What if crooked teeth are not the problem, but evidence of a larger problem involving growth, breathing, and oral function?

In this episode of Airway Answers: Expanding Your Breath of Knowledge, Nicole Goldfarb speaks with Dr. Barry Raphael about the complicated relationship between the tongue and traditional orthodontic treatment.

They explore:

✨ How tongue posture, swallowing, mouth breathing, and other soft-tissue patterns may influence dental and facial development
✨ Why straightening the teeth does not necessarily correct the dysfunction that contributed to the malocclusion
✨ The difference between creating a beautiful bite and supporting whole-body health
✨ How physics and the “particle principle” help explain the forces that guide teeth and facial growth
✨ Why the tongue needs adequate space before it can function properly
✨ How orthodontists and myofunctional therapists may view the tongue differently
✨ Why identifying a tongue-tie does not automatically mean it should be released
✨ How genetics, environment, breathing, and behavior interact during development
✨ What a case involving identical twins reveals about the potential influence of function and environment

Dr. Raphael also presents his “Airway Timeline,” which traces how environmental stressors and compensatory habits may contribute to soft-tissue dysfunction, altered craniofacial growth, restricted breathing spaces, sleep-disordered breathing, and eventually obstructive sleep apnea.

This framework encourages clinicians to look beyond crooked teeth and consider three essential areas: structure, function, and behavior. Addressing only one may leave important contributors to the patient’s condition unresolved.

The conversation is also a reminder that treatment should be based on function, not appearance alone. A visible tongue-tie, narrow palate, or imperfect bite does not tell the entire story. Careful evaluation should consider nasal breathing, sleep quality, oral rest posture, swallowing, available tongue space, and the patient’s individual symptoms.

Dr. Barry Raphael has practiced orthodontics since 1983. After shifting his clinical focus toward airway health and soft-tissue dysfunction, he established the Raphael Center for Integrative Orthodontics in Clifton, New Jersey. His multidisciplinary team includes professionals in myofunctional therapy, craniosacral therapy, functional medicine, nutrition, and health coaching.

Nicole Goldfarb is a speech-language pathologist, Certified Orofacial Myologist, international speaker, and owner of the San Diego Center for Speech Therapy & Myofunctional Therapy. She has a special interest in sleep-disordered breathing, restricted oral tissues, and myofunctional disorders.

If you’re an orthodontist, dentist, myofunctional therapist, speech-language pathologist, or parent interested in how breathing and oral function shape development, this episode will challenge you to look beyond the teeth.

🎧 Explore this fascinating conversation and reconsider the tongue’s role in orthodontics, airway health, and facial growth.

Twin case images featured in the presentation are credited to Dr. Chris Farrell of Myofunctional Research Co.

#AirwayAnswers #BeautyOfBreathing #IntegrativeOrthodontics #AirwayOrthodontics #MyofunctionalTherapy #TonguePosture #TongueTie #Malocclusion #FacialGrowth #MouthBreathing #PediatricAirway #SleepDisorderedBreathing #AirwayHealth #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 caring for a baby meant supporting feeding, movement, oral function, and the parent-child connection together?

In this episode of the Dear Momma Podcast, Dr. Catherine Murphy reconnects with Lisa Lahey to explore her multidisciplinary approach to infant care and the importance of supporting both the baby and the caregiver.

They discuss:

✨ Why so many airway professionals begin their learning journey through experiences with their own families
✨ What families can expect during a visit to Oh Baby Spa
✨ How infant massage and supervised floating can encourage movement, relaxation, and bonding
✨ Why parents need positive experiences with their babies, especially when feeding has become stressful
✨ What preparation may be helpful before an infant frenectomy
✨ Why a frenectomy should be supported by individualized pre- and post-procedure care
✨ The roles of oral exercises, feeding support, bodywork, and follow-up care
✨ How practitioners can educate parents without overwhelming them
✨ Why mothers should trust their instincts and continue advocating for their children

Lisa explains that preparing for a frenectomy looks different for every family. When time permits, she prefers to evaluate oral function, teach parents appropriate exercises, coordinate with other providers, and establish a plan before the procedure. Afterward, gentle movement, feeding support, wound-care guidance from the treating team, and continued follow-up can help support healing and function.

