talk to the dad in the audience, whose sleep apnea had caused years of suffering—and who was now seeing similar red flags in his four-year-old daughter. (Yes, I went over to talk with him afterward.)

Since leaving Chicago, I’ve had the space to dig deeper, learn more, and connect dots I simply couldn’t explore when my days were filled with perfecting fillings and crowns. I'm grateful for the version of myself that I've become in the last five years, and listening to James speak in person for the first time really helped me feel it.

ADHD + Airway

When James was asked what’s one thing that's emerged more since Breath was published, he highlighted something I spend a lot of time thinking and teaching about: the overlap between ADHD symptoms and airway issues.

You can watch this clip here on Instagram.

This is obviously a single snapshot from a broader conversation. A parent in the room opened the discussion to the times in which airway may not be the root cause and the conversation evolved.

James said something I loved:
"You can have an electrical issue and a plumbing issue." He pointed out that if there's a problem with the plumbing, then the pipes still need to be fixed in order to make progress.

I’ve been diving deeper into neurology lately (I'll have a new book rec coming your way next month!). Even as a dentist, my current role—and my passion—is connecting the dots in a complex health puzzle and helping families build the right care team.

If your child has been diagnosed with, or you're suspecting ADHD, sleep and breathing absolutely need to be evaluated.
But airway isn’t the only box to check.

Another Overlooked Factor: Vision

ADHD-like symptoms can also overlap with functional vision issues. A few helpful resources:

• Bryce Appelbaum’s TED Talk called "Why Everything You Know About Vision Is Wrong" to reframe that eyesight doesn't equal vision.
• Harkla’s video on ADHD & vision problems​
• Vision therapist directory: locate.covd.org​

Our bodies are complex. These issues often overlap rather than compete. My job isn’t to tell you what to do—it’s to help you understand your options so you can take clearer, more confident steps forward.

In Case You Missed It: Early Orthodontics Q&A

This month on YouTube I answered a question I hear all the time:
​“If we start early orthodontics… does that just mean years and years of treatment?”​
Watch here.​

BONUS The Gift of Better Breathing

It’s gift-giving season, so I have to share this: I just bought the SONU Headband for both my mom and my mother-in-law. It uses sound-wave technology as a drug-free support for nasal congestion. It is FDA-approved for ages 12+ and it only requires 15 minutes a day.

My brother saw it and started asking me if his second-grader can use one. Apparently, the FDA won't approve it for use in younger kids because it requires the usage of a smartphone app. And I guess I'll allow this one moment in which a regulation is trying to prevent more screentime in children. In spite of this, many who have purchased the headband have tried it out for all ages. It's a fully adjustable band, making it a fit for all sizes.

It sounds like spa music, and you can use it hands-free while unloading the dishwasher - or better yet, take it as a cue for breathwork or an intentional pause.

Use code ORIS199 for $100 off.
I don't earn a kickback from any sales, I just wanted my people to get the best deal for technology that I believe in.

Thank you for being here. Truly.
Five-years-ago me would never have imagined this life, this community, or this work.

📌 Oris Wellness Resources for You

Just a few reminders about some tools I’ve created to help parents move from confusion to clarity:

1. ​Airway Alert – A quick visual screening tool that helps you spot early red flags just by looking at your child’s teeth.
2. ​Smile Support Stairsteps – A guide to understanding treatment options, from toothpillows to expanders, and more.
3. ​1:1 Concierge Calls – If you want to cut through the overwhelm and get a clear, customized path forward, I’m here to help. We’ll tap into your child’s unique story and create a plan that feels right for your family.

If you’re reading this in a tryptophan coma, reply and tell me one thing you’re grateful for today. Best bite of the meal? Your child sleeping through the night? I love hearing it all.

Wishing you a holiday season that’s warm, festive, and bright.

All the best,

Dr. Julia

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