Beauty of Breathing

Could the thoughts running through your mind be influencing your digestion, sleep, hormones, and physical symptoms?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, Renata Nehme speaks with Dr. Meg Mill about the connection among our thoughts, the nervous system, and the body’s ability to digest, recover, and heal.

Together, they explore:

✨ Why digestion begins in the brain before food reaches the stomach
✨ How stressful thoughts may activate the fight or flight response
✨ Why the body deprioritizes digestion when it perceives danger
✨ The relationship among the brain, vagus nerve, and digestive system
✨ How chronic stress may affect nutrient absorption, hormones, sleep, and weight
✨ Why identifying the deeper thought beneath our mental chatter matters
✨ How breathing can help communicate safety to the nervous system
✨ The connection among airway health, sleep, cortisol, and digestion
✨ How perimenopause and menopause may reveal underlying imbalances
✨ Why small, consistent habits can create meaningful changes over time

Dr. Mill explains the cephalic phase of digestion, the process through which seeing, smelling, preparing, and thinking about food helps the body prepare to eat. When the nervous system instead receives signals of danger, digestive functions such as saliva production, stomach acid, enzyme release, bile flow, and intestinal movement may be affected.

She also introduces her Seven Second Switch, a process designed to help people identify recurring thoughts, notice how those thoughts feel in the body, question whether they are true, and replace them with something more supportive and believable. A conscious breath then helps reinforce the shift and reconnect the mind with the body.

Renata and Dr. Mill also discuss why someone can appear healthy while struggling with poor sleep, digestive symptoms, hormonal changes, elevated stress, fatigue, or difficulty losing weight. Their conversation highlights the importance of examining the whole picture, including thoughts, breathing, airway function, nutrition, elimination, hormones, and sleep.

Dr. Meg Mill is a Doctor of Pharmacy and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with more than 20 years of experience in root cause health. She is the creator of the Solera Method and the Seven Second Switch, founder of the Women’s Functional Health Institute, and host of the A Little Bit Healthier podcast.

🎧 Tune in to discover how changing your response to a stressful thought may help your body move from survival mode toward better digestion, deeper rest, and greater balance.

#BeautyOfBreathing #DrMegMill #SevenSecondSwitch #GutBrainConnection #DigestiveHealth #NervousSystemRegulation #FunctionalMedicine #VagusNerve #StressResponse #HormoneHealth #WomensHealth #SleepHealth #MindBodyConnection

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ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

Can a bite appear perfectly aligned while still functioning poorly?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, Renata Nehme speaks with prosthodontist, educator, and researcher Dr. Robert B. Kerstein about how computerized technology is changing the way clinicians evaluate occlusion.

Together, they explore:

✨ Why the appearance of the teeth does not reveal how the bite functions
✨ The limitations of relying solely on articulating paper
✨ How T-Scan measures the timing and relative force of tooth contacts
✨ Why tooth friction may contribute to muscle overactivity
✨ Possible connections among occlusion, clenching, grinding, TMD, and facial pain
✨ How bite function may influence swallowing, posture, and airway muscles
✨ Why beautifully aligned teeth may still require functional evaluation
✨ The role of digital analysis after Invisalign, restorative, and implant treatment
✨ How occlusal dysfunction can exist without pain
✨ Why proper training matters when using computerized bite technology

Dr. Kerstein explains that articulating paper can show where the teeth touch, but it cannot measure when each contact occurs or how force is distributed across the bite. T-Scan records this information as a patient bites and moves the jaw, allowing a trained clinician to identify patterns that may otherwise remain hidden.

The conversation also explores the difference between dental alignment and neurophysiologic function. Dr. Kerstein shares how excessive or poorly timed tooth contact may affect muscle activity and contribute to symptoms such as tooth wear, sensitivity, headaches, jaw discomfort, or clenching.

Renata and Dr. Kerstein also discuss the emerging research surrounding occlusion, posture, airway dimensions, and whole-body health. They emphasize the value of objective measurement, thoughtful interpretation, and collaboration when evaluating complex symptoms.

Dr. Robert B. Kerstein is a nationally recognized prosthodontist, educator, and researcher with more than 40 years of experience in occlusion, temporomandibular disorders, and restorative dentistry. A graduate of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, he has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and edited nine research volumes on occlusion and computerized bite analysis.

🎧 Look beyond where the teeth touch and discover how objective bite data may help clinicians better understand function, comfort, and comprehensive patient care.

