The Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast

In today’s episode, I’m taking you on a heart-opening reflection about something many of us overlook: our kids aren’t just watching us… they’re becoming us. As I share personal stories from my journey as a mom, I explore how our energy, our habits, our self-talk, and even the way we handle stress and joy become the blueprint our kids absorb every single day. This episode is meant to gently nudge y...

If you’ve ever walked out of the dentist’s office wondering how on earth you or your child still managed to get another cavity despite doing everything “right”, this episode is going to give you that “No one ever told me this!” feeling. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on what’s really going on—because cavities are not just about sugar, brushing, or flossing. There is so much more happening ben...

In this heartfelt episode of The Healthy Mouth Movement, I open up about why November holds such deep meaning for me — it’s a time for gratitude, reflection, and healing. From my lifelong love of fall colors and pumpkins to my personal journey as a cancer thriver, I share how the practice of gratitude has transformed my life and helped me move from survival mode into presence and peace.   We’ll ex...

If getting your kids to brush and floss feels like a never-ending battle, you’re not alone! In this episode, I’m sharing a game-changing upgrade to your child’s oral care routine — the brand-new BURST Kids Water Flosser and clinically supported oral probiotics. These products aren’t gimmicks — they’re designed by real dental professionals (many of them moms!) to make oral hygiene easier, more effe...

In this heartfelt October episode, I open up about the powerful connection between oral health, overall wellness, and self-healing. As both National Dental Hygiene Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month come to a close, I reflect on my own five-year cancer-free journey and how it taught me that our bodies are not machines—they’re messengers. This isn’t just an episode about brushing, flossing, or...

In this episode of The Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast, I sit down with the inspiring Melissa Mugno, CEO of Faceology, who’s been in the dental field for over 20 years and has made it her mission to bring awareness to airway-focused dentistry. Melissa shares her deeply personal journey—from being a child who struggled with sleep, focus, and self-esteem, to becoming a leader and educator helping par...

In this episode of The Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast, I sit down with nurse practitioner and functional medicine practitioner Andrea Rorabaugh—also known as Annie from Back to Our Roots—for a powerful conversation about getting back to the basics of true health. Andrea shares her personal journey from working in urgent care during the height of COVID to realizing that she wasn’t truly healing pat...

In this episode of The Healthy Mouth Movement, I sit down with Reed Davis, a double board-certified holistic health practitioner, certified nutritional therapist, and the visionary founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN). With more than 25 years in the field and over 5,000 practitioners trained worldwide, Reed shares how he pioneered an approach that helps people take charge of their own...

Have you ever asked your child five times to put on their shoes and they still don’t listen? Before you assume defiance, pause. In this episode of the Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast, I dive into the powerful connection between regulation and cooperation—and why your child may not be ignoring you at all.   We’ll explore what’s really happening in your child’s body when they seem “defiant,” the role...

Have you ever wondered why your child just can’t seem to sit still, focus, or follow directions—no matter how hard they try? In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what’s really going on when kids struggle with restlessness, hyperactivity, or behavior that often gets dismissed as “just a phase.” Spoiler alert—it’s not about being defiant. Instead, it may be your child’s body signaling...

Have you ever walked out of a pediatrician’s office or a parent-teacher conference feeling unheard, dismissed, or even a little ashamed for asking questions? You’re not alone—and you’re not wrong for noticing the things you notice about your child. In this episode of The Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast, I share practical ways to advocate for your child calmly and confidently, even when you feel bru...

Birth to five is the most important stage of a child’s life yet it’s often overlooked in healthcare and education. In this episode of the Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast, I sit down with Ashonti Jackson, Regional Council Manager for Birth to Five Illinois, to explore how this statewide initiative is closing gaps in care, building stronger communities, and making sure every child has access to the r...

September feels like a second New Year new routines, new beginnings, and often, new stress. In this episode, we go beyond backpacks and lunchboxes to explore what kids really need as they head back to school: structure, sleep, breathing, and even chewing. Yes, chewing! Discover why this overlooked habit is a powerful developmental tool that impacts focus, behavior, sleep, and emotional regulation....

