Advertise on podcast: The Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast

When was the last time you did something for yourself without feeling guilty about it? Not for your children, your patients, your family, or your job. Just for you. As a dental hygienist, myofunctional therapist, and mom, I spent years teaching people how to care for their mouths and breathe properly while ignoring the signals my own body was sending me. I thought pushing through was strength. I thought I could take care of myself when everything else was taken care of. It took a serious health crisis for me to understand just how much that mindset was costing me. In this episode of The Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast, I'm sharing why I believe self-care starts in the mouth, what chronic stress, mouth breathing, poor sleep, and dehydration can reveal about your overall well-being, and why the habits we model for our children matter just as much as the advice we give them. Whether you're a dental professional caring for patients or a parent trying to show up for everyone, I want you to rethink what self-care actually looks like. Because sometimes, the signs your body needs help are right there in your mouth. And you don't have to wait for a health crisis to start listening. Your body has been talking to you your whole life. Sometimes, we just get too busy to listen. Start with one breath, one glass of water, or two intentional minutes brushing your teeth. You don't have to earn the right to take care of yourself. You matter, too. If this episode resonated with you, please rate, follow, share, and review The Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast. And remember, take what resonates, leave what doesn't, and trust yourself. You know more than you think you do. Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy Book a consultation today: I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I cannot help, I can get you to a provider that can. https://shereewertz.com/15-min

What if the signs of a systemic health problem were showing up in your mouth long before anyone recognized what was happening in the rest of your body? And what if we’ve been so conditioned to treat dental health and medical health as separate that we’re missing opportunities to connect the dots? During National Dental Hygiene Month, I want to challenge the way we think about the mouth, the body, and the role of dental professionals in recognizing changes in our health. From gum measurements that don’t match a patient’s home care to persistent inflammation, mouth breathing, and early feeding challenges in infants, there’s a bigger picture we need to start looking at. Because your mouth isn’t just about your teeth—and the questions we ask during a dental visit can matter far beyond the dental chair. Your mouth is talking. The question is whether we’re listening. If this episode challenged the way you think about oral health, please rate, follow, share, and review The Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast. Help me get this conversation in front of more dental professionals, parents, and families who deserve to understand the connection between the mouth and the rest of the body. Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy Book a consultation today: I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I cannot help, I can get you to a provider that can. https://shereewertz.com/15-min

What if your dental appointment is telling you far more about your health than you realize—but nobody is connecting the dots? For most of us, a dental visit means an exam, some measurements, a cleaning, a reminder to brush and floss, and then we go home. But after 30 years as a dental hygienist and functional therapist, I’ve come to see just how much can fall through the cracks when we look at the mouth in isolation. Your medical history, blood pressure, gum measurements, tongue posture, breathing, palate, sleep, dry mouth, and even the way your lips rest can all tell part of the same story. In this episode, I’m taking you inside the dental visit and asking a bigger question: Are we looking at everything we should be looking at? I’ll share what I was trained to look for, what I didn’t know to look for, and why this matters so much for both adults and children. Because the mouth doesn’t exist separately from the rest of the body—and once you learn what to look for, you can’t unsee it. If this episode made you rethink what a dental visit is supposed to look like, rate, follow, share, and review the podcast. And if you’re a parent or dental professional who sees these connections in real life, don’t be afraid to ask the questions. You’re allowed to ask for a bigger picture. Your mouth is always telling you something. The question is whether we’ve learned how to listen. Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy Book a consultation today: I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I cannot help, I can get you to a provider that can. https://shereewertz.com/15-min