#BeautyOfBreathing #DrRobertKerstein #Occlusion #TScan #DigitalOcclusion #BiteAnalysis #TMD #Bruxism #Prosthodontics #RestorativeDentistry #DentalTechnology #AirwayHealth #ComprehensiveDentistry

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

What if the first step toward moving better is paying attention to how you breathe?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, Renata Nehme welcomes movement coach and WeShape co-founder Tyler Bramlett, and talked about using breath as a practical tool for movement, comfort, and confidence.

Together, they explore:

✨ What “movement freedom” means beyond appearance or weight
✨ Why Tyler begins every WeShape routine with breathing
✨ How to notice movement in the ribs, abdomen, and chest
✨ The relationship among breathing, posture, and muscle tension
✨ Breathwork options for calming down or feeling more alert
✨ Why coaching someone to feel their breath matters
✨ How breathing changes during stretching, strength training, and running
✨ When mouth breathing may be necessary during intense exercise
✨ Why soreness and pain are not measures of a successful workout
✨ How self-care can build a more supportive relationship with your body

After a cycling accident shattered his femur and damaged his knee, Tyler spent years learning from physical therapists and coaches. That experience changed his approach to fitness. Today, he encourages people to move in ways that help them keep doing what they love for as long as possible.

Tyler shares simple ways to become more aware of breathing during daily life and exercise. He and Renata also discuss why no single breathing technique fits every activity or every person. The goal is to notice what your body is doing, practice with intention, and adjust as your needs change.

Tyler Bramlett is a movement coach, father, and co-founder of WeShape. Drawing on his 15-year recovery journey and his studies of functional anatomy, biomechanics, and rehabilitation, he helps people reduce pain, regain confidence, and find greater freedom in movement.

🎧 Listen for a fresh way to approach exercise, one that begins with your breath and makes room for how you want to feel in your body.

#BeautyOfBreathing #TylerBramlett #WeShape #MovementFreedom #Breathwork #BreathingAndMovement #FunctionalMovement #NasalBreathing #Exercise #Mobility #BodyAwareness #HealthyAging

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

What if healing is not only about surviving what happened, but allowing the experience to shape greater wisdom, purpose, and connection?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, Renata Nehme speaks with transformational coach and breathwork facilitator Megan Mackenzie about the relationship among breathing, the nervous system, and post-traumatic growth.

Together, they explore:

✨ What survival mode can look like in everyday life
✨ How chronic stress may influence breathing patterns
✨ Using conscious breathing to help the body shift toward a calmer state
✨ Why slowing down and feeling difficult emotions can be part of healing
✨ The beliefs and patterns we may carry without realizing it
✨ How breathwork may support emotional awareness and release
✨ Moving from a life shaped by the past to one guided by purpose
✨ Why healing does not require erasing what happened
✨ The power of sisterhood, safety, and being witnessed
✨ Simple ways to incorporate intentional breathing throughout the day

Megan shares how losing both parents to suicide, experiencing postpartum depression, and reaching her own rock bottom shaped her personal healing journey. Rather than allowing those experiences to determine her future, she began working with her breath, nervous system, beliefs, and emotions to develop a deeper connection with herself and with life.

She also explains that meaningful change does not always begin with an intensive practice. One conscious breath during ordinary transitions, such as getting into the car, entering a room, or stepping into the shower, can become a small but powerful opportunity to pause, reconnect, and choose how to move forward.

Megan Mackenzie is a transformational coach, breathwork facilitator, and speaker who helps women move beyond survival and intentionally create lives they love. Through The Connected Woman, she combines coaching, mindset work, and hypno-breathwork to help women release old patterns, reconnect with what they truly want, and create a future guided by purpose rather than their past.

🎧 Take a conscious breath and discover how pain can become wisdom, survival can become intentional living, and healing can open the door to a more connected life.

#BeautyOfBreathing #MeganMackenzie #PostTraumaticGrowth #Breathwork #NervousSystemRegulation #EmotionalHealing #IntentionalLiving #TraumaHealing #WomensWellness #MindBodyConnection #PersonalGrowth #TheConnectedWoman

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

Can you feel as though you are breathing well through your nose and still have abnormal nasal resistance?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, I reconnect with Dr. Karen Parker Davidson to celebrate five years of friendship, education, and collaboration. Together, we explore why nasal breathing involves much more than simply moving air through an open nose.

