What Every Parent Should Know About Toxins, Mouth Breathing, and Whole-Body Health

What Every Parent Should Know About Toxins, Mouth Breathing, and Whole-Body Health

Many parents focus on symptoms. Allison Evans believes we should be asking why those symptoms exist in the first place. In this episode of The Pediatric Breathing Project, Dr. Piya Gandhi sits down with Allison Evans, co-founder of Branch Basics, to discuss the powerful connection between environmental toxins, sleep, airway health, nervous system regulation, and whole-body wellness. Allison shares her personal healing journey from severe PCOS and chronic pain to founding one of the most recognized toxin-free home brands in the country. Together, Dr. Gandhi and Allison explore how the choices we make at home can impact everything from sleep quality and behavior to airway development and long-term health outcomes. They also dive into Allison's experience navigating airway treatment with her own children, including palate expansion, bodywork, myofunctional therapy, tongue ties, retention, and why she believes every parent should understand the connection between breathing and health. Whether you're a parent, healthcare provider, or simply interested in a root-cause approach to wellness, this conversation is packed with practical insights and empowering takeaways. In This Episode:  00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction 01:00 Allison's Health Journey and PCOS Diagnosis 04:00 Discovering Root Cause Health 06:00 From Healing to Founding Branch Basics 07:30 Raising Healthy Kids Without Fear 10:00 Teaching Children to Think Critically About Health 11:30 Airway Health and Whole-Body Wellness 13:00 Why Some Children Retain Airway Treatment Better Than Others 15:00 The Missing Role of Bodywork 16:00 Common Myths About Snoring and Sleep 18:00 Root Cause Medicine vs Symptom Management 20:00 Allison's Children's Airway Journey 24:00 Expansion, Tongue Function, and Mouth Breathing 25:00 Sleep, ADHD, Bedwetting, and Airway Health 29:00 Where Parents Should Start 30:00 The Biggest Toxin Exposures in the Home 32:00 How to Read Product Labels 35:00 Finding the Right Airway and Bodywork Team 37:00 Retention, Growth, and Long-Term Success 40:00 Myofunctional Therapy and Habit Stacking 42:00 Choosing the Right Provider for Your Child 44:00 Final Advice for Parents Resources:  Dr. Piya Gandhi Website: https://drpiyagandhi.com/ Free Airway Checklist & Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/ Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory Branch Basics Website: https://branchbasics.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchbasics/ Connect with Dr. Piya Gandhi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpiyagandhi/ Website: https://drpiyagandhi.com/ ________ The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures. If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development. Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drpiyagandhi] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@function_first] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/piya-gandhi-a32946275/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.piyagandhi3220/videos] | Website [https://westupediatricdentistry.com/] Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi: * Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/ [https://drpiyagandhi.com/] * Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory [https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory]

The Airway Conversation Every Parent & Provider Needs to Hear

Episode 8 | The Pediatric Breathing Project | The Airway Conversation Every Parent And Provider Needs to Hear with Dr. David Alfi In this powerful episode of The Pediatric Breathing Project, Dr. Piya Gandhi sits down with renowned oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. David Alfi for an honest conversation about pediatric airway health, jaw development, mouth breathing, expansion, tongue ties, sleep-disordered breathing, and why so many children are slipping through the cracks. Together, they break down what healthy growth should actually look like in children, why crowded baby teeth are not “normal,” how modern lifestyle habits are impacting jaw development, and why early intervention matters more than most parents realize. Dr. Piya also shares the deeply personal story that changed the trajectory of her career — her own daughter’s airway struggles — and how that journey led her into airway-focused pediatric dentistry. The episode also dives into the resistance many airway-focused providers still face, the lack of education in traditional training programs, and the growing movement toward collaborative, whole-body care. Dr. Alfi additionally explains what happens when airway issues are missed into adulthood, including how modern airway-focused jaw surgery can dramatically improve sleep, breathing, health, and quality of life. Whether you’re a parent, pediatric provider, dentist, orthodontist, speech therapist, IBCLC, or simply trying to better understand airway health, this episode is packed with practical insight and perspective. In This Episode We Cover: ✔ Mouth breathing in babies and children ✔ Why crowded baby teeth are not normal ✔ Early childhood expansion and airway treatment ✔ Tongue ties, oral function and feeding ✔ The connection between jaw development and sleep ✔ Why airway issues are becoming more common ✔ Myofunctional therapy and muscle retraining ✔ The impact of modern diets and soft foods ✔ How airway problems continue into adulthood ✔ Airway-focused jaw surgery and adult treatment ✔ The resistance airway providers still face ✔ Why collaborative care matters Connect with Dr. David Alfi 🌐 Website: https://www.drdavidalfi.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidalfi/ 🎙️ The Alfi Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealfipodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thealfipodcast Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi 🌿 Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources https://drpiyagandhi.com/ 📍 Find an Airway Provider Near You https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory 🎙️ Explore More Episodes of The Pediatric Breathing Project https://thepediatricbreathingproject.buzzsprout.com About The Pediatric Breathing Project Hosted by Dr. Piya Gandhi, this podcast explores how airway health, oral development, sleep, feeding, tongue ties, and early intervention impact childhood wellness and long-term health. If you’re passionate about pediatric airway health, collaborative care, sleep-disordered breathing, and helping children thrive, subscribe and follow along. #PediatricAirway #MouthBreathing #TongueTie #JawDevelopment #AirwayDentistry #SleepDisorderedBreathing #PediatricDentistry #MyofunctionalTherapy ________ The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures. If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development. Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drpiyagandhi] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@function_first] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/piya-gandhi-a32946275/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.piyagandhi3220/videos] | Website [https://westupediatricdentistry.com/] Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi: * Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/ [https://drpiyagandhi.com/] * Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory [https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory]