What happens when the first place a parent turns with a health concern isn’t a clinician—but AI? I’m seeing more families use AI to make sense of symptoms, diagnoses, treatment options, and questions about their children’s health. And honestly, I understand why. AI is available immediately, it can organize a mountain of information, and it can give you something to work with when you’re worried and don’t know where to start. But there’s a critical distinction we need to understand: information is not the same thing as clinical assessment. In this episode, I’m talking about where AI can genuinely help families—and where relying on an answer without the right clinical context can cause us to miss what’s actually happening. For parents and dental professionals, this conversation raises an even bigger question: when symptoms show up together—teeth grinding, mouth breathing, restless sleep, fatigue, difficulty focusing, changes in the tongue, jaw or palate—are we looking at each symptom individually, or are we looking at the whole picture? AI can help you become more curious. It can help you organize what you’re seeing and ask better questions. But when you need to understand what’s actually happening in your child’s body, you need someone who can see the things AI can’t. If this episode gave you a new perspective, please rate, follow, share, and review the Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast. And as always, take what resonates with you, leave what doesn’t, and keep asking better questions. Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy Book a consultation today: I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I cannot help, I can get you to a provider that can. https://shereewertz.com/15-min

What if the problem isn’t that your child needs a better toothbrush, a more elaborate morning routine, or another product promising to fix their oral health? What if we’ve been overlooking the basics that happen long before they sit down in the dental chair? In this episode, I’m going back to basics—and looking at the surprisingly powerful connection between morning routines, hydration, chewing, oral hygiene, nasal breathing, sleep, nervous-system regulation, and the health of the mouth. Because a child can brush every day and still develop cavities. They can spend eight hours in bed and still wake up exhausted. And sometimes the missing piece isn’t more effort—it’s understanding what’s actually happening. You don't need to overhaul your family's entire routine tomorrow morning. Start with one basic thing you can actually repeat—even on the chaotic days. And if this episode gave you something to think about, rate, follow, share, and review the podcast. It helps more parents and dental professionals find these conversations. Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy Book a consultation today: I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I cannot help, I can get you to a provider that can. https://shereewertz.com/15-min

What if the child who can’t sit still, melts down over the smallest thing, or seems completely checked out isn’t actually giving you a behavior problem to solve? In this episode of The Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast, I’m looking at what may be happening underneath the behavior: a nervous system that has been activated for too long with nowhere to release that energy. Whether you’re a parent trying to get through the after-school transition or a teacher managing a classroom full of dysregulated kids, I want to offer a different place to start—regulate the body before trying to manage the behavior. I’ll walk you through simple, practical ways to help children reset, including movement, breathing, co-regulation, and body awareness. We’ll also look at why the way we respond in those difficult moments can become part of how a child learns to understand their own body—and why this is a much bigger part of self-care than we often realize. If this episode gives you a different way to look at a child’s behavior, share it with a parent, teacher, or dental professional who might need to hear it. And if you enjoyed the episode, please rate, follow, share, and review The Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast. Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy Book a consultation today: I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I cannot help, I can get you to a provider that can. https://shereewertz.com/15-min

September is Self-Care Awareness Month—but what if the reason you’re exhausted isn’t that you need a better routine? What if you’ve been taught to ignore the warning signs your body has been giving you for years? In this episode, I’m speaking directly to the moms, caregivers, dental professionals, and chronic “show up for everyone else” people who have learned to put themselves last. We talk about what happens when running on empty becomes your normal—and why self-care isn’t selfish, indulgent, or something you earn after everything else gets done. Because your body is always communicating. Your nervous system is always responding. And the people around you—especially your children—may be learning more from how you care for yourself than from anything you say. So here’s the question: What happens when the person everyone depends on has nothing left to give? Press play and let’s talk about it. If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to rate, follow, share, and review The Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast. And if you know someone who has been running on empty for far too long, send this episode their way. Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy Book a consultation today: I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I cannot help, I can get you to a provider that can. https://shereewertz.com/15-min