Dr. Davidson explains that the nose is not merely a passageway. It is a complex pressure-regulating organ, and a certain amount of nasal resistance is necessary to slow incoming air so it can be warmed, humidified, filtered, and prepared before reaching the lungs.

We also dive into:

✨ The important difference between nasal breathing, nasal function, and nasal resistance
✨ Why a patient’s perception of breathing may not reflect their actual nasal function
✨ How children adapt to restricted airflow and why symptoms may appear gradually
✨ Why children cannot be evaluated as though they are simply smaller adults
✨ How chronic nasal resistance may contribute to compensatory behaviors and symptoms
✨ Why a wider nasal cavity does not automatically mean better nasal function
✨ The relationship among airflow, pressure, humidification, filtration, and nitric oxide
✨ Why structural examinations alone cannot fully evaluate how the nose performs
✨ How changes to the maxilla may also affect the nasal cavity
✨ Why dentists and ENTs should collaborate when treating airway-focused patients
✨ The importance of objective nasal measurements and individualized evaluation

We also discuss the challenges patients face when different providers offer conflicting recommendations. Dr. Davidson emphasizes that nasal resistance is highly individual and influenced by hundreds of variables. No single anatomical feature, symptom, or measurement can tell the complete story.

This conversation also honors the late Dr. Martha Cortes, one of the original hosts of The Beauty of Breathing. Dr. Davidson and I reflect on her wisdom, mentorship, and lasting influence on our work in airway health.

Dr. Karen Parker Davidson is a globally recognized airway clinical nurse specialist with nearly 40 years of healthcare experience. She is the founder of the International Society of Airway Function Diagnostics and Therapeutics, creator of Airway AI and the Davidson Maneuver, CEO of MedTech Research and Author, and an internationally recognized educator and speaker. Her work focuses on nasal physiology, objective airway measurement, nasal resistance, and the connections among breathing, neurological function, and whole-body health.

If you’re a dentist, ENT, orthodontist, myofunctional therapist, sleep professional, parent, or patient trying to understand why an apparently open nose may not function efficiently, this episode offers an entirely new way to think about breathing.

🎧 Listen to this episode and discover why evaluating the airway requires us to look beyond whether someone can simply breathe through their nose.

#BeautyOfBreathing #TheNoseKnowsMore #NasalBreathing #NasalResistance #NasalFunction #Rhinomanometry #AirwayHealth #MouthBreathing #PediatricAirway #MyofunctionalTherapy #AirwayDentistry #ENT #SleepDisorderedBreathing #NitricOxide #AirwayCircle

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

What if some of the things you’re doing to sleep better are actually keeping you awake?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, I spoke with Dr. Shelby Harris, one of the nation’s leading experts in behavioral sleep medicine, about why insomnia develops, what keeps it going, and how it can often be treated without relying solely on medication.

We also dive into:

✨ How insomnia differs from an occasional night of poor sleep
✨ Why forcing yourself to sleep can increase tension, frustration, and wakefulness
✨ How compensating with earlier bedtimes, sleeping in, naps, and caffeine can perpetuate insomnia
✨ Why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, or CBT-I, is considered a first-line treatment
✨ How anxiety and disrupted sleep reinforce one another
✨ Why insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea can occur together
✨ How sleep apnea symptoms may look different in women
✨ The effects of perimenopause and menopause on sleep
✨ Why sleep trackers can sometimes create more anxiety than insight
✨ One simple habit that can strengthen sleep: maintaining a consistent wake time

Dr. Harris explains that insomnia is not limited to difficulty falling asleep. It can also include waking repeatedly, struggling to return to sleep, or waking earlier than intended. Although an initial stressor, illness, or hormonal change may trigger it, the habits we develop in response can keep the cycle going long after the original cause has passed.

We also discuss an important distinction for airway-focused providers: not every person who struggles to sleep has insomnia, and not everyone with insomnia has an airway disorder. Some patients experience both insomnia and sleep apnea, which may require each condition to be evaluated and treated rather than assuming one explains every symptom.

This conversation is also especially valuable for women. Dr. Harris shares how hormonal changes may affect sleep during perimenopause and menopause, while symptoms of sleep apnea in women may appear as fatigue, low energy, anxiety, depression, headaches, fragmented sleep, or feeling unrefreshed rather than obvious daytime sleepiness.

