Your mouth is the gateway to your health, yet most dental care stops at the teeth. After 20 years in the dental field, I’m pulling back the curtain on why "perfect teeth" don't always mean a healthy body.
As a Dental Hygienist turned Myofunctional Therapist, I specialize in the functional mechanics of the face, jaw, and airway. I don’t just look at your smile, I look at how you breathe, how you swallow, and how your jaw alignment dictates your quality of life.
What we solve here:
Myofunctional Therapy: Correcting tongue posture and swallow patterns.
Airway Health: Transitioning from mouth breathing to functional nasal breathing.
Jaw Dysfunction: Understanding the complex mechanics of TMJ and jaw pain.
The Mouth-Body Connection: How oral restriction impacts sleep, posture, and systemic health.
My clinical background in dental hygiene gives me a unique "under the hood" perspective on oral architecture that most wellness coaches lack.
Stop treating symptoms. Start treating the source
Catherine OMT, RDH
Did you know the masseter muscle is one of the strongest muscles in your entire body relative to its size? 🦷
When we’re stressed, clenching, or compensating for low tongue posture, those muscles take a huge hit—which can lead to chronic jaw pain, tension headaches, and neck tightness.
You don't need expensive massage tools to release it. You already have the best tool attached to your hands!
I just put together a quick video tutorial on how to safely use your knuckles to massage and release those tight TMJ muscles.
Have you ever tried massaging your jaw like this before? Let me know below!
19 hours ago | [YT] | 0
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Catherine OMT, RDH
Want to test your tongue mobility and oral posture?
I put together an in-depth video walking through the 6 Tongue Movements You MUST Be Able to Do...
And why they matter so much for your airway, sleep, and TMJ health!
In this deep dive, we test and go into:
• Protrusion (Extension & restrictions)
• Elevation (The "N spot" and speech)
• Lateralization (Side-to-side movement for chewing)
• Mandibular Differentiation (Is your jaw cheating for your tongue?)
• Suction Hold (Proper oral resting posture)
• Lingual Cupping (The taco/bowl shape for safe swallowing)
We also discuss common compensations (like eyebrow raising or chin dimpling), posterior tongue ties, and how fascia connects your tongue to the rest of your body!
Grab a mirror and try the movements along with me!
4 days ago | [YT] | 2
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Catherine OMT, RDH
Ever noticed someone using their fingers to place food directly onto their back molars?
One of the 6 major functions of the tongue is bolus moving food across the mouth so you can chew properly.
Use this simple check to see if your tongue is working as hard as it should be: 👇
6 days ago | [YT] | 1
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Catherine OMT, RDH
If you’ve been dealing with:
Unexplained jaw clenching or neck pain
Waking up feeling groggy or mouth breathing at night
Feeling like your tongue just doesn't move freely
...you might be dealing with a tongue-tie.
In this quick video, I guide you through 3 simple self-tests you can do in front of your mirror right now to test your tongue elevation, suction, and range of motion.
6 days ago | [YT] | 1
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Catherine OMT, RDH
Open your mouth wide and move your tongue side-to-side 5 times FAST. Does your lower jaw move with your tongue? 😬
1 week ago | [YT] | 1
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Catherine OMT, RDH
Be honest... where is your tongue resting in your mouth right now while reading this? 🧐
1 week ago | [YT] | 0
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Catherine OMT, RDH
Try lifting the tip of your tongue straight up behind your front teeth without closing your teeth. What else on your face accidentally moved? 😂
1 week ago | [YT] | 1
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Catherine OMT, RDH
Are sleep studies actually a waste of money?
Here are my thoughts:👇
1 week ago | [YT] | 0
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Catherine OMT, RDH
Mouth breathing, neck tension, or trouble swallowing could literally be because of your tongue. Take this 30-second self-test to check: 👇
1 week ago | [YT] | 0
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Catherine OMT, RDH
Did you know? Being able to roll your tongue into a "Taco" or "Bowl" shape isn't purely genetic...
It's actually about tongue mobility and function! Can you do it right now?
1 week ago | [YT] | 1
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