Before you buy another sleep product, another pillow, another supplement, or download another sleep app, I want you to stop and ask yourself one question: How are you breathing?   In this episode, I'm talking about something I see over and over again with the patients I work with: sleep problems and breathing problems are often not two separate issues. So before we focus on making sleep more comfortable, we need to start asking what's actually disrupting sleep in the first place. We'll talk about mouth breathing, airway function, why the nervous system may stay activated during sleep, and a connection that has helped so many families finally start asking different questions about bedwetting and nighttime urination.   Sleep is supposed to be a time when your body can rest, repair, and restore. So if you're struggling with sleep—or your child is—don't just look at what's happening around the bed. Start asking what may be happening with breathing.   If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate, follow, share, and leave a review for the Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast. It means so much and helps more people find these conversations!   Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy   Book a consultation today:   I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I cannot help, I can get you to a provider that can.   https://shereewertz.com/15-min

I tape my mouth shut every night before I go to bed. And before you wonder if I’ve lost my mind, I want to tell you what happens when I don’t. I wake up multiple times, my mouth and throat are dry, I have drool on my pillow, I wake up with a headache, and I’m up going to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Same person, same bed, same sleep routine—just different breathing.   In this episode, I’m talking about why I mouth tape, what actually happens when you sleep with your mouth open, and why nasal breathing matters so much for sleep, your airway, your nervous system, and your oral health. I’ll also walk you through how I recommend getting started, what to look for, and when mouth taping is not appropriate. Because mouth taping isn’t about following a trend. It’s about paying attention to what your body is telling you.   If this episode was helpful, take a minute to rate, follow, share, and review the podcast. And remember: take what resonates with you, leave what doesn’t, and trust your instincts. Your body is talking to you all the time—we just need to learn how to listen.   Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy   Book a consultation today:   I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I cannot help, I can get you to a provider that can.   https://shereewertz.com/15-min

I spent more than 35 years in dentistry believing that fluoride was one of the most important tools we had for preventing cavities. But after working with mobile dentists and seeing children with significant tooth decay—even when they were brushing, getting fluoride treatments, and following the advice I had been taught—I started asking a different question: What else is going on in the mouth that allows cavities to develop?   In this episode, I’m taking you through three options for stronger, healthier teeth—fluoride, xylitol, and hydroxyapatite—and, more importantly, the bigger picture behind cavity prevention. We’ll talk about mouth breathing, saliva, diet, oral bacteria, myofunctional therapy, and why I believe looking at the root cause matters just as much as choosing the right product. My goal isn’t to tell you what choice to make. It’s to give you information so you can ask better questions and make the decision that feels right for you and your family.   There are options, but the product is only part of the picture. Look at how you’re breathing, your saliva, your diet, your oral bacteria, and what’s happening in the mouth before you decide what belongs on your teeth. Take what resonates with you, leave what doesn’t, and always ask questions and look for the evidence.   Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy   Book a consultation today:   I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I cannot help, I can get you to a provider that can.   https://shereewertz.com/15-min

What happens when you know something isn’t right—but no one seems to be connecting the dots?   In this episode of the Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast, I’m talking about one of the most important roles you can play in your own healthcare or your child’s healthcare: being the connector. Our healthcare system is highly specialized, and while that expertise is valuable, it can also mean that important connections between symptoms, providers, and systems get missed.   I’m sharing what 35 years in healthcare has taught me about patient advocacy, trusting your instincts, asking better questions, and recognizing when “common” doesn’t necessarily mean normal. We’ll talk about how to communicate with your pediatrician, dentist, orthodontist, ENT, and other providers, what to do when your concerns are dismissed, and why you shouldn’t underestimate what you observe every day.   If you’ve ever walked out of an appointment feeling unheard, confused, or convinced that there’s more to the story, this episode is for you. You don’t need a medical degree to advocate effectively—you need curiosity, persistence, and the willingness to keep asking, “Could these things be connected?”   Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy   Book a consultation today: I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I cannot help, I can get you to a provider that can. https://shereewertz.com/15-min

