Episode #69: An in-depth discussion on facial development with Dr. Steven Park
Oct 6, 2022
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Dr. Steven Park, a former ENT surgeon and sleep medicine doctor, joins the discussion on the crucial link between facial development and chronic disease. They explore the implications of underdeveloped facial structures, particularly in children, and advocate for early intervention and awareness. The talk emphasizes the need for collaboration between dentists and physicians to address airway issues and sleep disorders. Additionally, they critique the current healthcare system's lack of focus on holistic patient care and encourage proactive measures for better health outcomes.
Proper facial development is essential for overall health, impacting conditions like sleep apnea and chronic diseases as many individuals are underdeveloped compared to their ancestors.
The podcast underscores the urgent need for collaboration between dentistry and medicine to enhance patient care, allowing a comprehensive approach to underlying health issues.
Factors such as modern diets and mouth breathing significantly influence facial development, making it crucial for parents to promote healthy habits in their children.
Deep dives
The Importance of Facial Development
Facial development is crucial for overall health and well-being, influencing not only appearance but also issues like sleep apnea and chronic diseases. Many individuals, about 80%, have not developed their faces properly compared to ancestors, which can lead to various health issues later in life. Notably, the speaker expresses personal experience with retrognathia, illustrating how jaw misalignment can affect airway function. Parents, particularly, are encouraged to be proactive about their children's facial development to prevent future complications.
Collaboration Between Dentistry and Medicine
The podcast emphasizes the need for better collaboration between dentistry and medicine, highlighting a divide that can hinder patient care. The speaker and the guest discuss their efforts to bridge the gap between their professions, sharing insights on how understanding both fields enhances patient outcomes. By aligning their approaches, they hope to provide more comprehensive care that addresses root causes rather than just symptoms. The dialogue suggests that increased collaboration can lead to better health management overall.
Factors Affecting Facial Development
Several factors contribute to improper facial development, including diet, soft food consumption, and reliance on pacifiers or bottles. The discussion highlights how ancestral diets, which required more chewing, promoted stronger jaw development, whereas modern diets tend to be softer, causing insufficient muscle use. Additionally, prolonged use of pacifiers and improper breastfeeding techniques can lead to long-term developmental issues. Parents are advised to encourage solid foods and proper breastfeeding practices to support optimal growth in their children.
Consequences of Breathing Patterns
Breathing patterns significantly influence facial development and overall health, with mouth breathing linked to a host of problems, including sleep apnea. The speakers discuss various signs to look for that may indicate improper breathing habits, such as open-mouth posture and tongue thrusting. Identifying these issues early in children can lead to timely interventions that support healthy development. They recommend using techniques such as mouth taping during sleep and nasal strips to encourage nasal breathing.
Role of Environmental Toxins
Environmental toxins, including endocrine disruptors and chemicals like fluoride and glyphosate, are discussed as factors negatively impacting facial and overall health. These substances can interfere with developmental processes, leading to compromised facial structure and increased rates of chronic diseases. The podcast highlights the historical context of fluoride usage and its evolution into public health practices, as well as the ongoing debates around its safety. Listeners are encouraged to be aware of their exposure to such toxins and consider filtration options for drinking water.
Educating for Empowerment
There is a strong emphasis on the importance of education and empowerment for patients to take control of their health. Both speakers advocate for better public awareness about the connection between oral health and overall health, particularly regarding facial development and sleep disorders. By providing accessible information and resources, they aim to enable individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare. The podcast encourages listeners to seek functional dentists and healthcare providers who prioritize holistic approaches to patient care.
Today’s episode covers an essential aspect of healthcare that is not often discussed and just so happens to be the root cause of the majority of chronic diseases: facial development. We shed light on the ramifications of an underdeveloped lower face and what we need to keep in mind if we want to minimize this phenomenon in ourselves and our children.Lending his expertise to this vital topic is special guest Dr. Steven Park. He is a former ENT surgeon and sleep medicine doctor based on the East Coast. For the past 13 years in private practice and 9 years in academia, Dr. Park has helped thousands of men and women breathe better, sleep better, and live more fulfilling lives. He is the author of the Amazon Best-selling book, Sleep, Interrupted: A physician reveals the #1 reason why so many of us are sick and tired Dr. B and Dr. Park bridge the gap between medicine and dentistry in this much-needed discussion on facial development and how to identify improper lower facial development in yourself or in your children. They also speak on how the average human facial structure has changed even in just the past few decades, touching on the rise in prominence of thinner faces and crooked teeth, among other things.Unfortunately, there is still very little collaboration between dentists and physicians, and, from a profit point of view, there is little incentive to do so. Dr. B notes that “dentistry is under attack by organized healthcare.” In a similar vein, Dr. Park highlights the lack of proper training and education when it comes to tongue ties and how they directly impact lower facial development.“By educating the public,” he says, “we can do a lot more to help people than through trying to change it from the top-down.”Key Points From This Episode:● Introducing today’s topic: What is facial development and why is it important? [07:20]● Good facial development versus improper facial development [15:43]● How the tongue factors into facial development [39:59]● Dr. Park’s mouth-taping tips and Breathe-Rite strips [1:18:39]About Our Guest:Dr. Steven ParkResources:Dr. Steven Park YoutubeDr. Steven Park PodcastJames Nestor Book: BreathDr. Steven Park: 7 Insanely Simple Ways to Unblock Your Stuffy NoseClick Here to Record a Message for Dr. BFunctional Dentist DirectoryWhat Dr. B RecommendsAsk the DentistAbout Dr. Mark BurhenneCheck Out My NEW Line of Toothpaste and Professional Dental Varnish!! Check out Dr. B's website for more information: https://askthedentist.com Subscribe to Dr. B's newsletter Mondays with Mark: https://askthedentist.com/newsletter
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