5 Red Flags in Babies + Kids That Could Mean Airway Trouble
Your doctor told you it’s “just a phase.” But what if your child’s mouth breathing, constant congestion, or picky eating isn’t just frustrating—it’s your child’s way of showing something deeper is going on?
In this episode, Dr. Clayton—airway-focused dentist and father of two—shares five commonly overlooked signs that your child may be struggling with an airway issue. These aren’t random quirks. They’re signals. And the earlier you catch them, the better your child’s sleep, development, and behavior can be.
Please note: There are dozens of other symptoms! Only 5 are discussed in today's episode. Others that may show up are inflamed tonsils, delayed speech, bed wetting, crowded teeth, grinding their teeth day or night, and many more.
This episode is for every parent who’s ever had a gut feeling that something isn’t quite right—but wasn’t sure where to turn. Dr. Clayton walks you through what these red flags look like, why they matter, and what you can do starting today.
Dr. Clayton is hosting a Live Airway Class on June 16th for parents who want to understand the signs, learn what really matters, and take action with a collaborative root cause approach to care.
👉 Sign up for the class here, before the doors close on June 15th!
Follow Dr. Clayton on Instagram here!
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Airway Issues in Children01:03 Red Flag 1: Mouth Breathing04:37 Red Flag 2: Snoring and Noisy Breathing06:30 Red Flag 3: Nursing Difficulties in Infants07:21 Red Flag 4: Picky Eating and Food Aversion08:45 Red Flag 5: Chronic Congestion and Frequent Illness12:41 Conclusion + Invite To Live Class
--------
14:09
--------
14:09
22: Our Family's Airway Health Journey: What We Wish We Knew Earlier
When Eliza was a child, sleep was never restful. Her tonsils were huge, her palate was narrow, and breathing through her nose felt like trying to sip air through a coffee straw.
No one ever asked about her sleep. Doctors dismissed her symptoms. And so she quietly carried exhaustion, anxiety, and overwhelm into adulthood—thinking it was just normal.
Until her husband, Dr. Clayton, began learning about airway health.
In today's episode of Dentistry Disrupted, Eliza and Dr. Clayton get personal and share their family’s decades-long struggle. From Eliza’s own childhood struggles to their son’s early feeding difficulties, teeth grinding, and behavioral challenges—this episode uncovers the overlooked signs of sleep-disordered breathing and how addressing the root cause can change lives.
Together, they discuss:
The turning point that led Dr. Clayton to pursue airway education
How a collaborative, functional approach helped their family heal
Why airway issues are often dismissed by traditional providers
How to recognize signs and get the right help for your child
What their upcoming Holistic Airway Health for Families class will teach
If you’ve ever been told “they’ll grow out of it,” this episode is your sign to keep asking questions. Please leave us a review, share the episode, and stay tuned for our upcoming live class. You’re not alone—and help is out there!
Resources
Join the Waitlist for the Holistic Airway Health for Families Class Here!
Want more?! Follow us here!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Airway Health Journey00:45 Eliza's Personal Experience with Airway Issues04:43 The Importance of Early Intervention05:30 Recognizing Signs in Children09:39 The Broader Impact of Airway Health11:12 Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment12:54 Success Stories and Collaborative Approaches14:00 Holistic Airway Health Class19:19 Conclusion
--------
17:54
--------
17:54
21. The Crucial Role of the Floor of the Mouth - With Dr. Neel Bulchandani
In this episode, Dr. Craig D. Clayton sits down with friend and innovative practitioner, Dr. Neel Bulchandani—an integrative airway chiropractor—for a conversation that just might change the way you think about healing.
They explore one of the most overlooked sources of tension in the body and a surprising key to whole-body wellness: the floor of your mouth.
Dr. Neel shares how this often-ignored area can impact everything from breathing and posture to emotional well-being. His unique approach and journey into airway health began with his own daughter’s tongue tie, and he talks about how that personal experience pushed him to look at the body differently.
What followed was years of curiosity, research, and deep work that led to the development of his now sought-after approach to releasing hidden tension.
Whether deep into bodywork or just starting to explore holistic health, this conversation will open your eyes to how connected our bodies are—and how much healing is possible when we pay attention to the areas we often ignore.
💬 What we dive into:
How the floor of the mouth impacts the entire body
Why tongue ties affect so much more than just breastfeeding
The emotional side of physical tightness (and how it shows up in the body)
Real-life stories of patients—including virtual ones—finding lasting relief
Why releasing tension in the mouth can shift everything from headaches to posture to sleep
How to access this healing—whether you're a parent, a practitioner, or just curious
➡️ Ready to catch and correct airway problems before they disrupt your child's growth and development? Join our LIVE class - Holistic Airway Health For Families
➡️ Follow Dr. Neel Bulchandani on Instagram here!
