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New Book Helps Parents Understand How the Tongue Contributes to Airway, Breathing, and Other Health Issues in Children

New Book Helps Parents Understand How the Tongue Contributes to Airway, Breathing, and Other Health Issues in Children

A newly published book, with the catchy title, “Is Your Tongue Killing You?” with a chapter for parents and pediatric professionals contributed by Dr. Hila Robbins of Los Angeles, CA, presents valuable input from an international panel of experts to provide fascinating and helpful insights on the role of the tongue in oral and whole-body health and wellness. The book is available now on Amazon. Conceived and curated by primary author Joy L. Moeller, BS, RDH, AOMT-C, the widely recognized pioneer and thought leader on the topic of oromyofunctional therapy, “Is Your Tongue Killing You,” is targeted to adults and parents and their care providers. Joy Moeller and her contributing authors share their decades of clinical experience, their personal stories, and their treatment successes.

“Is Your Tongue Killing You” is organized around the principles and therapeutic role of orofacial myofunctional therapy, defined as the “neurological reeducation of orofacial muscles.”

For parents of young children, the book contains highly relevant information, case studies, descriptions of treatment options, and expert insights on topics including:

  • Sleep and sleep disorders
  • Breathing and airway disorders
  • Chewing
  • Swallowing
  • Breastfeeding
  • Thumb sucking (and how to stop it)
  • Facial development
  • Correcting a crooked smile
  • Treating restricted oral tissues, such as tongue ties and lip ties
  • Understanding the root causes of health issues

Parents of children exhibiting any one or more of these issues will find practical and supportive information in Joy Moeller’s book. Indeed, parents may find insightful clues into their own history (possibly not previously known) with oromyofunctional disorders in the pages of the book. Indeed, Dr. Hila Robbins of Los Angeles, CA’s book chapter candidly describes Dr. Robbins’ own realization, inspired by Joy Moeller and her teachings, how growing up with myofunctional disorders contributed to her health issues. Dr. Robbins also explains how her personal journey with myofunctional disorders has given her a greater appreciation and understanding of how her pediatric patients are affected by myofunctional disorders.

  • As a parent, it is natural to want the best for your child, and their health should always be a top priority. Suppose your child is experiencing any of the problems in the areas listed above or suspect that your child has a myofunctional disorder. In that case, it is worth discussing with your pediatrician or a pediatric dental specialist. Consultation, diagnosis, and the right treatment plan from a kid’s dentist specialist can positively impact your child’s overall health and well-being.
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The Ultimate Guide to Treating Pediatric Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Children

sleep and breathing treatment for children los angeles ca

As parents, we always want what is best for our children. From making sure they eat healthy foods to ensuring they get enough exercise, we prioritize their well-being above all else. However, one crucial aspect of their health often goes unnoticed—sleep disorders.

Many children suffer from poor sleep due to breathing problems caused by an insufficient airway. This condition is known as sleep-disordered breathing or SDB for short. Obstructive sleep apnea is one type of sleep-disordered breathing caused by the involuntary collapse of the airway during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is typically considered a medical problem, whereas airway insufficiency or an inadequate (too narrow, partially restricted) can result from what is typically considered “dental problems,” such as tongue ties, which inhibit proper tongue movement, and narrow palate, which tends to reduce the volume of the upper airway. Other contributors to sleep-disordered breathing are a “slumped” or forward head posture (as when a child’s head is constantly bent forward and down when using a smartphone or tablet) and excessive mouth breathing.

Sleep-disordered breathing can result in poor sleep quality, fatigue, inattention while awake (as at school), hyperactivity, and reduced performance. Sometimes, these issues can be misinterpreted by parents and teachers as purely “behavioral problems” to be treated with medication, whereas these problems may, in fact, be caused by poor sleep.

Thankfully, through proper airway and breathing treatment for children in Los Angeles, CA, sleep-disordered breathing doesn’t have to take away from your child’s quality of life.

