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I had to use the attention-grabbing sequence above from my latest reading conquest. In his book, neuroscientist Dr. Matthew Walker lays out the cultural shifts behind how our sleep has artificially and drastically changed over time, what we know about the role of sleep and dreaming for our overall health, and the case for the medical community and society at large to prioritize better sleep for the safety and wellness of humanity. It's a paradigm shift from the classic trope, that sleep is lazy, which we face constantly in our work hustle society.

*If you aren’t an avid reader and want some alternative pathways to this information, consider YouTube, Ted Talks, or Podcasts as alternative routes to hear his message.

As a dentist focused on improving facial growth in our young children, I can't help but make sleep one of the top priorities for why early intervention is a better plan vs. the "watch and wait" approach orthodontists typically rely on. The earlier we see warning signs that growth is off track (dental symptoms like crowded teeth and narrow dental arches) the earlier we can intervene to influence better jaw development, resulting in better breathing and better sleep. It's why I do what I do.

If you want to discuss how sub-optimal facial growth may be affecting your child's sleep, you can schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more.

Product Spotlight: Froggy Mouth

Have you heard about Froggy Mouth? I first learned about Froggy Mouth years ago, but I was kind of skeptical. It is a product based out of France that is meant to improve swallowing patterns, but the fact that it forces the lips to be open seemed to go against all my former training regarding the promotion of proper lip seal. {Sidenote, proper lip seal is one of the main objectives in any Myofunctional Therapy Program.}

Now that I'm an International Member of the British Society of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, I was invited to a private lecture by the company. I'm going to briefly attempt to summarize why I've opened up to the idea that this is an option to keep in the tool kit.

Infants have a certain swallow pattern (we call it an immature swallow) that allows for a change in pressure that moves milk from the nipple to the back of the throat. As a child grows up, that swallowing pattern evolves or "matures" to allow for the introduction of solid foods and to adjust for changes in our anatomy. This process takes place subconsciously for most children, but there are exceptions to the rule.

In children over four years of age, for whom this transition should have already taken place, this product forces the lips to stay open during swallowing (preventing the immature swallow pattern from being possible). The body therefore has to compensate to come up with a new way to swallow saliva. Oftentimes, compensation in the musculature of our body can be negative resulting in pain or strain, but in this case, the product uses our body's default response to its advantage. It allows for a neurological reprogramming that was meant to take place naturally, converting an immature swallow to a mature swallow.

While there are various methods available to accomplish similar results, this is one tool that is a little more hands-off compared to other therapeutic methods. It won't be right for everyone, but it might be right for some. Have you tried it? I'd love to hear what your experience has been! Reply to this message to let me know!

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If you're new to the intersection of oral and overall health, don't forget about my online course, The Airway Dentistry Parent P.L.A.N. It's a great way to cover foundational knowledge on these topics in about 2 hours, and you'll leave completely empowered to establish a dental care team that can take care of your child. Want a sneak peek? I recently added 10 minutes from the course onto my YouTube page so that you can better gauge if my course piques your interest. As always, send me any questions that you have about my course or different ways that I can help you. I would love to connect with you to learn more about your unique situation.

I forgot to mention the course is discounted $100 until July 1st!

Did you miss this?

Does anybody in your family have reflux? Reflux can affect all members of the family differently, with varying presentation of symptoms. As I'm one to encourage root cause revelations, I wanted to share with you my recent Instagram post Four Overlooked Contributors to Reflux. If anyone in your family has had to rely on reflux medications, let's take a closer look together.

I hope that this summer is affording you some extra quality time with your family! Thanks for reading.

Wishing you and your family wellness,

Dr. Julia