Dr. Shelby Harris is a board-certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist, licensed clinical psychologist, and clinical associate professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She specializes in evidence-based, non-medication treatments for insomnia, sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorders, and other sleep challenges. She is also an author, national speaker, and recognized media expert on sleep health.

If you struggle with insomnia, wake frequently during the night, or work with patients experiencing sleep and airway concerns, this episode will help you understand why effective treatment must be individualized.

🎧 Press play to learn how letting go of the pressure to sleep may be the first step toward sleeping better.

#BeautyOfBreathing #Insomnia #BehavioralSleepMedicine #CBTI #SleepHealth #SleepApnea #AirwayHealth #WomensSleepHealth #Perimenopause #Menopause #SleepAnxiety #RestorativeSleep #AirwayCircle

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

What if your breathing issues aren’t just about your airway?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, I sat down with the incredible Mike Cantrell, MPT, to explore how breathing is connected to the entire body. We discuss why airway dysfunction can sometimes begin far from the throat, including the feet, rib cage, jaw, tongue, and overall posture.

We also dive into:
✨ Why palatal expansion doesn’t always resolve every symptom
✨ How body mechanics can influence orthodontic and airway treatment outcomes
✨ Why objective testing matters before, during, and after treatment
✨ What hope looks like for patients who have already had expansion or jaw surgery but still struggle with breathing

This conversation is a powerful reminder that treating the airway often requires looking beyond the airway itself.

Mike brings more than 35 years of experience as a physical therapist and co-founder of the Applied Integration Academy, where he has helped bridge the gap between physical therapy, dentistry, myofunctional therapy, and human performance.

If you’re a dentist, myofunctional therapist, physical therapist, speech-language pathologist, orthodontist, or simply passionate about airway health, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

🎧 Watch the replay and let me know your biggest takeaway in the comments!

#BeautyOfBreathing #AirwayHealth #MyofunctionalTherapy #AirwayDentistry #PhysicalTherapy #Breathing #FunctionalMedicine #Orthodontics #TongueTie #SleepDisorderedBreathing #AirwayCircle #AppliedIntegrationAcademy

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

What if anxiety is not only something you think about, but also something your body expresses through the way you breathe?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, Renata Nehme speaks with integrative physiotherapist Campbell Will about the relationship among breathing, posture, the nervous system, and anxiety.

Together, they explore:

✨ How rapid, shallow, or irregular breathing can influence an anxious state
✨ Why holding your breath may intensify discomfort in stressful situations
✨ The connection among posture, breathing mechanics, and nervous system activity
✨ How screens, prolonged sitting, and chronic stress can reshape breathing patterns
✨ Why awareness should come before trying to control the breath
✨ How parents can model nervous system regulation for anxious children
✨ Why modern lifestyles may contribute to anxiety, poor focus, and difficulty recovering
✨ The value of protecting the first and last hour of the day from digital stimulation
✨ Why a few breathing exercises cannot compensate for an unsustainable lifestyle
✨ How an intentional sigh can become a simple regulation tool

Campbell encourages listeners to shift from asking, “Why am I anxious?” to noticing, “What am I feeling?” Recognizing a racing heart, clenched jaw, tense shoulders, or restricted breathing can create an opportunity to respond with curiosity and gradually guide the body toward a steadier state.

He also explains that effective breathwork is not one-size-fits-all. The technique, timing, purpose, and individual breathing pattern all matter. Lasting change may require addressing daily habits, stress, posture, sleep, movement, environment, and social connection alongside breathing exercises.

Campbell Will is an integrative physiotherapist specializing in the role of breathing in human health and performance. His experience spans intensive care units, neurosurgical wards, elite athletics, and private practice.

Through a holistic, multidisciplinary approach, Campbell helps practitioners and patients understand breathing as a powerful tool for supporting physical health, emotional regulation, energy, and performance.

🎧 Take a breath with us and discover how greater awareness of your physiology can help you respond to anxiety with more curiosity, confidence, and control.

#BeautyOfBreathing #CampbellWill #PhysiologyOfAnxiety #Breathwork #Breathing #AnxietySupport #NervousSystemRegulation #FunctionalBreathing #MentalHealth #StressManagement #MindBodyHealth #IntegrativePhysiotherapy

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

What if persistent fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, or changes in mood are connected to an infection or inflammatory process that has been overlooked?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, Renata Nehme speaks with Dr. Jaquel Patterson about the complex relationship among infections, inflammation, immune health, and chronic illness.