Today’s episode is a very personal one—a tribute to my dad on his birthday and a wake-up call for every parent navigating today’s system. My dad’s story is powerful, heartbreaking, and filled with lessons we all need to hear. Through his life and his passing, I’ve come to see how often real symptoms are dismissed, families are brushed off, and opportunities for healing are missed.   In this conver...

Have you ever noticed little signs that something might be off with your child—snoring, grinding, meltdowns, bedwetting, food struggles, or emotional overwhelm—and wondered, what do I do next? In this episode, I’m diving deeper into how to respond when you spot these red flags, without rushing to quick fixes or diagnoses. Instead, I’ll show you how to tune in, track what’s happening, and begin mak...

After last week’s episode, I heard from so many of you with the same question: “Okay… but what can I actually do at home?” In this episode, I’m diving deep into the practical, everyday steps you can take to help your child regulate their body, protect their energy, and build a strong biological foundation for lifelong health—starting right in your own home.   We’ll talk about why true change begin...

Have you ever felt like your child has been labeled without anyone truly understanding what’s going on underneath the surface? In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of what happens when schools overlook critical biological factors that affect our children’s behavior, mood, and learning. From sleep deprivation to nervous system deregulation, I share stories of misunderstood kids—and what we...

In today’s episode, I’m diving into something that can change the game for your child's health—and yours too—the OWNER Code. This simple yet powerful five-part framework can help prevent unnecessary labels and provide the regulation support your child’s body desperately needs. If your child struggles with anxiety, sleep issues, meltdowns, or sensory overload, it might not be dysfunction—it might b...

Have you ever been told to “wait and see” or that you were just overthinking something about your child? In this deeply personal episode, I share why those gut feelings we have as moms are often spot-on—and why trusting them can make all the difference. I open up about my own experiences with being dismissed, even by professionals close to me, and how I finally learned to lead with intuition, not...

Think your child’s mouth is just for brushing and eating? Think again! In this eye-opening episode, we uncover how your child’s mouth is secretly linked to their sleep, behavior, mood, and even learning.   You’ll learn: -Why mouth breathing is more than just a bad habit -Sneaky signs that your child’s nervous system might be stressed -How tongue posture and chewing impact development -Simple, powe...

Think your child’s behavior is the problem? Think again. In this episode, we unpack what’s really going on under the surface—and why your child’s meltdowns, hyperactivity, or big emotions might be signs of a dysregulated nervous system, not bad behavior.   You’ll learn: -Why behavior is actually a form of communication -How to spot signs of nervous system dysregulation -What sleep, breathing, hydr...

Is your child lazy… or just exhausted?   In this episode, we bust open the myths around “lazy” or “hyperactive” kids and shine a light on what’s really going on: nervous system stress, poor sleep, and mouth breathing. If your child is zoning out, bouncing off the walls, or constantly cranky — this is for you.   Here’s what we unpack: -Why labels like “lazy” or “disruptive” often miss the mark -The...

In this heartfelt episode, we open up about the challenges many parents face when raising a highly sensitive child. We’ve all been there: the meltdowns over itchy tags, the wrong spoon, or overwhelming smells. At first glance, these reactions seem like "over-sensitivity" or behavioral issues—but as we dig deeper, we uncover a different story.   We explore how much of this sensitivity actually stem...

In this episode, I dove deep into one of the most important conversations I think we’ve had yet: the silent link between airway health, behavior, and attention struggles in children. We explored the idea that many kids who are labeled with ADHD might actually be suffering from something entirely different—and often overlooked—airway dysfunction.   Let me be clear—ADHD is real, but we need to ask b...

In this episode of The Healthy Mouth Movement, we get real about something many parents sense but can’t quite name: when a child’s behavior is actually a reflection of their biology. We talk about how signs like meltdowns, toe walking, chewing on everything, sleep issues, and poor posture might not be “just a phase” or even ADHD—they might be the result of a nervous system stuck in survival mode....