What if the greatest inheritance you leave your children isn't money—but your health?   In this deeply personal episode of the Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast, I share how cancer, profound loss, and months of recovery completely changed the way I think about success, work, and the legacy we leave behind.   For most of my life, I believed the formula was simple: work hard, save money, retire, and enjoy life later. But after watching loved ones lose their health—and experiencing my own health crisis—I realized we've been asking the wrong question.   Instead of focusing only on generational wealth, what if we prioritized generational health?   In this episode, I explore how children learn from what they see rather than what they're told, why chronic stress affects the nervous system, the surprising connection between breathing, sleep, oral health, and overall wellness, and how the habits we model today shape the health of future generations.   You'll also learn why nose breathing matters, how chronic stress impacts the body, and why listening to your body's early warning signs may be one of the most important things you ever do.   If this episode encourages you to look at your health differently, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone you love.   Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy   Book a consultation today: I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I can not help, I can get you to a provider that can. https://shereewertz.com/15-min

Tongue-tie releases have become more common than ever—but does every tongue-tie actually need to be released? In this episode, I share why my answer might surprise you. Instead of focusing on the procedure itself, I explain why the most important question to ask first is much simpler: Can you breathe through your nose? I walk you through the complete evaluation process I use before ever recommending a tongue-tie release, why myofunctional therapy is an essential part of treatment, and how breathing, posture, airway health, nervous system regulation, jaw function, and even body compensation all play a role. Whether you're a parent, an adult considering treatment, or a healthcare provider, this episode will help you better understand why the best outcomes come from treating the whole person—not just the tongue. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love for you to follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could benefit from this conversation. Your support helps more people discover the Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast, and I truly appreciate you being part of this community. See you in the next episode! Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy Book a consultation today: I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I can not help, I can get you to a provider that can. https://shereewertz.com/15-min

What if one small restriction under your tongue has been influencing your health your entire life? In this episode, I explore the surprising role tongue mobility plays in everything from breathing and sleep to posture, jaw pain, feeding, and even nervous system regulation. If you've ever struggled with chronic tension, mouth breathing, restless sleep, or unexplained symptoms that never seem to resolve, this conversation may help connect some important dots.   I walk you through how tongue restrictions can present differently from infancy through adulthood, why so many cases are overlooked, and why evaluating tongue function—not just appearance—is essential. I also share a simple self-assessment you can do at home and discuss what to look for when seeking a qualified provider. This episode lays the foundation for next week's conversation about whether a tongue release is appropriate and why therapy before and after treatment matters just as much as the procedure itself.   If this episode helped you see the connection between your mouth and the rest of your body in a new way, I'd love for you to share it with someone who could benefit from hearing it. Be sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss next week's episode, and if you have a moment, please leave a rating and review. Your support helps more people discover the Healthy Mouth Movement Podcast. Thank you for listening, and remember—it's all connected.   Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy   Book a consultation today: I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I can not help, I can get you to a provider that can. https://shereewertz.com/15-min

Have you ever felt like something wasn't quite right with your health, your fertility journey, your pregnancy, or your baby's development—even though you were told everything was "normal"? In this episode, I explore the important questions that often go unasked in prenatal care and early childhood health. From oral health and breathing to nervous system regulation and feeding challenges, we're looking at the connections that deserve more attention.   I'll share both the research and my own personal journey through infertility and pregnancy loss, along with the questions I wish someone had asked me sooner. If you've ever felt unheard by the healthcare system or wondered if there was more to your story, this episode will encourage you to trust your instincts, ask better questions, and discover how seemingly small details can have a lasting impact on both you and your child.   If this episode helped you think differently about your health, pregnancy, or your child's development, I'd be so grateful if you would follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps more families find these conversations and start asking the questions that truly matter. Thank you so much for listening, and I'll see you in the next episode!   Check out The Mind Mouth Body SHIFT Method -- https://shereewertz.com/academy   Book a consultation today: I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I can not help, I can get you to a provider that can. https://shereewertz.com/15-min