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Wow! It's time to wrap up this year! 🎁

I know the end of the year gets pretty busy so I thought I'd send out one final newsletter before we roll into the holiday window.

As the year wraps up, I’m feeling incredibly grateful. In 2023, I began experimenting with the idea for Oris Wellness as a side project while working at one of the busiest dental clinics in Lisbon. By 2024, I went all-in, creating a space to support parents in ways that didn’t exist before.

Connecting with so many of you this year has been truly inspiring. The knowledge you’ve gathered and the advocacy you show for your families amazes me—you often know more than many dentists about these critical topics (scary but true!).

Thank you for trusting me on this journey. This work is still evolving, shaped by what I learn from you and what you need most. Please never hesitate to reach out—I love hearing from you!

Did you miss the Airway Coach Summit?

I was honored to be one of ten expert speakers at the Airway Coach Virtual Summit, where I shared how changes to our modern lifestyle might be at the root of many overlooked health issues. From everyday habits and diet to our environment, these factors can quietly impact how we breathe, grow, and sleep. Are you curious to learn where some of these challenges begin? Watch the full 30-minute talk (now on YouTube) and uncover what’s shaping your child’s health and development!

Brazilian Brain Trust

Did you know that much of the progress and research in airway dentistry, particularly in myofunctional therapy and tongue-ties, comes from Brazil? This coming year, I’m excited to deepen my knowledge by training in a system of dental appliances developed by a Brazilian dentist. This program will equip me with valuable tools and insights to share with you. Jaw orthopedics aligns perfectly with my approach: rather than focusing solely on straightening teeth with braces, it emphasizes guiding jaw growth and exploring how your bite affects your jaw joints, head, neck, posture, and overall health. From what I can tell, it's most closely related to some of the tools made available via Orthotropics, Forwardontics, or Postural Orthodontics depending on where in the world you reside. I can’t wait to share what I learn—stay tuned for next year’s updates as I dive into this training!

Gut Check

Helping jaws grow isn't just for better breathing—it’s about supporting whole-body health. Better breathing and sleep can improve gut health, but poor gut health can also slow progress in these areas. This year, I’ve deepened my understanding of how the gut connects to other parts of the body. A healthy gut can ease breathing issues like asthma, improve skin conditions like eczema, and support better learning and mental health. It’s often an overlooked piece of the puzzle for conditions like ADHD and Autism, which also overlap with sleep and breathing challenges.

Here are three resources I recommend to help you learn more about improving gut health or taking actionable steps:

• Book: Healthy Kids, Happy Kids by Dr. Elisa Song. I mentioned this resource while reading it, but she really makes the info easily implementable and digestible.😛
• Program: Bettina Gross (a holistic pediatric health coach!) is hosting an 8-Week group program beginning in January called the Little Gut Reset. If you've been trying to DIY gut health, this is your chance to get more structured guidance.
• Testing: If you're happier with the DIY approach, you need to know about TinyHealth. They offer straight-to-consumer tests for the whole family- babies and children included. Each test includes a report and coaching session with actionable insights. There's a lot I'm learning from their company about the nuances of age-appropriate probiotic supplementation and even support following antibiotic usage!

There are so many exciting technologies, therapies, and solutions I can’t wait to share with you in the coming year. Thank you for being part of the Oris Wellness journey—it’s your curiosity, trust, and commitment to your family’s health that inspire everything I do. I’m truly grateful for the chance to connect with parents like you who are making such a difference. If there’s ever a topic you’d like me to explore or questions you have, I’d love to hear from you—your input helps shape what I share. Wishing you a warm, joyful, and cozy time with your loved ones in the weeks ahead.

Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Dr. Julia