06/04/2025
Small shifts that support big changes:
1. Nasal breathing is non-negotiable.
✅ Gently remind: “Lips together, breathe through your nose.”
🎯 Use visual cues—point to your own nose and model it
🎲 Make it a game: “Let’s see who can keep their lips closed the longest!”
🧸 Try nasal strips at night (if age-appropriate)
🧼 Keep nasal passages clear with saline rinses or steamy showers
💧 Hydrate well—dry mouths = mouth breathing
2. Support Healthy Tongue Posture
🌟 Encourage “tongue up, lips closed, breathing through the nose”
🫵🏼 Practice saying “Nnnn…” and ask: “Can you feel where your tongue touches? That’s where it should rest.”
💤 Monitor during screen time, car rides, or sleep—these are common times posture drops
✨ If your child struggles with this, consider seeing a myofunctional therapist.
3. Make Chewing a Jaw Workout
💡 Simple swaps that make a big difference:
- Swap soft snacks for chewy textures (steak strips, jerky, raw carrots, apples)
- Encourage chewing on both sides of the mouth
- Avoid frequent pouches and mushy foods
- Add resistance snacks like dried fruit, crusty bread, or nuts (as age-appropriate)
💪 Strong chewing = strong jaws = more room for the tongue and airway.
4. Create an airway-friendly sleep space
🛏️ Elevate the head slightly (toddler and up)
🌬️ Use a cool-mist humidifier if air is dry
🧸 Encourage side or back sleeping
🕯️ Minimize dust, synthetic fragrance, and clutter
💤 Non-toxic bedding & pajamas
🪟 Use a HEPA filter or open windows when weather allows
5. Build Your Airway Support Team
🔍 Look for airway-aware providers like:
– Myofunctional Therapist
– Airway-Focused Dentist
– ENT
– Bodyworker (like me!)
– IBCLC (for little ones)
– Orthodontist with airway training
📩 DM me “SUPPORT” and I’ll send you a checklist with trusted directories, provider types, and accounts to follow.
Share this with your mom friend who doesn’t know where to start.
Warmly,
Elene
For appointment inquiry text 832-330-1417
In Houston, Tx
