Episode 54 of the Airway First podcast is now out! You can catch this and all other episodes on Apple, SoundCloud, Podbean, RSS, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. And don't forget to check us out on YouTube!
My guest today is Karese Laguerre, a Registered Dental Hygienist, and Myofunctional Therapist. She founded The Myo Spot, a practice aimed at amplifying oral wellness to whole-body wellness. Through teletherapy, she helps clients of all ages overcome tongue ties, TMJ disorders, sleep apnea, grinding, anxiety, and various breathing and orofacial dysfunctions.
Passionate about education and self-help, she published "Accomplished: How to Sleep Better, Eliminate Burnout and Execute Goals". When not working with clients globally she spends time with her husband and four kids.
You can find out more about Karese at themyospot.com.
Mouth breathing in children doesn't self resolve. We need to address the underlying issues. ~ Karese Laguerre, CRDH
Show Notes:
The Myo Spot - www.themyospot.com
Accomplished: How to Sleep Better, Eliminate Burnout, and Execute Goals, by Karese Laguerre: www.amazon.com/Accomplished-Better-Eliminate-Burnout-Execute/dp/B084DG7PL7
Myofunctional Therapy Self-Assessment: themyospot.com/myofunctional-therapy.html
Myslow's Pyramid - Hierarchy of Needs: www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
Blog by Dr. Becky Andrews - Early Childhood Nutrition Impact on Airway Development: www.childrensairwayfirst.org/post/prenatal-and-early-childhood-nutrition-impact-on-airway-development
Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide, by Gill Rapley, PhD, and Tracey Murkett: www.amazon.com/Baby-Led-Weaning-Completely-Expanded-Anniversary/dp/1615195580/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1UN3W0IW7S112&keywords=baby+led+weaning+book&qid=1701203239&s=books&sprefix=baby+led+wea%2Cstripbooks%2C90&sr=1-5
Nasal Cleaning Hygiene for Children: myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=ut1986
WHAT IS THE VEGUS NERVE?
The Vagus Nerve(s) are the main nerves of your Parasympathetic nervous System and are also known as the cranial nerve X. Think of them as your body's superhighway as they contain 75% of your Parasympathetic Nervous System's nerve fibers and have the function of sending information between your brain, heart, and digestive system.
The longest of the cranial nerves, it runs from your brain all the way down to your large intestine. There are several signs or symptoms that can indicate a possible issue with the Vagus Nerve including:
Abdominal pain and excessive bloating
Acid reflux or GERD
Chronic pain or fatigue
Difficulty swallowing or issues with your gag reflex
Dizziness or fainting
Inflammation
Hoarseness, wheezing, or loss of voice
Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
Nausea and vomiting
Anything your body identifies as physiologically stressful can eventually damage the Vagus Nerve (which naturally helps to support your fight or flight functions). This damage can include stress caused by an inability to breathe properly for a prolonged period of time.
HOW CAN OROFACIAL MYOFUNCTIONAL DISORDERS IMPACT A CHILD'S ORAL HEALTH?
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders can affect the functions and muscles of a child's mouth and face, causing a variety of effects, either directly or indirectly, such as malocclusions or facial misalignment.
In addition to contributing to malocclusions like overbite, overjet, and underbite, OMDs can also cause tooth decay and gum disease. When the lip, tongue, and jaw are misaligned, the tongue cannot function normally, which affects the saliva flow in your child's mouth causing your child to have a chronic dry mouth.
A dry mouth means that saliva cannot perform the role it's meant to in your child's mouth. What is the role of saliva? It's there to protect teeth and gums by neutralizing harmful acids. It also acts as a protective barrier, preventing bacteria from growing in the mouth.
Children with OMDs are often chronic mouth breathers. Chronic mouth breathing is a complex health concern that can lead to sleep apnea, speech impediments, and improper facial growth.
DOES YOUR CHILD NEED MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY?
If you're wondering if your child might benefit from myofunctional therapy, here are a few steps you can take to get the process going:
Monitor your child for mouth breathing and/or an open-mouth resting posture. How often does it occur during the day? Do they sleep with their mouth open and/or snore frequently?
Consider talking to a doctor or dentist who specializes in breathing and sleep. It may even be time to have a sleep study done for you or your child. Your doctor will be able to evaluate your child and decide the best course of action.
Have an evaluation with a myofunctional therapist. A myofunctional therapist will often know other specialists and will be able to point you in the right direction at the very least.
SPOTLIGHT BOOK RESOURCE FOR PARENTS
Sleep is critical and vital to health and wellness. Without dispute. What happens, however, after exhausting every tip, strategy, and technique in the pursuit of better sleep; only to wind up exhausted?
Sleep deprivation, a modern epidemic fueled by myths of inception and duration, has a new adversary. Accomplished is a compelling look at a revolutionary approach to sleep, quality over quantity. Granting the reader an introspective look at destructive habits and access to a customizable process for achieving goals through restorative sleep. Amplifying the century-old dental specialty of myofunctional therapy, Karese Laguerre took a personal fight for her family’s wellness and uncovered a process used to improve the lives and sleep of hundreds of clients. Laguerre shares personal and professional cases that will redefine how you measure sleep and self-worth.
Finally, discover which biological limitations hurt or help sleep and productivity, and how to maximize your sleep for true restoration without compromising your daily schedule.
