One Breath at a Time

Charlotte Marsh’s TEDx talk, “One Breath at a Time: Helping Children Connect,” reminds us of one of the most important reasons to pursue airway health interventions. It’s about helping children feel safe, connected, regulated, and able to fully engage with the world around them.

When families first enter the world of airway dentistry, it can feel overwhelming trying to understand all the possible appliances, therapies, or surgeries available. (Sidenote: My Smile Support Stairsteps Ebook can help!)

But this talk is such a powerful reminder that there is always somewhere to begin. Buteyko Breathing methods don't often come to the forefront of the conversation when looking for solutions. But for some families, it might just be the perfect first step.

Check out Charlotte’s website to learn more about her work, and definitely don’t miss her TEDx talk.

Expanding the Conversation

Last month, I mentioned my new partnership with the GetExpanded community, where I’ve started hosting webinars focused on bringing airway and expansion conversations further into the pediatric space.

You can follow GetExpanded’s YouTube channel to stay informed about upcoming webinars and events. This Friday, I’ll be speaking with Kate Kurzhal!

In case you missed them, here are the first three conversations now available:

• ​Hallie Bulkin​

Hallie was the perfect introductory guest for a community that has largely focused on adult expansion conversations like MARPE. A renowned leader in the speech, feeding, and myofunctional therapy world, Hallie shared both professional insight and her family’s personal experience with expansion, including her own adult MARPE journey.

She offered so many valuable pearls of wisdom for parents. I highly recommend learning from Hallie beyond this interview as well. Her Untethered Podcast has long been one of my favorite resources for staying informed about all things airway health.

• Dr. Kevin Boyd​

Dr. Kevin Boyd joined me to discuss what “fix before six” really looks like in practice, the environmental and developmental changes that have contributed to modern malocclusion, and the broader lifelong implications of poor breathing.

This conversation was especially meaningful to me personally because I had the opportunity to participate in his Morton Collection research team, which many people later discovered through James Nestor’s bestselling book, Breath.

Dr. Boyd is truly a force of nature. His passion for this work comes through in every conversation.

• ​Dr. Lynda Dean-Duru and Dr. Krystle Dean-Duru​

This dynamic mother-daughter pediatric dental team is helping redefine what’s possible in pediatric dentistry. They spoke about early warning signs parents should pay attention to and why function should remain the guiding principle for development, as well as sharing some of the innovative technologies and appliances they use in practice. We opened this email looking at the connection of the nervous system and the breath, and these two are truly leading the way when it comes to this intersection.

One thing I deeply appreciate about all of these conversations is how personal these journeys often are for the providers themselves.

I say this often: many airway-informed professionals arrived in this space because they experienced these struggles personally, either in their own lives or within their families. They saw gaps in care, searched for better answers, and ultimately redirected their professional paths toward helping others.

When you attend the live calls, you also have the opportunity to ask questions directly to the featured guests. I’m excited to continue sharing these conversations and stories with all of you through GetExpanded.

The Parents Leading This Movement

May marks Mother’s Day in many parts of the world.

Very likely, if you’re reading this, you’re a mother too. So this month, I’m celebrating you.

The parents who advocate fiercely for their children are the reason this movement continues to grow.

So often, awareness about airway health doesn’t begin in a medical office. It begins with one parent sharing their experience with another parent at a playground, over coffee, or during a conversation about sleep struggles, behavior challenges, picky eating, or crowded teeth.

That’s where transformation happens.

One parent plants the seed that this whole world of airway health even exists. 🌱

I wanted to give a special shoutout to a few parent advocates in my world who are helping connect the dots for other families:

• Kate Kurzhal at Ripple Effect Pediatric Therapy​

Kate, who will also be joining me this week on GetExpanded, is both an SLP and myofunctional therapist. Through her own family’s journey, she recognized how powerful it can be for parents to speak with someone who truly understands the emotional and practical side of navigating this path.

That’s why she created Parent Advocacy Calls and Consults, offering guidance and support grounded in lived experience.

• Melina Moses​

I first connected with Melina through the sleep support she provides for families via Sleep Wise Consulting. Her own family’s sleep struggles initially led her into this work, and she has since become a passionate advocate for early intervention and collaborative care, even taking on a role with the company Toothpillow to help advance this mission.

Melina has completed training with leaders in the airway health space, including The Breathe Institute and Chrysalis Orofacial.

She says this doesn't have to be complicated when we share the same goals: “Educate. Intervene Early. Collaborate.”

• Tasha at Parents of Mouth Breathers​

Though I don’t know Tasha personally, we’ve connected in conversation a few times. While she's still very much deep in the trenches of seeking care for her own family, she transformed her experience into a podcast platform where she interviews experts in the field and helps other families feel less alone as they learn.

All of this has left me feeling incredibly inspired.

Some of you may remember that my word for 2026 is “connect.”

I truly believe we need to celebrate the parents who are connecting the dots for others. You do not need to build a career in this space to make an impact. Often, a single conversation between two parents can completely change the trajectory of a child’s health.

That kind of grassroots connection matters deeply.

I want to lean into supporting more of these parent-to-parent conversations and community efforts moving forward, so stay tuned. I have some ideas brewing.

As always, don’t forget that I have resources available for you, too.

One of my recent one-on-one Concierge Consulting clients shared these kind words, and it truly provides fuel for the fire.

There are times when I feel doubt in how I contribute to this space, but my mission to help connect more parents to resources and make this path more accessible to all has never felt more aligned.

I'm cheering all of you on, wherever you may find yourself in this journey.

Until next month,

Dr. Julia