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“Form Follows Function”
Nowhere is that more evident than in the first months of life, when a baby’s latch and breath quite literally sculpt their future face.

This month, lactation consultant and nurse practitioner Sheri Gunn of Utah Breastfeeding and Tongue Ties joined us on the More Than Teeth podcast to remind us that breastfeeding isn’t just nutrition; it’s nature’s first myofunctional therapy.

Each swallow, tongue lift, and nasal breath builds the foundation for healthy jaws, a patent airway, and balanced facial development.
In short, breastfeeding is orthodontics, airway therapy, and immune defense—all wrapped into one perfect biologic design.

In Today’s Edition

• Case Insight: How infant latch dysfunction predicts airway compromise later in life

• Clinical Corner: 5 ways to recognize feeding-related growth problems in your patients

• Evidence Review: Why “breast is best” goes far beyond nutrition

• Coach Cathy’s Take: Gentle habits that keep the airway thriving, at any age

5-minute read 👇

Clinical Corner

From feeding to form: what to remember this week.

🔑 Key Takeaways

1. Breastfeeding drives facial growth.
   The rhythmic tongue-palate compression of effective nursing widens the maxilla, develops the nasal cavity, and strengthens airway-supporting muscles. Bottle or shallow latch feeding lacks these pressures, often predisposing to high palates and narrow arches.

2. Functional impairment > visible tie.
   As Sheri Gunn shared, “There’s not a baby who doesn’t want to suck; if they can’t, something’s wrong.” Posterior ties, restricted floor of mouth fascia, or weak tongue tone are often missed. Evaluate mobility and function, not just anatomy.

3. Early oral dysfunction predicts airway risk.
   Clicking, leaking, or reflux in infancy can develop into open-mouth posture, snoring, and malocclusion later in life. The same muscular compensation patterns persist as the child grows; retraining is always possible, but prevention is more powerful.

4. Nasal breathing is the first airway therapy.
   Exclusive nasal breathing promotes nitric oxide production, optimal craniofacial growth, and restorative sleep. Mouth-breathing babies become mouth-breathing children, and airway dentists meet them 5–10 years later. (We recommend Kids’ Xlear Nasal Spray with Xylitol, the only saline nasal spray containing xylitol. It is a natural saline and xylitol solution that is safe for infants and toddlers.)

5. Interdisciplinary wins early.
   Collaboration among the IBCLC, pediatric dentist, ENT specialist, and myofunctional therapist yields better latch outcomes and fewer unnecessary frenotomies. Conservative measures first: function always guides intervention.

Evidence Corner: The Biology Behind the Benefit

Clinical Application: Translating to Practice

• Ask about feeding history during pediatric or ortho consultations—it’s an early airway clue.

• Note palatal depth and facial symmetry in young children. A narrow V-shaped palate often mirrors early feeding dysfunction.

• Educate parents: “Breastfeeding isn’t just about nutrition—it’s about training the muscles that form the airway.”

• When in doubt, refer. A well-trained lactation consultant or orofacial myofunctional therapist can prevent years of compensatory dysfunction.

Coach Cathy’s Take

Feeding is a complex combination of rhythm, posture, and chemistry that all occur simultaneously.
Whether you’re nursing a newborn or counseling an adult airway patient, remind families:
The same principles apply, nasal breathing, tongue-to-palate posture, and mindful chewing, keep the face growing well at every stage.

When a parent understands that breastfeeding teaches these mechanics from birth, prevention suddenly feels possible.

🎧 Listen: More Than Teeth Podcast – “The First Myofunctional Therapy: Breastfeeding and Airway with Sheri Gunn”

📩 Connect: [email protected]

🔗 Share the Message: morethanteeth.beehiiv.com

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— Dr. Michael & Cathy Bennett
More Than Teeth | A Mission for Generational Health