EPISODE 58 OF AIRWAY FIRST - March Madness edition

In honor of Oral Health Month and March Madness, CAFF will be releasing one new episode a day until the end of the month. Welcome to episode 58 of the Airway First podcast! You can catch this and all other episodes on Apple, SoundCloud, Podbean, RSS, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. And don't forget to check us out on YouTube!

My guest today is Courtney Robertson, a dedicated Registered Dental Hygienist with over 11 years of experience. In recent years, Courtney has honed her expertise in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, a passion she pursues in her hometown of Ottawa, Ontario. There she proudly established one of the pioneering independent myofunctional therapy practices in the city.

Her journey into myofunctional therapy is deeply personal, as she and her children have faced their own challenges with airway health and myofunctional issues. This personal connection fuels her commitment to helping others overcome similar obstacles.

From her base in Ottawa, Courtney has the privilege of virtually assisting patients across Canada, the United States, the UK, and Australia. Additionally, she maintains an in-person clinic for local patients in Ottawa. Courtney collaborates closely with airway-focused dentists and orthodontists, working with both children and adults. Her particular passion lies in fostering children's airway health and guiding optimal jaw development to ensure a brighter, healthier future.

You can find out more about Courtney at archwaymyo.com.

Show Notes:

• Courney's Website: archwaymay.com

• Six Foot Tiger, Three Foot Cage by Dr. Felix Liao

• International Federation of Dental Hygienist (Canada): Link

• Sarah Hornsby: https://www.sarahkhornsby.com/
  

HOW CAN OROFACIAL MYOFUNCTIONAL DISORDERS IMPACT A CHILD'S ORAL HEALTH?

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders can affect the functions and muscles of a child's mouth and face, causing a variety of effects, either directly or indirectly, such as malocclusions or facial misalignment.

In addition to contributing to malocclusions like overbite, overjet, and underbite, OMDs can also cause tooth decay and gum disease. When the lip, tongue, and jaw are misaligned, the tongue cannot function normally, which affects the saliva flow in your child's mouth causing your child to have a chronic dry mouth.

A dry mouth means that saliva cannot perform the role it's meant to in your child's mouth. What is the role of saliva? It's there to protect teeth and gums by neutralizing harmful acids. It also acts as a protective barrier, preventing bacteria from growing in the mouth.

Children with OMDs are often chronic mouth breathers. Chronic mouth breathing is a complex health concern that can lead to sleep apnea, speech impediments, and improper facial growth.