How Can Pediatric Sleep Disordered Breathing Be Treated?

If your child is experiencing poor sleep, consult your pediatrician and your pediatric dentist. If an insufficient airway and poor breathing are disrupting restful sleep, properly trained and equipped pediatric dentists can conduct a thorough oral and upper airway exam and can offer a range of personalized treatments [I linked “personalized treatments” to the Patient Education Page], such as laser-assisted tissue release, myofunctional therapy and use of an oral appliance to aid with proper development of the palate and upper airway.

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What Is a Pediatric Dentist?

pediatric dentist los angeles ca

A pediatric dentist is a dental professional specializing in the oral care of infants (including newborns), young children, adolescents, and teenagers. Pediatric dentists provide a range of treatments specific to these young patients ‘ dental needs. Read on to learn more about what you can expect when visiting a pediatric dentist in Los Angeles, CA.

What Do Pediatric Dentists Do?

In the traditional sense (think back to when you were a kid!), pediatric dentistry is concerned with the development of a child’s teeth, gums, tongue, oral tissues, jaw, and airway. Yet, today’s pediatric dentist is really a comprehensive health specialist who considers oral health in the broad context of “whole body” health and wellness. Of course, your kid’s dental specialist will provide traditional preventive dental care such as oral examinations, prophylaxis (teeth cleanings), cavity prevention and fillings, and various types of ” early interceptive” treatments, including the use of oral appliances to protect children’s teeth from damage and prevent later developmental problems.

Pediatric dentists also educate new parents and children on good oral hygiene habits, provide advice on proper nutrition for strong and healthy teeth, and, when necessary, handle emergency care and other needs as well. Yet, today’s pediatric dentists do so much more! They consult on proper development and emergent oral health issues in newborns. They can help to ensure proper breastfeeding, working in concert with lactation consultants. They can diagnose and treat tissue constrictions, such as tongue ties and lip ties, that may otherwise impede optimal oral-facial development, breathing, and speech. They can implement early interceptive treatment plans to facilitate proper orthodontic development. They can help to diagnose and treat airway issues that may impair healthful breathing and sleep.

To put it simply, today’s pediatric dentist is a comprehensive oral health and wellness specialist and an important member of the multi-disciplinary pediatric care team.

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What Type of Children’s Dental Specialist is Right for My Child?

Children's Dental Specialist in Los Angeles, CA

A children’s dental specialist in Los Angeles, CA, is simply a dentist who treats children, right? If only it were so simple! We used to refer to a dentist who specializes in treating children as a “pedodontist,” but today, “pediatric dentist” is the term more commonly used. A pediatric dentist has completed the traditional 4-year doctoral training in dentistry plus a two-year, post-doctoral specialty residency focused on pediatric dentistry. Some pediatric dentists, including Dr. Hila Robbins in Los Angeles, CA, have also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at a children’s hospital and gained additional experience in caring for hospitalized children or outpatients.

Traditionally, pediatric dentists have focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of common dental problems, such as tooth decay, dental pain, infection, cleanings, referrals to other specialists, and early orthodontic intervention. Yet, today’s pediatric dentists treat much more than the teeth and gums. Today’s pediatric dentists take a comprehensive, “whole-body” approach to dental health, as it relates to the entire body because of the interrelation and interaction between the health of the teeth, gums, and oral cavity to whole-body health.

Today’s pediatric dentists are also adopting and following practice philosophies and new modes of treatment that go beyond “traditional” care an incorporate research and evidence from other disciplines. Thus, more pediatric dentists are taking a multidisciplinary approach to their practices.

In addition, pediatric dentists may now refer to their practices or be known among colleagues and parents as alternative, holistic, natural, integrative, functional, or biological, to name the most popular “non-traditional” approaches to care. It is important to note that these terms are neither precise nor mutually exclusive. The terms can mean different things to different people, and also, pediatric dentists may combine elements of different practice philosophies or choose different modes of treatment, to adapt to different parental and patient preferences and health situations.