Together, they explore:

✨ How persistent infections may contribute to chronic inflammation
✨ Why Lyme disease is often called “the great imitator”
✨ Common symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, migrating joint pain, headaches, dizziness, and anxiety
✨ Why the absence of a bull’s-eye rash does not necessarily rule out Lyme disease
✨ The limitations and timing considerations of conventional testing
✨ How tick-borne coinfections may complicate diagnosis and recovery
✨ The relationship among inflammation, hormones, mental health, and cognitive function
✨ Why iron, ferritin, vitamin D, and other markers deserve careful evaluation
✨ How mold, environmental toxins, and chronic stress may add to the body’s overall burden
✨ Why treatment must address more than the infection alone
✨ The importance of sleep, movement, breathwork, and nervous system regulation

Dr. Patterson explains why complex chronic illness requires looking at the whole person rather than treating each symptom in isolation. Testing, clinical history, immune function, gut health, inflammation, environmental exposures, nutrition, and mental health may all provide pieces of the same puzzle.

She also reminds listeners that healing does not always begin with the most advanced intervention. Restorative sleep, gentle movement, time outdoors, meditation, breathing practices, and meaningful self-care can help create a stronger foundation for individualized medical treatment.

Dr. Jaquel Patterson, ND, MBA, is a nationally recognized leader in naturopathic and functional medicine. She is the founder of Fairfield Family Health, a multidisciplinary practice in Connecticut, and has over 16 years of clinical experience specializing in Lyme disease, autoimmune and complex chronic illness, integrative psychiatry, and environmental medicine.

She serves as President of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, is certified through the Institute for Functional Medicine, and is a three-time Amazon bestselling author.

🎧 Explore how connecting infections, inflammation, environment, and everyday health habits may reveal a clearer path toward healing.

#BeautyOfBreathing #DrJaquelPatterson #LymeDisease #ChronicInflammation #FunctionalMedicine #NaturopathicMedicine #ChronicIllness #ImmuneHealth #EnvironmentalMedicine #IntegrativeHealth #MentalHealth #WholeBodyHealth

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

What if a child’s dental visit could reveal important clues about their breathing, sleep, behavior, and development?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, Renata Nehme speaks with Dr. Rafif Tayara about modern pediatric dentistry and why caring for children must extend beyond treating teeth.

Together, they explore:

✨ How mouth breathing and sleep-disordered breathing may contribute to recurring dental problems
✨ Why breathing patterns can influence the development of the face, jaws, and teeth
✨ Red flags such as snoring, restless sleep, bedwetting, open-mouth chewing, and dark circles
✨ Why sleep deprivation may affect a child’s attention, behavior, and emotional regulation
✨ How prolonged pacifier use and thumb-sucking can influence oral function and facial growth
✨ The importance of chewing and transitioning away from consistently soft foods
✨ Why perfectly straight baby teeth may indicate insufficient space for adult teeth
✨ How screens, allergens, and the bedroom environment may affect sleep
✨ The value of open cups and developmentally appropriate drinking patterns
✨ Why pediatric airway care requires collaboration among multiple healthcare professionals

Dr. Tayara reminds parents that children do not simply grow into their genes. Their daily habits, breathing patterns, oral function, nutrition, and environment can all help shape development.

She also explains why removing an obstruction may not be the end of treatment. Supporting jaw growth, nasal breathing, tongue function, and healthy oral habits may be essential for creating more stable, long-term outcomes.

Dr. Rafif Tayara is a leading pediatric dentist and Sleep Dental Medicine specialist trained at Tufts University. She is a top 1% Invisalign First Provider in Dubai and the Netherlands, founder of JuniorDental and the Pediatric Academy, and was voted Best Pediatric Dentist 2025.

With experience across North America and the Middle East, she focuses on modern pediatric dentistry, early airway orthodontics, and myofunctional therapy. She is also the author of the children’s book “Danny and Sarah Go to Dr. Smile” and a proud mother of three.

🎧 Tune in to learn which everyday signs may be telling you more about your child’s breathing, sleep, and development than you realize.

#BeautyOfBreathing #DrRafifTayara #PediatricDentistry #PediatricAirway #AirwayHealth #SleepDisorderedBreathing #MouthBreathing #EarlyIntervention #MyofunctionalTherapy #FacialGrowth #ChildDevelopment #AirwayOrthodontics

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...