How Speech, Oral Function & Airway Health Are Connected with Courtney Scaggs

Episode 7 | The Pediatric Breathing Project Speech, Tongue Ties & Airway Health with Courtney Scaggs, M.S., CCC-SLP In this episode of The Pediatric Breathing Project, Dr. Piya Gandhi sits down with Courtney Scaggs, M.S., CCC-SLP, speech language pathologist and founder of Space City Speech, to explore the critical connection between speech development, oral function, tongue ties, myofunctional therapy, and pediatric airway health. Together, they discuss how airway issues can show up in speech patterns, why narrow palates and oral restrictions can affect articulation, when speech therapy may need deeper structural support, and how collaboration between dentists, speech therapists, ENTs, occupational therapists, and myofunctional therapists can create better outcomes for children. They also cover early speech milestones, red flags parents should watch for, prolonged thumb sucking and oral habits, when therapy may be plateauing, how to know when it’s time to dig deeper, and what both parents and providers should look for in a truly collaborative care team. Whether you’re a parent navigating speech concerns or a provider interested in interdisciplinary airway care, this episode offers practical insights into how these systems are deeply connected. In This Episode We Cover: ✔ How speech and airway health are connected  ✔ Tongue ties, oral restrictions and articulation  ✔ When speech delays may signal deeper functional issues  ✔ Narrow palates and their effect on speech sounds  ✔ Myofunctional therapy vs traditional speech therapy  ✔ Thumb sucking, oral habits and tongue posture  ✔ When therapy plateaus and what to do next  ✔ Early speech milestones and red flags  ✔ Why pediatric airway treatment requires a team approach  ✔ What providers should look for in collaborative referrals Connect with Courtney Scaggs 🌐 Space City Speech  https://spacecityspeech.com/about-dr-courtney-scaggs/ [https://spacecityspeech.com/about-dr-courtney-scaggs/] 📱 Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/spacecityspeech/ [https://www.instagram.com/spacecityspeech/] ________ The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures. If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development. Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drpiyagandhi] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@function_first] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/piya-gandhi-a32946275/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.piyagandhi3220/videos] | Website [https://westupediatricdentistry.com/] Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi: * Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/ [https://drpiyagandhi.com/] * Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory [https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory]

From Motherhood to Lactation Expertise with Leah Whitley [Ep 6]

In this episode of The Pediatric Breathing Project, Dr. Piya Gandhi sits down with Leah Whitley, IBCLC, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with SOS Lactation, to talk about the powerful connection between infant feeding, tongue function, airway development, & long-term health. Leah shares her personal story of how painful early breastfeeding challenges with her first child led her into the world of lactation support and ultimately into a career helping families navigate feeding difficulties with more clarity and confidence. They discuss what an IBCLC actually does, why feeding issues are often more complex than they appear, and how oral restrictions, tongue ties, and poor tongue mechanics can impact both breastfeeding and airway development. They also cover the signs that a baby may be struggling with feeding, including maternal nipple pain, atypical feeding patterns, poor milk transfer, recurrent plugged ducts, mastitis, and milk supply decline. This episode highlights why things can “look fine” from the outside while significant dysfunction is still happening inside the mouth. This episode is for parents, lactation professionals, pediatric providers, dentists, and anyone passionate about helping babies feed, breathe, and develop well from the very beginning. In This Episode, We Cover: * Leah Whitley’s journey into lactation after her own breastfeeding struggles * What makes an IBCLC different from other breastfeeding support providers * Why tongue function matters for breastfeeding and airway growth * Common signs of feeding dysfunction that families may miss * Why diaper counts alone do not always tell the full story * Nipple pain, blanching, creasing, plugged ducts, and mastitis as red flags * How early milk supply hormones can mask poor transfer before supply drops * Bottle feeding techniques and how flow rate affects sucking mechanics * Thoughts on pacifier use and which shapes better support tongue function * How Leah prepares families for tongue tie release and post-release care * What baby readiness looks like before a release procedure * Why collaboration between IBCLCs, bodyworkers, dentists, and SLPs matters * When to refer to a speech language pathologist * Common myths about breastfeeding pain and milk supply * Why parents should advocate for a thorough oral assessment * The gaps that still exist in hospitals and traditional medical settings About Leah Whitley Leah Whitley, IBCLC is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with SOS Lactation in Houston. She works closely with families navigating infant feeding challenges, tongue ties, oral restrictions, and early oral function concerns, with a strong emphasis on comprehensive assessment and collaborative care. Connect with Leah: https://soslactation.com/ ________ The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures. If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development. Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drpiyagandhi] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@function_first] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/piya-gandhi-a32946275/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.piyagandhi3220/videos] | Website [https://westupediatricdentistry.com/] Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi: * Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/ [https://drpiyagandhi.com/] * Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory [https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory]