In future blog posts, we will explain “non-traditional” approaches to pediatric dentistry in more detail.

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Pediatric Sleep Disorder?

Sleep Disorder Treatment for Children in Los Angeles, CA

When thinking about the topic of sleep disorders, most people think about obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a chronic condition characterized by the collapse of the upper airway during sleep, which afflicts approximately 3% to 7% of adults1 and 1% to 5% of children2 However, obstructive sleep apnea is just one specific type of sleep disorder. While people look for a single cause or a definitive diagnosis, sleep disorders typically arise from a combination of physiological and anatomical factors.

Obstructive sleep apnea is widely recognized, but other conditions, such as sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and problems caused by poor dentition (positioning of the teeth), a restricted airway (as may be caused by a narrow palate), or even poor posture, can contribute to or cause sleep problems.

Proper diagnosis of sleep disorders should include a thorough medical and dental history and examination and, if indicated, various sorts of tests and, possibly, imaging (for example, scans of the upper airway). Pediatric dentists, such as Dr. Hila Robbins in Los Angeles, CA, have special training and resources to assess and treat children suffering from sleep disorders.

Signs of poor or disordered sleep in children include:

Snoring, Often with Pauses, Gasps, or Snorts Between Breaths

Heavy Breathing While Sleeping

Extremely Restless Sleep

Bedwetting (Especially if the Child Previously Stayed Dry at Night)

Daytime Sleepiness

Behavioral Problems

Notice that your child shows signs of a possible sleep disorder. It might be time to reach out to your pediatrician and pediatric dentist for a clinical assessment and possible treatment options.

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How Does BabyLase Work?

Babylase Non Surgical Therapy Procedure in Los Angeles, CA

It’s not unusual for newborns and infants to need a little help with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding problems may be caused by tight or restricted oral tissues or by an uncoordinated or under-responsive nervous system that is not properly integrating sensory inputs and motor (muscle) outputs. Pediatric dentists, such as Dr. Hila Robbins, are specially trained to look for and recognize these anatomical and functional issues and have a range of potential solutions to offer. One such solution is BabyLase, a non-invasive (non-surgical) therapeutic procedure using laser light. In Los Angeles, CA, pediatricians, lactation consultants, and pediatric dentists may recommend BabyLase may to “relax” tight or restricted tissues and help “turn on” reflexes, integrate nerve function, and improve oral function important to breastfeeding, such as latching, sucking, and swallowing.

Learn how BabyLase therapy for children works so you can prepare for the procedure.

Laser Light Is Administered

The BabyLase procedure uses a specific wavelength of highly focused (the technical term is “collimated”) light to relax tight or restricted tissues and to stimulate neural activity in a coordinated manner. Laser light is applied to the arms, hands, face, neck, and mouth. During a treatment session, the baby may feel a mild warmth from the light and will not be in any pain.

The Ability to Heal Improves

The type of laser light used for BabyLase procedures improves blood flow and can reduce restrictions to the fascial layer (bands or sheets of connective and supportive tissue) beneath the skin. The laser light also promotes tissue relaxation, pain reduction, and inflammation reduction. This allows the body to heal more effectively and alleviate the kinds of post-procedure complications associated with conventional, invasive procedures.

The Reflexes are Switched On

During a BabyLase procedure, laser light is directed in a specific sequence that stimulates the senses and improves nerve-muscle communication. The goal is to allow the baby’s reflexes and muscle function to flourish balanced.

Consult with a Pediatric Dentist

If you and your baby are experiencing difficulties with breastfeeding, ask your pediatric care team about BabyLase or contact Dr. Hila Robbins’ office to schedule a consultation. Dr. Robbins can determine if BabyLase is the right procedure or if other pediatric dentistry treatments are needed.

