Why breathing, posture, and oral tone are the keys no one is talking about
If your child struggles with sleep, focus, big emotions, or eating challenges
You’ve probably been told it’s “just a phase.”
That they’ll “grow out of it.”
But what if they don’t?
What if the root cause has been in front of us this whole time?
And what if it starts… with the mouth?
The Most Overlooked System in Child Development
As a dental hygienist for over 30 years, I’ve seen what most doctors and therapists miss:
The mouth is the foundation for nervous system health.
It’s how we:
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Breathe
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Sleep
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Chew and swallow
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Regulate emotions and focus
When the mouth isn’t functioning properly it affects everything else.
What to Watch For
Your child may have airway or oral tone issues if they:
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Breathe through their mouth, not nose
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Snore or wake up tired
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Constantly chew on clothes, sleeves, or pencils
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Struggle with certain food textures
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Have slouched posture or forward head tilt
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Experience meltdowns, fogginess, or low energy
These are not “just quirks.”
They’re signs that the body is working overtime to compensate.
Soft Food, Weak Faces, Tired Brains
Today’s kids are raised on soft food and screens.
That combination is literally reshaping their faces and shrinking their airways.
When the muscles of the face and mouth don’t develop properly:
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Airflow is reduced
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The nervous system stays in stress mode
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Sleep becomes fragmented
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Learning and behavior suffer
It’s not that your child is lazy, inattentive, or “wired.”
They might just be oxygen-starved and under-toned.
What You Can Do at Home
You don’t need to be a specialist to help.
Start with:
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Nasal breathing games (blowing bubbles, humming, straw races)
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Face movement play (silly faces, chewing crunchy foods, singing)
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Posture awareness (sitting tall, crawling, hanging from monkey bars)
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Hydration and whole food meals to support muscle tone
These simple shifts can change sleep, mood, and behavior often faster than you think.
Let’s Connect the Dots Together
You’ve got the intuition.
Now you have the language.
And if you’re ready to go deeper to link what’s happening in your child’s mouth with what’s happening in their mood and development
That’s what the SHIFT Method is for.
Join the SHIFT Community here âžť https://shiftcircle.shereewertz.com/communities/groups/shiftcircle/home?invite=68616eb5d774a6c7443f0a15
Join the SHIFT Method here ➝ https://shereewertz.com/academy
