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Can mouth breathing change how a child sleeps or how their jaw develops? Could it also play a part in symptoms that look like ADHD? Dr. Hilary Fritsch, a biological and airway dentist, believes those questions deserve attention alongside the usual conversation about braces. During her haircut, Tab asks her to explain the connections she sees, what parents might notice at home, and why straight teeth do not always tell the whole story.
They start with the choices made long before anyone visits an orthodontist: how children eat, how their jaws develop, and what happens when the tongue does not have enough room. Hilary explains why she pays attention to nasal breathing, sleep, jaw width, and the space behind the teeth. Tab presses her on what a parent can really see, especially when a child seems fine and has never been told there is a problem. Hilary shares her own history of congestion and the questions that eventually changed how she practices dentistry.
The conversation gets practical. Hilary walks through the four things she examines—the nose, room for the tongue, tongue function, and the airway itself—and describes the remote-care model she uses to reach families who cannot easily find an airway-focused dentist. She and Tab compare what they noticed with their own children, talk about grinding and restless sleep, and discuss why she considers the airway when families are weighing orthodontics or treatment for enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Tab also asks the question adults will have: if you missed this as a kid, is there anything you can do now? Hilary explains the expansion, aligners, and myofunctional therapy she uses in her practice.
Near the end, Tab asks what she would say about her profession if she did not have to worry about blowback. Hilary answers without softening it. From there, Tab asks why she wants families to look at sleep when a child shows ADHD-like symptoms, what signs she notices during ordinary daily life, and why she urges families to ask questions early. You do not need a dental background to follow the discussion—Tab is learning in the chair alongside the audience.
CHAPTERS
00:00 The question she thinks orthodontics is missing
00:30 Meet Dr. Hilary Fritsch
03:16 Food, chewing, and jaw development
07:02 When straight teeth are not the whole picture
10:45 Hilary's own search for answers
16:15 Finding airway-focused care, even from a distance
21:49 The four parts of her airway evaluation
25:19 What families might notice at home
30:02 Tonsils, adenoids, and treatment decisions
32:25 What options do adults have?
34:43 Retainers and myofunctional therapy
37:09 Her unfiltered view of orthodontics
41:02 Sleep, attention, and why she favors early questions
FIND DR. HILARY FRITSCH
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hilaryfritschdmd/
Saddle Peak Dental: https://saddlepeakdental.com/
WATCH NEXT
Anthony Lolli on biohacking, biological dentistry, and the documentary he is making:
https://youtu.be/A7NHV5xYjKY
FIND SPLITTING HAIRS
Website: https://splittinghairspodcast.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@splittinghairspod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/splittinghairspod/
Tab's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabcutshair/
What would you ask Dr. Fritsch if you were in the chair? Leave your question in the comments, and subscribe for the next conversation.
Dr. Fritsch's clinical opinions and health claims are her own. This conversation is not individualized medical or dental advice.
