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
If you suffer from TMJ pain, jaw clenching, or tight masseter muscles, try this simple knuckle massage.
2 days ago | [YT] | 0
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Catherine OMT, RDH
Before you just assume you need a tongue tie release… Do this first. 🛑
I see so many people jump straight to surgical options without knowing if their tongue mobility is actually restricted or if they are just compensating to mask the issues.
Here is a quick check you can do right now at home to test how your tongue is performing.
👇 Try the test before doing anything else:
1 week ago | [YT] | 0
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Catherine OMT, RDH
How often do you catch yourself sub-consciously gritting or clenching your teeth during the day? 🦷
1 week ago | [YT] | 1
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Catherine OMT, RDH
Be honest... do you ever wake up with a wet pillow or a super dry mouth? 😴💦
When your lip muscles are weak, your mouth naturally falls open during the night. This triggers mouth breathing, snoring, and morning drool!
Strengthening your lip seal keeps your mouth closed so you can breathe through your nose all night long.
1 week ago | [YT] | 0
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Catherine OMT, RDH
3 Warning Signs Your Lip Seal Is Weak: 👄
1️⃣ You wake up with a super dry mouth or drool on your pillow.
2️⃣ You catch yourself breathing through your mouth while watching TV or working.
3️⃣ You struggle to swallow without moving your lips or cheeks.
Weak lips make it almost impossible to maintain nasal breathing while you sleep, which leads to snoring and restless nights!
But since your lips are muscles you can actually train them to stay closed naturally.
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
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Catherine OMT, RDH
Quick Test: Can you do these 3 tongue movements?
Most people have no idea that a restricted tongue could be behind unexplained issues like jaw tension, poor sleep, or mouth breathing.
Try these 3 quick checks:
1. Stick your tongue straight out, can you stick it past your upper lip easily?
2. Touch your tongue to the bump behind your front teeth and open wide. Does your tongue stay there when you open all the way up?
3. Suction your tongue to the roof of your mouth and open wide. Can you hold it for 15 seconds?
👇 Drop a comment below with how many you were able to do!
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
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Catherine OMT, RDH
What's your biggest struggle when it comes to jaw tension? 👇
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 2
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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!
3 weeks 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!
3 weeks 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: 👇
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 1
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