This conversation is an important reminder that a frenectomy is not the entire treatment. Babies and families need preparation, clear guidance, and compassionate support throughout the process.

Lisa also shares meaningful mom-to-mom wisdom from raising five children. Every child arrives with individual gifts, challenges, and a unique path. Our role as parents is not to have every answer, but to remain curious, seek support, and trust what we observe.

Lisa Lahey is a holistic family nurse practitioner and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with more than 25 years of experience. Her background includes labor and delivery, postpartum care, the NICU, feeding therapy, infant massage, craniosacral therapy, myofascial release, and myofunctional therapy. She is the founder of Advanced Breastfeeding Care and Wellness and Oh Baby Spa, as well as a contributing author of Tongue-Tied.

Dr. Catherine Murphy is an orthodontist, holistic health advocate, speaker, and author of Dear Momma…, a picture book offering comfort to mothers navigating unexpected breastfeeding challenges.

If you’re a parent, lactation consultant, nurse practitioner, pediatric provider, myofunctional therapist, or professional supporting babies with feeding and oral-function concerns, this episode offers a thoughtful picture of truly connected care.

🎧 Join the conversation and discover how calm, preparation, and compassionate collaboration can support both babies and their families.

#DearMommaPodcast #InfantFeeding #BreastfeedingSupport #InfantFrenectomy #TongueTie #OralFunction #InfantMassage #BabyWellness #LactationConsultant #MyofunctionalTherapy #MaternalWellness #ParentAdvocacy #OhBabySpa #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. ...

Could clenching and grinding be about more than stress or your bite?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, Dr. Martha Cortes and Dr. Jennifer Hobson connect with Dr. David Shirazi to examine the complex relationships among breathing disorders, sleep, temporomandibular disorders, craniofacial pain, and mental well-being.

They explore:

✨ Why people clench and grind their teeth during the day and while sleeping
✨ How reduced airflow and changes in the nervous system may contribute to nighttime bruxism
✨ The relationship between TMD, craniofacial pain, and sleep-disordered breathing
✨ How stress, emotions, and attempts to control difficult situations can influence daytime clenching
✨ What the Advanced Light Wire Functional Appliance, or ALF, is and how it may be used
✨ How neurological motor reflex testing can help clinicians investigate possible sources of pain and dysfunction
✨ Why a thorough evaluation should consider a patient’s breathing, bite, posture, history, and psychology
✨ How breathing, swallowing, physical therapy, and oral appliances may work together as part of multidisciplinary care

Dr. Shirazi also explains why chronic pain is rarely as simple as treating the area that hurts. When the nervous system becomes sensitized, symptoms may extend beyond the original source, making it essential to understand the patient’s complete history rather than focusing on an isolated joint, muscle, or tooth.

This conversation offers a whole-person perspective on dental health. It reminds us that the jaw does not function independently from the airway, nervous system, body, or mind.

Dr. David Shirazi is a dentist, licensed acupuncturist, and practitioner focused on craniofacial pain, craniomandibular orthopedics, and sleep-disordered breathing. He holds advanced degrees in Oriental Medicine and psychology and has completed more than 2,000 hours of continuing education in TMD, facial pain, and sleep-related breathing disorders. His multidisciplinary approach integrates dentistry, sleep health, acupuncture, neurology, and psychology.

When asked how to become the healthiest version of ourselves, Dr. Shirazi emphasizes beginning with mental well-being, setting manageable goals, taking life one day at a time, and treating ourselves with patience when progress is imperfect.

If you’re living with jaw pain, headaches, clenching, grinding, or disrupted sleep, or you’re a dentist, physical therapist, myofunctional therapist, or airway professional, this episode provides a thought-provoking look at how these concerns may intersect.

🎧 Explore the conversation and discover why caring for your breathing, nervous system, and mind may be just as important as caring for your teeth.

#BeautyOfBreathing #TMD #TMJDisorder #Bruxism #TeethGrinding #CraniofacialPain #AirwayHealth #SleepDisorderedBreathing #NasalBreathing #ALFAppliance #Acupuncture #MentalWellness #PhysicalTherapy #MyofunctionalTherapy #AirwayDentistry #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. ...

Does your child snore, sleep with their mouth open, or toss and turn throughout the night?