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What a Biological Dentist Does

Pediatric Biological Dentist in Los Angeles, CA

Biological dentistry is a comprehensive approach to dental care that recognizes the clinically significant relationship between oral health and whole-body health. Sometimes referred to as the “mouth-body connection,” this relationship has inspired a large body of well-validated research, revealing how unhealthful conditions of the oral cavity can negatively impact the cardiovascular system, the immunologic system, respiratory function, nutrition, and even sleep—and more.

The modern practice of dentistry, including pediatric dentistry, is about much more than teeth and gums. Indeed, the practice of dentistry today incorporates and applies a wide body of knowledge from the fields of biology, physiology, medicine, biomechanics, biomaterials, photonics, and high-tech advancements in laboratory science, digital imaging, 3-D computer modeling and automated manufacturing of dental restorations (e.g., crowns) and oral appliances. Applying these sciences and technologies, biological dentists are having a truly revolutionary and highly beneficial impact on the practice of dentistry, offering patients, including children:

  • A deeper understanding of the underlying biological and physiological basis of oral and systemic disease or conditions.
  • A better understanding of the relationship between oral health and whole-body health, and vice-versa.
  • Reduced reliance upon or total elimination of invasive oral procedures, resulting in greater patient comfort, less pain, and faster recovery from procedures, such as cavity filling or surgery on soft tissues. For example, dental lasers, rather than traditional drills, may be used for “no-touch” cavity preparation or cutting of soft tissue.
  • Reduction or elimination of certain medications, products, or materials that may not be appropriate or well tolerated in some patients or that may be replaced by more “gentle” methods or forms of treatment.
  • Use of more “natural” ingredients or more bio-compatible materials.
  • Consideration of a wider range of “non-traditional” or “alternative” treatment options (sometimes referred to as “holistic” or “natural” dentistry).
  • Greater emphasis on nutrition, behavioral changes, and whole-body health.

Pediatric biological dentists tend to emphasize infancy and early childhood development issues, establishment and reinforcement of positive habits and behaviors, reliance on the body’s natural forces for optimal growth, and recognition of the body’s self-healing and self-corrective tendencies.

Health-conscious parents across the country are actively looking for more comprehensive, natural, gentle, less invasive, and less forceful solutions to traditional dental procedures. Parents are finding more alternatives by going to a pediatric biological dentist in Los Angeles, CA.

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How Pediatric Dentistry Has Grown Over the Years

Pediatric Dentistry in Los Angeles, CA

Although dentistry dates back to 5000 BC, the pediatric field didn’t become a distinct practice until the 1900s. Since the previous century, this specialty has evolved rapidly to reach the current form we know today—and it continues to change as new technologies and practices are developed. When your child visits a dental office for pediatric dentistry in Los Angeles, CA, you’re taking a small part in this evolution.

Roots in Los Angeles

The first-ever pediatric dental specialists worked right here in LA. In the early 1900s, Minnie Evangeline Jordan opened a dental practice just for kids here in our city—a unique concept for its time. Other practices steadily began in California and elsewhere, but it wasn’t until the 1940s that the American Dental Association officially recognized pediatric dentistry as a specialty.

Building a Healthy Foundation

Over time, a multidisciplinary approach to pediatric dentistry became more popular as experts recognized how a child’s oral health impacted their overall health. In the early 2000s, the American Dental Association promoted the concept of comprehensive oral healthcare beginning before children turn one year old. By starting early, dentists ensure healthy development, and families form good habits for scheduling routine appointments. Today, about 87% of American children ages 2-17 visit the dentist at least once a year—more than in any other decade.

Dr. Robbins actually recommends an initial visit by the time that child’s first baby teeth appear and sometimes, even sooner, as in newborns that are experiencing difficulties with breastfeeding.

