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Good morning.

Ever wonder why some patients struggle with stomach problems or inflammatory bowel issues… and don’t find relief from GI meds alone?

Emerging research is connecting the dots between sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and gastrointestinal dysfunction—including GERD and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

This might sound surprising, but the links make sense when we zoom out and look at the body through the lens of healing, not just symptom control.

In Today’s Edition:

• The Gut-Sleep Connection — Why GERD and IBD might be linked to airway obstruction and poor sleep quality.

• Case Study: Crohn’s & OSA — How one patient’s lifelong digestive issues began to heal after treating his obstructive sleep apnea.

• Your Role as a Healer — Simple tools to recognize gut-related airway signs and help patients activate the body’s natural healing through better sleep.

• CE Opportunities/Events

  5-minute read👇

Clinical Corner

Use the clinical corner as your secret weapon to impress your colleagues and patients!

Key Takeaways🔑

Dr. Bennett’s Case Study Spotlight: Healing Crohn’s... by Healing Sleep

Patient: Brett A. – 61-year-old male with Crohn’s disease since childhood
Chief Concern: Fatigue, long-term GI inflammation, recent GI recommendation for colon resection
What Changed: His sleep.

In a financial meeting (yes—this patient is also my financial advisor), we discussed the body’s built-in ability to heal if sleep is restored. I shared the principles I teach patients: "The body knows how to heal—it just needs quality, uninterrupted sleep to do it."

That conversation led to a sleep test. The results? Obstructive sleep apnea.

Treatment included:

• Nasal hygiene (moisturizers + internal supports)

• Mandibular advancement device (MAD)

• Lifestyle education around sleep quality

Within a few months, energy improved. But the real moment came 11 months later. At a routine check-in, Brett reported: “My GI doctor just told me my colon is healing—and I’m moving to a 3-year endoscopy schedule instead of every 6 months.”

He was thrilled. He later told me this airway-centered approach felt like the missing piece in his 50-year Crohn’s journey.

He even volunteered for a video testimonial to encourage others:

Why it matters:
This isn’t about treating Crohn’s directly. It’s about unlocking the conditions for healing—and as dentists, we’re in a prime position to help people do just that.

Airway-focused dentistry is systemic care.

Let’s keep connecting the dots.

Something Sweet

🍭Stuff so sweet you might get a cavity..

CE Opportunities / Events

Have an event you would like to post? (free) [ click here ]

Miscellaneous

😅P.S. … Watch for more case studies and practical ways to implement sleep screening and treatment into your practice in future issues of More Than Teeth.