In this episode of the Dear Momma Podcast, Dr. Catherine Murphy speaks with Laael Johnson, RDH, about her experience recognizing sleep-disordered breathing in her son and learning to advocate for the care he needed.

They explore:

✨ Signs of disrupted breathing that can easily be mistaken for normal childhood sleep
✨ How open-mouth sleeping, snoring, chronic congestion, talking during sleep, and constant movement may signal a concern
✨ Laael’s difficult breastfeeding experience and the oral restrictions that were initially overlooked
✨ Why feeding, breathing, sleep, oral development, and maternal well-being are closely connected
✨ How palate expansion and myofunctional therapy became part of her son’s care
✨ Why treatment may require collaboration among orthodontists, ENTs, myofunctional therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other providers
✨ How dental hygienists can help screen for airway and sleep concerns
✨ Why parents should trust their observations and continue seeking answers when something does not feel right

Laael also speaks openly about postpartum depression, sleep deprivation, and the pressure many mothers feel to handle everything alone. Her story is a compassionate reminder that asking for help is a sign of strength, whether that means seeking support for your child or for yourself.

Sleep-disordered breathing does not always look dramatic. Sometimes it appears as a child sleeping in unusual positions, waking frequently, struggling with congestion, or simply never seeming fully rested. Recognizing these patterns early can help families begin asking better questions.

Laael Johnson has been a registered dental hygienist for more than 13 years and has advanced training in orofacial myofunctional therapy. She is the owner of Facial Connection, an independent practice in upstate New York where she works with patients both in person and virtually. Her experience advocating for her own children inspired her commitment to airway education and early intervention.

Dr. Catherine Murphy is an orthodontist, holistic health advocate, speaker, and author of Dear Momma…, a picture book offering comfort to mothers navigating unexpected breastfeeding challenges.

If you’re a parent, dental hygienist, pediatric dentist, orthodontist, lactation consultant, or myofunctional therapist, this episode will help you recognize signs that deserve a closer look.

🎧 Listen to Laael’s story and share this episode with a parent who may need encouragement to keep asking questions.

#DearMommaPodcast #SleepDisorderedBreathing #PediatricSleep #MouthBreathing #AirwayHealth #MyofunctionalTherapy #TongueTie #BreastfeedingSupport #MaternalMentalHealth #PediatricDentistry #DentalHygiene #ParentAdvocacy #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. ...

You may be breathing through your nose, but how well is it actually working?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, Dr. Martha Cortes and Dr. Jennifer Hobson are joined by Dr. Karen Parker Davidson to explore rhinomanometry, a noninvasive test that objectively measures nasal airflow, pressure, and airway resistance during active breathing.

They also dive into:

✨ The difference between nasal structure and nasal function
✨ What rhinomanometry can reveal that imaging and visual examinations may not
✨ How nasal resistance can contribute to mouth breathing and compensatory posture
✨ How testing may help distinguish structural obstruction from inflammation or congestion
✨ Why measuring patients before and after treatment can provide valuable clinical insight
✨ How dentists, ENTs, allergists, physical therapists, and myofunctional therapists can collaborate more effectively
✨ Why creating more space in the nasal airway may still need to be followed by breathing retraining

The conversation also examines how objective measurements may help clinicians evaluate a patient’s response to expansion, oral appliances, nasal procedures, and other airway interventions. Rather than relying exclusively on symptoms or appearance, rhinomanometry offers data that can help guide referrals and treatment decisions.

This episode is an important reminder that the ability to breathe through the nose should not simply be assumed. It can be evaluated, measured, and monitored over time.

Dr. Karen Parker Davidson has more than 30 years of clinical experience and over 25 years of experience in the ENT, sleep, and medical-device industries. A former flight nurse in the United States Air Force Reserve, she serves as Vice President at GM Instruments and has written and presented extensively on nasal physiology, objective nasal measurements, clinical applications, and health policy.

If you’re a dentist, ENT, orthodontist, allergist, myofunctional therapist, physical therapist, sleep professional, or anyone interested in understanding nasal function, this episode offers a fascinating introduction to an underused form of airway testing.

🎧 Tune in to discover what nasal resistance can tell us about breathing and why airway care begins with better measurement.