Today’s Pediatric Practices

Nowadays, it is common for dentist offices to specialize in young patients and create welcoming environments for them. In addition to a more gentle, “child-centric” approach, many of today’s best practices follow integrative pediatric dentistry, aiming to find the underlying causes of dental problems—rather than just treating symptoms. Integrative pediatric dentists consider a broad scope of health and behavioral issues, as well as anatomical and functional issues, that may impact the dental health and the overall well-being of the pediatric patient. Today’s pediatric dentists also take a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating with other dental, medical, and other professionals who specialize in treating infants, toddlers, growing children, adolescents, and teens.

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How Do You Treat Crowded Teeth in Children?

How Do You Treat Crowded Teeth in Children in Los Angeles, CA

The mouth of a growing child is a busy place! There’s a lot going on as teeth emerge from the gums because the developing dentition (the positioning, number, and interrelationship of the teeth) is dynamic; everything is moving in real-time. This movement includes not just the teeth but the bones and connective tissue of the jaw, palate, face, and cranium. Positioning of the teeth, their aesthetic appearance, and how the teeth fit and work together are influenced by genetics, physiological forces, and also by behavior (e.g., mouth breathing), habit (e.g., thumb sucking), and even the types of foods a child eats (hard versus soft).

Teeth do not always emerge from the gums perfectly positioned and aligned. Instead, emerging teeth may twist, tilt forward or back, or to the side, or overlap, if there isn’t enough space along the dental arches. These crowded teeth in children in Los Angeles, CA, can negatively impact the structural and functional development of the mouth, airway, and jaw, as well as aesthetic appearance. Crowded teeth can affect the child’s self-esteem, cause pain, improper chewing, as well as problems with breathing. Because crowding of the teeth can lead to other problems or reflect underlying developmental issues, it is essential to receive treatment as soon as possible. Dr. Hila Robbins is a kids’ dentist specialist, specially trained to assess, diagnose and treat problems associated with crowded teeth.

It is important to emphasize that crowded teeth are not just a matter of appearance, and optimal treatment is about much more than “straightening the teeth.” Dr. Robbins’ treatment approach considers the whole body—how the biology, structure, and function of the oral cavity related to the rest of the body and the child’s overall health and development. Sometimes, early, gentle interventions (for example, the use of a custom-designed ALF appliance) that work with the body’s natural developmental tendencies can reduce or even eliminate the need for more invasive or forceful corrective procedures, such as tooth extraction or fixed wire braces. That said, Dr. Robbins takes a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment and may advise consultation with other specialists, such as an oral surgeon or orthodontist, either as part of early intervention or at a later time.

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The Importance of Treating a Narrow Palate in Children

Narrow Palate Treatment for Children in Los Angeles, CA

A narrow palate is something that most people don’t consider until it starts affecting their kids. The presence of a narrow palate is a relatively common dental condition in children with a wide variety of potential causes. Genetics, facial trauma, and unhealthy habits, such as thumb sucking can all lead to narrow palates in children. The good news is that there are solutions, including narrow palate treatment for children in Los Angeles, CA. Treating your child’s narrow palate today will help:

Prevent Further Complications – Most parents are aware that narrow palates can result in insufficient space for permanent teeth to come in properly, potentially leading to overbites and crossbites. Yet, parents may not be aware that a narrow palate can restrict the airway, leading to breathing problems, and also prevent the oral cavity and face from developing properly in terms of structure/function and also, aesthetics. 

Reduce the Need for Future Treatments – Orthodontic treatment for older kids and adults can be a significant financial and time commitment. That’s why it’s important and wise to take care of dental issues at an early age before they worsen and become more expensive to treat. 

Boost Your Child’s Confidence – Every child deserves to smile with confidence. Proactively treating pediatric dental issues when children are young will set them up for confident adolescence and adulthood.

Don’t hesitate to contact Hila Robbins, DMD, Inc. for more information about pediatric dentistry and narrow palate treatment for children. As a kids’ dentist specialist, Dr. Robbins will be more than happy to explain the treatment options available for your child. We look forward to supporting your family soon.

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