I would be retired today if I had a dollar for every time a patient asked me if their insurance was going to cover something.  If it is not covered, I don’t want it. Whatever it was that I was recommending. Why does my medical insurance not cover it if I need it?...

Has anyone ever asked you that question?  Most people look at me when I ask this question, pull their heads back, and say in my mouth? Have you ever really given much thought to your tongue? What is its function really, or where is the tongue resting in your mouth...

What do you think of when you hear the term “airway health?"  If you’re like us, it may be something you haven’t thought about for most of your life, but chances are, if it is not affecting you personally, airway health is affecting someone close to you.  While...

What does hocus pocus mean? It’s a metaphor for nonsense or sham used especially to cloak deception. The main messages expressed are that you're never too old to believe in the impossible and that good always conquers evil. Though not the most unique messages Where...

Last week we talked about how breathing affects everything in our entire life. We begin and end life with a breath. Yet we have other very basic needs to survive and live a long healthy life. Without them, we cannot think about anything else. So what are these...

Everything has a cycle, a beginning, and an end in life. For humans, it starts in the womb, even before we are born. When we are born, we must breathe oxygen to survive and thrive. In fact, we cannot live without oxygen for more than 6 minutes. After 10 minutes...

Today I am sharing some things you should know that are not meant to be kept a secret or that some dentists may not want you to know or may not even know themselves. Dentists are like snowflakes; they are not all the same and have the same background or knowledge. ...

Last week we talked about Myo Munchee, which is an appliance that you can purchase yourself online to help build stronger muscles.  Myofunctional difficulties start in early childhood. If babies cannot feed properly, they are often incapable of swallowing correctly...

So what is a Myo Munchee, and why would your child need one? As a mom, a dental hygienist, and a myofunctional therapist, I have learned about this unique device that initiates natural chewing. I wish I had this when my daughter was 2. Chewing is essential for the...

Airway dentistry is a new and growing field that’s focused on the structure of the mouth and how that impacts your breathing. They look for sleep-disordered breathing by looking for signs of mouth breathing when you’re sleeping. Things like tooth wear, the position...

The simple answer is yes! Yes, it can. But there is much more to the story than a simple yes. It’s obvious that your airway is essential for you to live. Everyone is aware of this phenomenon! Normal well-developed airways assure normal breathing through the nose...

This is a relatively new term to me for having been a dental hygienist for over 30 years. I am still a bit stunned and dismayed by the fact that I have not heard of this sooner. I am bringing awareness to topics like this one and more that will change how we look...