Chiropractic Care and Pediatric Wellness with Dr. Caroline Long [Ep 5]

Pediatric Chiropractic, Tongue Ties & Airway: Dr. Caroline Long on Craniosacral Care, Fascia, and Infant Red Flags Dr. Piya Gandhi interviews Dr. Caroline Long, a chiropractor and owner of West U Wellness with 25 years of experience, about pediatric and pregnancy-focused chiropractic care and its role in airway and tongue-tie care. Dr. Long shares her path into pediatric chiropractic, her additional pediatric certification training, and how she built trust with doulas, midwives, and parents. They discuss how pediatric chiropractic differs from adult-style adjustments, the gentle approach used with infants, and craniosacral concepts including skull plate motion, intracranial pressure, and indicators for early cranial work before bones fuse. Dr. Long explains preparation goals for tongue-tie revisions by addressing compensatory body patterns, jaw/neck/shoulder/pelvic mobility, and breathing mechanics, and describes fascia as a body-wide connective membrane that can contribute to tension patterns. They cover signs infants may benefit from chiropractic care (limited head turning, head tilt, mouth breathing, poor seal/dribbling milk, colic, reflux, prolonged feeding, chronic ear infections, constipation) and how chiropractic and PT can work together for issues like torticollis and plagiocephaly to potentially reduce or avoid helmet time. They also touch on buccal ties as often more flexible, typically managed with stretches and observation unless clearly restrictive, and share examples of children seeking care for symptoms like a choking sensation related to neck tightness and athletes optimizing performance. The conversation emphasizes increased awareness driven by social media, the need for scientifically valid education, and multidisciplinary collaboration among pediatricians, dentists, chiropractors, PTs, and other providers. The episode ends with guidance on finding a qualified pediatric chiropractor, mentioning ICPA coursework and craniosacral training leaders, suggested screening questions for parents, and West U Wellness’s location in Bel Air at Bel Air and South Rice. 00:00 Welcome + Meet Dr. Caroline Long (25 Years in Pediatric Chiropractic) 01:16 Her Origin Story: Scoliosis, First Chiro Experience, and Finding Pediatrics 03:28 What Pediatric Chiropractic Really Looks Like (Gentle Touch, Birth Patterns, Colic/Reflux) 05:05 Building a Pregnancy & Pediatric-Focused Team (Including Newborn Success Stories) 06:10 Craniosacral Therapy Explained: Skull Motion, Pressure, and Baby Head Shape Clues 07:36 Tongue-Tie Prep: Changing Body Patterns for Better Breathing, Jaw Function, and Posture 08:42 Fascia 101: The Body-Wide Connection from Tongue Tension to Movement Issues 10:18 When Ties Keep Pulling Things Back: Compensation Patterns + Her Daughter’s Posterior Tie 11:25 Airway, Palate Expansion, and Whole-Body Alignment (Jaw–Pelvis Link, Growth & Hormones) 13:31 Chiropractic vs Physical Therapy: Structure vs Muscle—and Why Collaboration Matters 15:13 Infant Red Flags: When Chiropractic Care May Help 16:26 Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly) & Torticollis: Why Early Care Matters 17:42 Buccal (Cheek) Ties: Stretching vs Release & What They Affect 19:11 Chiropractic for Kids: Neck Symptoms, Vagus Nerve & Young Athletes 20:21 Why More Families Are Seeking Alternatives: Social Media, Education & Collaboration 26:13 Finding the Right Pediatric Chiropractor: Certifications, Questions to Ask & Wrap-Up Connect with Dr. Caroline Long of West U Wellness:  Website: https://www.westuwellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westuwellness/  ----- #childdevelopment #sleepdisorder #pediatrictherapy #podcast  ________ The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures. If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development. Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drpiyagandhi] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@function_first] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/piya-gandhi-a32946275/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.piyagandhi3220/videos] | Website [https://westupediatricdentistry.com/] Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi: * Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/ [https://drpiyagandhi.com/] * Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory [https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory]