In this episode of More Than Teeth Podcast, host Dr. Michael Bennett talks with Allison Allred about her harrowing journey to uncover the root cause of her young son's debilitating symptoms. What began with concerns over optic nerve swelling led to a diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension and a deeper exploration into issues like sleep apnea and airway obstruction.

Allison's unwavering determination led to life-changing improvements in her son's health and behavior. Key takeaways include the importance of trusting maternal instincts, the need for persistent medical investigation, and the powerful role of holistic approaches in treating chronic conditions.

00:43 Initial Symptoms and Diagnosis

02:37 Exploring Treatment Options

03:47 Discovering the Underlying Issues

07:12 Meeting the Specialist and Treatment Plan

11:55 Improvements and Reflections

If you found this episode valuable, share it with a colleague or friend who wants to breathe better, sleep deeper, and live healthier. Your support helps us expand the conversation around airway-focused care and whole-body wellness.

Together, we can move dentistry beyond the chair.

Michael Bennett, DDS, PhD

Board-Certified Dentist | Healthcare Professions Educator

Empowering total health through airway-focused dentistry

Advanced Dental Care – Dr. Bennett’s clinical practice and patient-centered services

Connect on LinkedIn – Join the movement for airway-first, total health dentistry

In this podcast episode, Dr. Michael Bennett welcomes Julie Seager, Education Manager for Xlear and a practicing dental hygienist, to discuss practical clinical protocols that bridge the gap between oral health and total well-being. They explore the critical role of nasal breathing in the dental setting, detailing how pre-procedural nasal hygiene can significantly improve airway volume and patient comfort.

Julie shares the science behind xylitol and grapefruit seed extract, explaining their functions as anti-adhesives and mucolytics against airborne pathogens. They also delve into specific regimens for managing high-risk caries, periodontal disease, and dry mouth, as well as the benefits of chewing gum for pediatric orthodontic cases. Highlighting the importance of protecting both the patient and the provider from aerosols, the discussion emphasizes simple, effective strategies to enhance clinical outcomes and office productivity.

04:12 The "Congested Patient" Scenario

06:45 Pre-Procedural Protocols and Airway Studies

09:20 Correct Nasal Spray Technique

11:15 The Science of Xylitol and the Microbiome

14:10 Grapefruit Seed Extract and Drug Interactions

17:45 Provider Safety in Dental Aerosols

20:05 Oral Protocols: Caries, Perio, and Dry Mouth

27:30 Addressing Bad Breath and Tonsil Stones

31:10 Pediatric and Orthodontic Applications

If you found this episode valuable, share it with a colleague or friend who wants to breathe better, sleep deeper, and live healthier. Your support helps us expand the conversation around airway-focused care and whole-body wellness.

Together, we can move dentistry beyond the chair.

Michael Bennett, DDS, PhD

Board-Certified Dentist | Healthcare Professions Educator

Empowering total health through airway-focused dentistry

Advanced Dental Care – Dr. Bennett’s clinical practice and patient-centered services

Connect on LinkedIn – Join the movement for airway-first, total health dentistry

Guest Information:

Julie Seager is a practicing dental hygienist with over three decades of clinical experience. As the Education Manager for Xlear, she educates healthcare providers ranging from dentists to ENTs, on the research and implementation of xylitol-based protocols for airway and oral health.

https://www.morethanteeth.com/podcast/transforming-dental-appointments-through-better-breathing-and-oral-health-protocols

In this episode of the More Than Teeth podcast, Dr. Michael Bennett hosts Sherri Gunn, a nurse practitioner, lactation consultant, and myofunctional therapist, for a deep dive into the nuances of tongue ties across different age groups. Sherry shares a success story of an infant who could breastfeed pain-free after a CO2 laser release. They emphasize the critical roles of proper tongue function in overall health, touching on subjects like breastfeeding, sleep apnea, orthodontics, and speech development. Sherry details the considerations and contraindications for tongue tie releases at various stages of childhood, stressing the importance of personalized treatment plans.

01:29 Celebrating Success Stories

04:45 The Importance of Proper Tongue Function

09:55 Evaluating the Need for Tongue Tie Release

16:09 Personal Experiences and Professional Insights

22:18 Challenges with Adult Orthodontics

23:27 Therapy Techniques for Infants and Toddlers

28:09 Challenges with Toddlers and Tongue Release

32:16 Myofunctional Therapy for Young Children

34:53 The Role of Prevention in Healthcare

If you found this episode valuable, share it with a colleague or friend who wants to breathe better, sleep deeper, and live healthier. Your support helps us expand the conversation around airway-focused care and whole-body wellness.

Together, we can move dentistry beyond the chair.

Michael Bennett, DDS, PhD

Board-Certified Dentist | Healthcare Professions Educator

Empowering total health through airway-focused dentistry

Advanced Dental Care – Dr. Bennett’s clinical practice and patient-centered services

Connect on LinkedIn – Join the movement for airway-first, total health dentistry

About Guest: Sherri Gunn

Sherri is passionate about helping individuals and families on the road to better health. She is a wife and mother of 6 and all of her kids were tongue tied. She started as a NICU RN, became an IBCLC to help mothers and infants on their breastfeeding journeys, then took a deep dive into tongue ties and became a myofunctional therapist. She knew she wanted to create a space for families and with her partner Anne Tullis, the Utah Breastfeeding and Tongue Tie Center was born. There with incredible team members they have created a space that offers craniosacral therapy, speech therapy, myofunctional therapy as well as lactation education and support. They do weekly tongue/lip tie releases with local pediatric dentists and support their families through their journeys. Sherri loves traveling with her family, baking, driving carpool to dance and taking care of their mini farm.

Website: https://www.utahbreastfeedingandtonguetie.com/