Mindful Myo and Wellness

10/06/2026

Form follows function. 👅🦷

We talk a lot about closing an open bite, but what about keeping it closed?

One study looked at 76 people with dental anterior open bites who were referred for orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) at different points in their orthodontic journey.

• 27 people received both orthodontic treatment (or retreatment) and OMT.
• 49 people had previously had orthodontic treatment but experienced an open-bite relapse.

And the difference was pretty interesting.

Those who received orthodontic treatment along with OMT had much less relapse than those who had orthodontic treatment alone.

The average relapse was about 0.5 mm in the OMT group compared with 3.4 mm in the orthodontic-only group.

The researchers also found that things like forward tongue posture and tongue-thrust swallowing were associated with open-bite relapse, and that speech errors and oral habits could often be addressed through OMT.

So this is why I believe it’s so important to look beyond just the position of the teeth.

If the function that contributed to the problem isn't addressed, the teeth may be fighting against those same forces after orthodontic treatment.

It's not about choosing orthodontics OR myofunctional therapy.
Sometimes it's about orthodontics AND myofunctional therapy working together. ❤️

Form follows function.
Correct the dysfunction. Support the form long-term.

Reference:
Smithpeter J, Covell D Jr. Relapse of anterior open bites treated with orthodontic appliances with and without orofacial myofunctional therapy. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 2010;137(5):605-614. doi:10.1016/j.ajodo.2008.07.016.

Read the full study:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20451779/

09/25/2026

Crazy question! Where is your tongue right now??

Have you ever stopped to think about where your tongue rests when you’re not talking or eating? 👅

It may seem like a small detail, but tongue posture plays an important role in breathing, swallowing, sleep, and how the jaw and face develop.

Take a look at the graphic 👇
Where is YOUR tongue right now?

You might be surprised by the answer! 💙

09/25/2026

Have you ever stopped to think about where your tongue rests when you’re not talking or eating? 👅

It may seem like a small detail, but tongue posture plays an important role in breathing, swallowing, sleep, and how the jaw and face develop.

Take a look at the graphic 👇
Where is YOUR tongue right now?

You might be surprised by the answer! 💙

09/24/2026

Sometimes the signs of disrupted sleep aren’t so obvious. 💕

Mouth breathing, snoring, and even bedwetting can be clues that your child may not be getting the quality sleep their growing body needs.

Sleep is about more than just the hours they’re in bed. 💤
Pay attention to the signs—they can tell us a lot. 👃👅

09/22/2026

Sometimes the things we notice as “just a phase” can be worth a closer look. 👀

Snoring. Mouth breathing. Restless sleep. Trouble staying asleep.

Breathing and sleep can play an important role in how a child grows and develops.

Take a look at the graphic below. ❤️
And if something makes you think, “Wait… my child does that,” let’s chat.

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09/15/2026

The tongue plays a much bigger role in our health than we often realize! 👅

Proper tongue posture and function can influence jaw and facial development, breathing, sleep, swallowing, and even long-term oral health. These patterns begin developing early and can continue to impact us throughout life.

If you have concerns about your child’s breathing, sleep, oral development, tongue posture, or facial growth, we probably need to chat! 💬

Let’s talk about what you’re noticing and how I may be able to help.

09/05/2026

🇺🇸 Happy Labor Day Weekend! 🇺🇸

Wishing everyone a safe, fun, and relaxing weekend! Enjoy the extra time with family and friends, make some memories, and take a little time to slow down and enjoy the weekend. ❤️

Happy Labor Day! 🇺🇸✨

09/02/2026

💚 DON’T IGNORE THE SIGNS 💚

What is a tongue tie?
A tongue tie is a tight or short tissue under the tongue that may restrict tongue movement.

What is a lip tie?
A lip tie is tight tissue connecting the upper lip to the gum that may restrict lip movement.

Sometimes these restrictions can contribute to feeding challenges such as:

• Poor or difficult latch
• Difficulty sucking
• Prolonged feedings
• Feeding frustration
• Clicking or noisy feeding
• Leaking milk
• Choking or gagging
• Excessive gas or colic
• Reflux or frequent spit-up
• Baby falling asleep while nursing
• Difficulty getting a good lip curl
• Milk blister on the lip
• Difficulty gaining weight

And for mom:

• Painful latch or painful nursing
• Cracked or blistered ni***es
• Low milk supply
• Recurrent mastitis

But here’s something important:
Seeing a tongue tie or lip tie doesn’t mean it automatically needs to be treated.

Some babies have these tissues and feed beautifully with no problems at all. It’s not just about what the tissue looks like—it’s about how it functions.

If you’re noticing any of the symptoms above, or you simply have a feeling that something isn’t right, it’s worth having your baby properly assessed.

A thorough evaluation can help determine what may be contributing to feeding difficulties and whether any intervention is actually needed.

You don’t have to figure it out alone.
If you’re concerned about your baby’s feeding or simply feel like something isn’t right, reach out to me. I can help you navigate the next steps and connect you with the right professionals to evaluate what may be going on.

Our goal is to work together as a team to understand your baby’s individual needs and determine the best path forward for you and your baby.

Because when it comes to feeding, function matters. 💚

09/01/2026

What a great way to start the weekend! ☕️❤️

We met at a local coffee shop and spent the morning having great conversation, lots of learning, sharing ideas, and of course, a little fun!

We got together with some pretty amazing women and professionals who all bring something different to the table—airway dentistry, myofunctional therapy, craniosacral fascial therapy, lactation, chiropractic care and more.

We learn from each other, bounce ideas around, look at things from different perspectives, and most importantly, keep asking:

“How can we help these kids, moms, dads, and families even more?”

I absolutely love the community we’re building with like-minded professionals who are willing to look outside the box and work together for the good of the child.

Different specialties. Different perspectives. One common goal.

And I have to say… we make a pretty great team! 🥰

So thankful to be surrounded by people who are just as passionate about helping kids breathe, function, and thrive. ❤️