Skow Sleep & Breathing

08/07/2026

A whole health approach is so important! The mouth is not its own entity. 😊 Oral ties and orthodontic treatment in particular create tension in the body that needs to be unwound, which is why I’m passionate about offering CST.

07/22/2026

We offer CST!

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is hands on bodywork that targets the skull, sacrum, and spine. During orthodontic treatments, CST is particularly important!

In infancy, CST helps loosen the structures used for nursing and helps baby to latch better. If Dr. Skow diagnoses oral ties, sometimes CST and red light treatment can be used to avoid a surgical release.

At Spring Valley Dentistry, we offer CST for infants and children. When coupled with red light therapy (photobiomodulation) the results are particularly beneficial.

06/04/2026

Starting on June 25, we are proud to offer CranioSacral Therapy for children and infants!

What is it for?

Feeding Difficulties: Poor latching, weak suction, or jaw tightness during breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.

Digestive Issues: Persistent colic, acid reflux, gas, or general physical fussiness after meals.

Structural Restrictions: Torticollis (wry neck) or head asymmetries like plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome).

Pre/Post Tongue-Tie Care: Relaxing oral tissues before a frenectomy or easing compensatory tension patterns afterward.

Sometimes the therapy can help to avoid removing oral ties.

Call Spring Valley Dentistry to schedule! Scheduling will begin after next Monday June 8.

715-778-5543

05/02/2026

I’ve had 3 requests just last week for providing some continuing education. As a PACE provider, I’d like to oblige with some classes on Zoom.

Let’s start with a Q and A on zoom. Date TBA.

Please comment below if you’d like to attend and also what you’d like me to talk about.
- Dr. Kristin Skow Merth
Affiliate, The Breathe Institute

04/26/2026

Mouth breathing doesn’t just affect your teeth and airway—it can ripple all the way down to your gut. Here’s how those systems connect:

1. Less nitric oxide and poorer digestion: When you breathe through your nose, your body produces nitric oxide, a molecule that helps improve blood flow and oxygen delivery. With chronic mouth breathing, nitric oxide levels drop, which can reduce circulation to digestive organs and subtly impair digestion and nutrient absorption.

2. Altered oral microbiome and downstream gut impact: Mouth breathing dries out the mouth, reducing saliva. Saliva isn’t just for lubrication—it helps control harmful bacteria. A dry mouth allows more pathogenic bacteria to thrive, which you then swallow. That can disrupt the balance of your gut microbiome, contributing to issues like bloating or inflammation.

3. Increased risk of inflammation: Chronic mouth breathing is associated with airway stress and sometimes poor sleep. This can increase systemic inflammation, which is linked to gut problems like irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive sensitivities.

4. Poor sleep and gut dysfunction: Mouth breathing often goes hand-in-hand with sleep-disordered breathing (like snoring or mild airway restriction). Poor sleep affects hormones that regulate digestion, gut motility, and even hunger signals—disrupting the gut’s normal rhythm.

5. Reduced stomach acid efficiency: Proper breathing supports the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in your body. Chronic mouth breathing can shift this balance, which may interfere with stomach acid production—making it harder to break down food and absorb nutrients.

04/19/2026

Introducing red light therapy!
One of the first to receive the therapy was Dr. Skow’s Labrador, Stella. Stella was having shoulder trouble, and the red light clearly accelerated her healing! Stella loved it; she will otherwise never sit still with a ball in her mouth.

This medical grade red light helps to loosen fascia, decrease pain/inflammation, and promote healing in a holistic way.

Coupled with Myofunctional therapy and oral tie release, patients can not only sleep better but experience freedom from pain, inflammation, and tension. Call us today at Spring Valley Dentistry.