#BeautyOfBreathing #NasalBreathing #Rhinomanometry #AirwayHealth #MouthBreathing #AirwayDentistry #MyofunctionalTherapy #SleepDisorderedBreathing #NasalAirway #ENT #PhysicalTherapy #Orthodontics #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 the first step toward better health is not another treatment, but learning how to breathe, rest, and understand your body?

In this episode of the Dear Momma Podcast, Dr. Catherine Murphy connects with Dr. Jasmine Elmore for an honest conversation about pediatric dentistry, airway health, and the personal journey that transformed Dr. Elmore’s approach to patient care.

They explore:

✨ How nutrition, oral health, sleep, and breathing influence a child’s overall well-being
✨ Why education and practical support are essential for preventing serious dental problems
✨ Where parents can begin when a baby is struggling with feeding, fussiness, or unexplained discomfort
✨ Why infants and adults often benefit from a collaborative, whole-body care team
✨ How mouth breathing, clenching, posture, and body mechanics may be connected
✨ Why managing stress and supporting the nervous system should come before rushing into treatment
✨ The importance of giving ourselves grace during difficult seasons of life

Dr. Elmore also shares how chronic shoulder pain led her to discover connections among her teeth, breathing, posture, sleep, and overall health. That experience sparked a new professional path focused on helping patients understand the brain-breath-body connection.

This conversation is a meaningful reminder that healing does not have to begin with perfection. Sometimes it begins with one small promise to yourself, a moment of awareness, or a single breath.

Dr. Jasmine Elmore is a board-certified pediatric dentist, Certified Specialist in Orofacial Myology, and one of a small number of professionals to hold a degree in the Science of Breathing Behavior. Her multidisciplinary education includes airway health, restricted oral tissues, infant care, behavioral breathing, and whole-body wellness.

Dr. Catherine Murphy is an orthodontist, holistic health advocate, speaker, and author of Dear Momma…, a picture book created as a comforting embrace for mothers navigating unexpected breastfeeding challenges.

If you’re a parent, pediatric dentist, lactation consultant, myofunctional therapist, physical therapist, or healthcare professional interested in compassionate, collaborative care, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen to the conversation and consider one small commitment you can make to your health today.

#DearMommaPodcast #BeautyOfBreathing #PediatricDentistry #AirwayHealth #BreathingBehavior #MouthBreathing #MyofunctionalTherapy #InfantHealth #WholeBodyHealth #ParentSupport #MaternalWellness #SelfCare #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. ...

Can temporarily balancing the bite change alignment elsewhere in the body?

In this episode of The Beauty of Breathing, Dr. Jennifer Hobson and Dr. Martha Cortes speak with craniofacial physical therapist Bill Esser about a pilot project exploring the relationship among dental occlusion, head and neck position, pelvic alignment, and lower-back symptoms.

The conversation centers on the Aqualizer®, a temporary fluid-filled oral appliance designed to distribute bite forces more evenly. Dr. Hobson and Bill discuss their preliminary observation that many participants with uneven iliac crest heights appeared more level after wearing the device and walking briefly.

They also dive into:
✨ How the Aqualizer temporarily reduces the influence of uneven bite contacts
✨ The difference between structural and functional leg-length discrepancies
✨ How muscular tension may create the appearance of an uneven pelvis
✨ The potential top-down influence of the bite, jaw, and neck on posture
✨ How the feet, pelvis, and spine may also influence the jaw from the bottom up
✨ The relationship among head tilt, cervical rotation, and occlusal contacts
✨ Why physical therapists and dentists need to evaluate patients collaboratively
✨ How an imbalanced bite may contribute to muscular compensation
✨ The limitations of palpation and the need for more objective measurement
✨ The next steps needed to investigate these preliminary findings

This episode presents an intriguing clinical observation, not a definitive conclusion that an oral appliance treats back pain or pelvic asymmetry. The pilot project raises important questions about how the bite and body may influence one another and why larger, carefully controlled studies are needed.

Bill Esser, PT, is a craniofacial physical therapist and Certified Cervical and Temporomandibular Therapist with approximately 40 years of experience treating TMJ disorders and complex cranial and cervical dysfunction. He teaches physical therapists and dentists about TMJ evaluation, posture, occlusion, and interdisciplinary treatment.

Dr. Jennifer Hobson is a physical therapist specializing in the head and neck, TMJ dysfunction, breathing mechanics, chronic headaches, postural dysfunction, and sleep-disordered breathing. She co-authored the published guest editorial and pilot observations discussed in this episode.

