#542: Airway Dentistry, Oral Ties, and Why You’re So Dang Tired with Dr. Kimberly Baer

Snoring, sleep apnea, jaw tension, teeth grinding—these aren’t just annoying habits. Dr. Kimberly Baer explains how they’re actually red flags for deeper health issues in tied to airway dysfunction, oral ties, and stress overload. And yes, this is true for adults and kids! If you wake up tired or your partner sounds like a freight train at night, this one’s for you. 

Timestamps:

[1:43] Intro

[4:42] conversation with Dr. Baer

[6:30] What role does oral health really play in the longevity and aging process?

[11:26] What is a CBCT scan, and what does it mean when you have a restricted airway?

[14:12] What is sleep apnea? 

[19:00] How do you approach prevention in your practice when it comes to aging and preserving dental care? 

[22:24] What’s the connection between your mouth being open and cavities? 

[25:11] What is airway dentistry and why is it being talked about it more? 

[30:55] where can oral ties happen and how they impact kids and adults? 

[37:02] Is it ever too late to get airway help?

[38:11] Can you talk about palate expansion for adults? Is it possible?

[46:33] What happens then when the teeth have all these spaces? 

[48:12] For kids, should you start with palate expanders or growth appliances before the adult teeth come in?

[50:12] Thoughts on the tooth pillow? 

[51:30] How do you resolve sleep apnea and what does it look like?

[59:41] If you need adult braces to correct your bite, and the dentist needs to pull a tooth, would you do it? 

[1:00:38] What are the best retainer options. Should we be concerned about plastic retainers? 

[1:03:17] I want to know about wisdom teeth – is this a right of passage. What options do we have for our teens when it’s time to get the wisdom teeth removed? 

[1:06:01] We have insurance that will only pay for silver fillings and sealant for kids – is it low risk since it’s on baby teeth? 

[1:08:07] Is there a problem with occasional snoring in adults and kids and if a kid intermittently sleeps with their mouth open? 

Episode Links:

Natural Dentist Associates Website

Global Network of Biological Dentists

Follow Natural Dentist Associates on Instagram 

Books:

How to Train Your Tongue

My Tongue is Stuck!  

Let’s Get Your Tongue Unstuck!

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