IMPORTANCE OF RESTORING NASAL BREATHING
If you cannot breath through your nose you will drop the tongue and breathe through the mouth.
BREATHING THROUGH YOUR NOSE is vitally important Tip: use a NETIPOT to cleanse your nasal passageways: Allergies, pets, trigger a response in your body which can block the nasal flow of air
Nasal passages too narrow / inflamed / deviated / septum / allergies
Allergies – Diet (Functional Medicine Doctor / Nutrition is key component)
Influences Sleep / Apneoa / Sleep disordered breathing / Sleep studies.
Importance of Tongue positioning & Dentistry:
Tongue tied? – tongue Restricted? – is it a space issue? No room for the tongue?
Is the upper jaw too small? History of snoring – waking up tired? Clenching grinding or dry mouth? – ALL Fit with airway compromise on a night.
EXAMPLE OF TONGUE TIE RELEASE THE DIFFERENCE
Sleep Medicine? – Importance of sleep
CBCT Scan – assess airway and tongue position
Referral out to ENT or Dentist (Airway focused?)
The tongue is one of the most important structures in the human body
Vital Role in swallowing , breathing, speaking and chewing. ALSO Lower limb strength and posture.
In Children the tongue will support correct development of the jaw and face (froward growth). In Adults the tongue has profound influence on the Central Nervous System (CNS).
The tongue should only come down from the palate when you talk or eat, the whole of the tongue should rest in the roof of the mouth.
WAYS TO IMPROVE NASAL BREATHING:
Breathe Right Strips
Mute Appliances
Nose Cones
Mouth Taping
Myotape / Sleep tapes
Breath: the New science of lost art. James Nestor May 2020
Podcast 4 mil views – Joe Rogan
Ted Belfor – Airway focused dentist
CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY DENTAL OPTOMETRY
Human body is not symmetrical
Slight asymmetry in the face is normal but don’t want TOO much asymmetry
Dental influence / Overdrowding / Teeth extractions – how the jaw develops
Dental Work is important in re-balancing postural deviations
SITTING / STANDING POSTURE
Very different to traditional postural advice
Not too upright / not too slouched
Standing – don’t lock the knees out in standing
4 things to consider when sitting
- Knees slightly higher than the hip (rest on a book / yoga block)
- Bum right back in the chair
- Upper back against the chair
- Tongue in the roof
(Not too upright* Put strain on Diaphragm) When less strain the diaphragm can expand the rib cage putting less strain on the neck muscles.
HOME WORKING ENVIRONMENT
SITTING More
More Compressed space
Headache / NECK TENSION / EYE STRAIN / CLENCHING / JAW clicking
If the diaphragm is in the incorrect position you will use the neck muscles to breath
Very safe exercise that office workers can do to help switch off the overactive neck muscles
UPPER BACK EXPANSION EXERCISE:
Switch Off Overactive neck muscles
Place feet shoulder width apart
Place L hand on 2” block /book / folded towel
Maximally round your back & tuck your bottom under you
Put 90% weight through heels & 10% through Big Toe
Relax your neck and shoulders
Attempt to fill expand your shoulder blades
Exhale fully through nose and pause for 3 seconds
Relax & repeat for 10 breaths
INFLUENCE OF VISION ON THE BODY
Focussing on a screen can create compression on the body which can influence breathing
Eye Myopia = More Compression if one eye is strained it can create deviations
More Peripheral vision – take breaks from the screen and look out more
Varifocals lenses can influence body position so screen by an optometrist