Dr. Martha Cortes is a general, cosmetic, biological, neuromuscular, and laser dentist with a special focus on sleep-disordered breathing and TMJ dysfunction. Her approach considers the relationships among dental structure, airway health, facial development, and whole-body function.

If you’re a dentist, physical therapist, chiropractor, myofunctional therapist, or healthcare professional interested in TMJ dysfunction, posture, and the relationship between the bite and body, this episode introduces a fascinating direction for future research.

🎧 Listen in for a closer look at what may happen throughout the body when bite forces are temporarily balanced.

#BeautyOfBreathing #Aqualizer #TMJ #TMD #DentalOcclusion #PhysicalTherapy #Posture #PelvicAlignment #BackPainResearch #CraniofacialTherapy #InterdisciplinaryCare #AirwayHealth #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 taking care of yourself did not require an entire day, an expensive retreat, or a perfect routine?

In this episode of the Dear Momma podcast, host Dr. Catherine Murphy speaks with board-certified acupuncturist and massage massage therapist Bre Grzych about integrative health, motherhood, and why small moments of intentional self-care can create meaningful changes over time.

Bre shares how her early experiences in a chiropractic practice led her to massage therapy and eventually to advanced training in acupuncture, Chinese herbal therapy, nutrition, and mindfulness. She explains how she combines Eastern and Western perspectives to consider the body, mind, lifestyle, and home environment as part of a larger picture.

They also dive into:
✨ How massage therapy led Bre to study acupuncture and Chinese medicine
✨ What acupuncture training involves and how it differs from massage therapy
✨ How the tongue is traditionally evaluated within Chinese medicine
✨ Why symptoms in one area may be connected to tension or restriction elsewhere in the body
✨ The relationship among acupuncture meridians, fascia, and whole-body treatment
✨ How acupuncture may complement dental and other healthcare treatment
✨ Why collaborative care matters when symptoms continue to return
✨ How face yoga helped Bre begin moving during her cancer recovery
✨ The creation of Take 3 for Me and its focus on movement, mindset, and breathing
✨ Why rest is an active and necessary part of healing

This conversation reminds mothers that self-care does not need to be complicated or time-consuming. A few intentional minutes of movement, mindful reflection, and breathing can help reconnect the body and mind, especially during seasons when energy and time feel limited.

Bre Grzych is a board-certified acupuncturist and massage therapist with additional training in nutrition, Chinese herbal therapy, pediatrics, orthopedics, and mindfulness-based interventions. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Purdue University and two master’s degrees from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine. As a mother and cancer thriver, she brings both clinical knowledge and lived experience to her work with individuals and families.

Dr. Catherine Murphy is an orthodontist, holistic health advocate, speaker, and author of Dear Momma, a picture book created to support mothers facing unexpected breastfeeding challenges. Together, Catherine and Bre co-created Take 3 for Me, a practical self-care practice centered on movement, mindset, and breathing.

If you’re a mother, caregiver, healthcare professional, or someone curious about how acupuncture and massage may complement a broader wellness plan, this episode offers an approachable introduction to integrative care.

🎧 Listen in for an encouraging conversation about granting yourself grace, embracing rest, and beginning self-care with the time you already have.

#DearMomma #BeautyOfBreathing #Acupuncture #MassageTherapy #IntegrativeHealth #SelfCareForMoms #Take3ForMe #MindBodyHealth #FaceYoga #Mindfulness #Motherhood #HolisticHealth #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. ...

When does a tongue-tie need to be released, and why is the procedure only one part of successful treatment?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, I speak with board-certified pediatric dentist Dr. Ann Bynum about the clinical lessons she has learned from a decade of helping infants, children, teenagers, and adults with tethered oral tissues.

Dr. Bynum shares how a local lactation consultant introduced her to tongue-tie care and encouraged her to become the missing provider in their community. What began as an unfamiliar area of practice ultimately transformed her career and renewed her passion for pediatric dentistry.

We also dive into:
✨ Why tongue-tie should be evaluated according to function, not appearance alone
✨ The importance of provider-guided aftercare following a frenectomy
✨ Why crying during an infant exercise does not necessarily indicate pain
✨ How language can help parents feel prepared and empowered
✨ Why a release should not be performed simply because a restriction is present
✨ When medical concerns, feeding stability, age, or limited readiness may mean treatment should be postponed
✨ How oral space and patient cooperation affect treatment planning
✨ Why pre- and post-procedure therapy can improve coordination and functional outcomes
✨ The roles of lactation consultants, myofunctional therapists, speech-language pathologists, and bodywork providers
✨ How CBCT imaging may contribute information without determining the diagnosis by itself

This conversation offers an honest look at tongue-tie care without presenting frenectomy as a universal solution. The best outcomes depend on appropriate case selection, realistic expectations, individualized preparation, careful follow-up, and collaboration among professionals who understand their respective roles.

Dr. Ann Bynum is a board-certified pediatric dentist and owner of Holly Tree Pediatric Dentistry in Simpsonville, South Carolina. She is a diplomate and examiner for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and has practiced pediatric dentistry for more than 20 years. In addition to her clinical work, she lectures on pediatric dentistry, leadership, teamwork, sleep, airway health, and tongue-tie care.

If you’re a pediatric dentist, lactation consultant, myofunctional therapist, speech-language pathologist, dental hygienist, or healthcare professional supporting families through frenectomy decisions, this episode offers practical experience, clinical honesty, and plenty of memorable stories.

🎧 Listen in for a candid conversation about choosing the right patients, preparing families, and treating tongue-tie as part of a complete functional plan.

#BeautyOfBreathing #RunningOurMouths #TongueTie #Frenectomy #PediatricDentistry #InfantFeeding #BreastfeedingSupport #MyofunctionalTherapy #TetheredOralTissues #LactationSupport #AirwayHealth #InterdisciplinaryCare #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 the signs of an airway disorder were present throughout childhood, but no one knew how to connect them?

In this episode of the Dear Momma podcast, host Dr. Catherine Murphy speaks with Ronda Holman, known online as The Airway Champion, about her experience growing up with an undiagnosed airway disorder and finally receiving an Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome diagnosis at age 37.

Ronda shares how reviewing her childhood symptoms, orthodontic history, oral health, and sleep patterns helped her understand the bigger picture. That discovery inspired her to make changes in her own life and teach others how to recognize warning signs, ask better questions, and advocate for themselves and their children.

They also dive into:
✨ The difference between spending enough time asleep and receiving restorative sleep
✨ How mouth breathing, snoring, and overbreathing may disrupt sleep quality
✨ The childhood signs Ronda recognizes after understanding her own airway history
✨ Her experience with extraction and retraction orthodontics
✨ Why airway concerns can be missed when healthcare providers work in isolation
✨ How oral rest posture and breathing habits develop within families
✨ Why improving airway health is often a gradual, layered process rather than a quick fix
✨ How parents can move through guilt after learning information they wish they had known earlier
✨ Why dental assistants can become powerful educators and advocates within the dental practice
✨ The importance of trusting your intuition when something does not feel right

This conversation reminds parents that we cannot change what we did not know. We can, however, use new information to make different choices, ask for appropriate evaluations, and help our children develop healthier habits moving forward.

Ronda Holman is a U.S. Air Force-trained dental assistant with more than 20 years of experience. After receiving her own UARS diagnosis, she dedicated herself to educating the public about mouth breathing, sleep quality, oral health, and airway disorders. Through her work as The Airway Champion, she makes complex information approachable and helps people become stronger advocates for their health.

Dr. Catherine Murphy is an orthodontist, holistic health advocate, speaker, and author of Dear Momma, a picture book created to support mothers facing unexpected breastfeeding challenges. Through the Dear Momma podcast, she creates space for honest conversations, practical education, compassion, and community.

If you’re a parent, dental assistant, healthcare professional, or someone who has struggled with poor sleep without understanding why, this episode may help you begin connecting the signs and asking new questions.

🎧 Listen in for an empowering conversation about understanding your history, trusting your intuition, and becoming an advocate for better breathing and sleep.

#DearMomma #BeautyOfBreathing #TheAirwayChampion #AirwayHealth #MouthBreathing #UARS #SleepQuality #RestorativeSleep #DentalAssisting #ParentAdvocacy #MyofunctionalTherapy #Motherhood #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. ...