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If you've ever wondered why your child snores, breathes through their mouth, or struggles with crowded teeth, this episode is going to be a game-changer.
Jen sits down with Mel Van Schelven — Oral Health Therapist, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist, and founder of The Face Place to unpack the often-overlooked connection between how our kids chew, breathe, and sleep. Mel shares why the mouth is truly the foundation of so much of our children's health, how our increasingly soft, processed diets are robbing kids of the jaw and airway development they need, and what parents can do right now — starting at the dinner table — to set their little ones up for a lifetime of better health.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why the bones of the mouth are literally the bones of the airway — and why oral function and sleep cannot be separated
- How our ancestors chewed up to four and a half hours a day compared to our modern average of just half an hour, and what that means for our kids' facial development
- The difference between crunchy and chewy foods, and why crackers and pouches aren't cutting it for jaw development
- Why "food before one is just for fun" could be doing more harm than we realise when it comes to chewing development and iron intake
- What Mel actually sees in clinic — from crowded baby teeth and open bites to mouth breathing and fussy eating — and how it all connects back to oral function
- How dummy and thumb sucking habits affect dental development, and the three key factors (intensity, frequency, and duration) that determine how much impact they'll have
- Why taking away a dummy or thumb isn't always the right first step, and when it's actually better to leave the habit alone for now
- The gentle, age-appropriate approach Mel used with her own daughter to navigate thumb sucking — without shame or pressure
- When to seek an assessment and who to see (hint: it's not always your GP or paediatrician)
- Why tongue ties and tonsils are the two most confusing topics Mel sees parents struggling with online — and how to cut through the noise
- The simple audit you can do of your child's diet today to understand whether they're actually getting the chewing practice their developing mouth needs
- Why the dinner table is one of the most powerful tools you have as a parent — for connection, modelling, and oral development
Connect with Mel:
📱 Instagram: @thefaceplace_oht
🌐 Website: thefaceplaceofm.com.au
🎓 Foundations for Growing Faces Masterclass: thefaceplaceofm.com.au/foundations-for-growing-faces-masterclass
Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/
For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 111 Show Notes
And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.
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Until next time, Thrivers