➡️ For fellow providers, click here for tickets to his Floor of the Mouth Tour (Coming to Phoenix, Boise, & Chicago!)
➡️ Click here for Dr. Neel’s mini-course - Tongue Press (Don't forget to use code DISRUPT20 for $70 off!)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Airway Health and Live Class Announcement02:37 Meet Dr. Neel Bulchandani: Integrative Airway Chiropractor04:46 Understanding Integrative Airway Chiropractic09:35 The Importance of the Floor of the Mouth15:50 Emotional Connections to Physical Tension23:00 Exploring Overlooked Areas in Healing27:22 The Year of Sharing: Tongue Press Insights29:22 Real-Life Transformations: Remote Protocol Success Stories34:30 Unlocking Airway Health: The Connection to the Floor of Mouth45:54 Empowering Practitioners: Resources and Mindset Shifts
--------
41:08
--------
41:08
20. How Functional Medicine Will Change Your Life With Former ER nurse, Lyndsy Kinghorn, NP
In this episode of Dentistry Disrupted, Dr. Craig Clayton is joined by his personal functional medicine provider and friend, Lyndsy Kinghorn. Lyndsy is a dual board-certified nurse practitioner in family and anti-aging medicine and the founder of Foundation Functional Medicine in Boise, Idaho. Together, they explore the powerful overlap between functional medicine and functional dentistry—and how collaborating across disciplines can radically transform patient care.
Lindsay shares her journey from ER nurse practitioner and competitive athlete to passionate functional medicine provider after her own unresolved health symptoms led her to seek deeper answers. She breaks down the key differences between traditional and functional medicine, emphasizes the importance of root cause resolution, and highlights the limitations of “normal” lab ranges.
They also discuss the life-changing impact of personalized care, including how Lyndsy helped Craig’s wife finally get the answers she'd been looking for after years of frustration.
Whether you’re a patient curious about the gaps in traditional healthcare or a provider seeking better outcomes for your patients, this episode is packed with eye-opening insights and real-life transformation stories.
What You’ll Learn:
Why Lyndsy transitioned from emergency medicine to functional medicine
How functional medicine uncovers root causes behind chronic symptoms
What “normal” labs miss—and what to look for instead
How functional dentists and functional medicine providers can collaborate
Real success stories, including Dr. Clayton’s wife’s health journey
Whether you’re struggling with fatigue, poor sleep, frequent cavities, or just want to take a more holistic approach to your health, this conversation will give you the insight and tools to move forward.
If you would like to work with Lyndsy or her team at Foundation Functional Medicine, check out the website here!
For the free eating hygiene guide mentioned in the podcast, click here.
Follow Lyndsy on Instagram here!
Chapters
00:00 Exploring Functional vs Traditional Medicine09:43 The Importance of Gut Health14:53 Understanding Hormonal Health20:09 The Connection Between Oral Health and Overall Wellness25:11 Collaborative Care in Functional Medicine27:20 Simple Steps to Improve Health30:12 Finding the Right Functional Medicine Provider
--------
25:53
--------
25:53
19. Following the Clues: A Mom’s Fight for Her Children’s Airway Health
When Paige first heard her daughter snoring at night, she thought it was just a cute little habit—nothing to worry about. But as restless nights, emotional meltdowns, and behavior struggles piled up, she started to put the pieces together.
As a pediatric nurse, Paige had spent her career in traditional medicine, but when it came to her own kids, she realized something was missing. In this episode, she joins Dr. Clayton to share her journey of uncovering the root cause of her children’s sleep issues, navigating dismissive medical advice, and ultimately finding real solutions beyond the typical “wait and see” approach.
If your child snores, grinds their teeth, breathes through their mouth, or struggles with bedwetting, this episode is a must-listen. When kids don’t get deep, restful sleep, it affects everything—from their mood and behavior to their growth and long-term health.
00:00 Introduction to Airway Health Journey
04:33 Recognizing Airway Issues in Children
08:05 ENT Visit and Initial Solutions
13:26 Exploring Myofunctional Therapy
23:08 The Journey of Myofunctional Therapy
30:26 Overcoming Challenges in Treatment
35:42 The Need for Collaborative Healthcare
37:04 The Importance of Education and Awareness
Links for today's episode:
📖 Tongue Tied by Dr. Richard Baxter
🔗 Functional Dentistry Roadmap
📍 Find an airway-focused provider near you
If you've ever been told to "just wait and see" when it comes to your child's sleep struggles, this episode will give you the knowledge and tools to take action.
Welcome to Dentistry Disrupted with Dr. Craig D. Clayton. I am a wellness and biomimetic dentist, passionate change maker, social media thought leader, and educator on disrupting the way we approach oral healthcare. Come along with me as we journey towards a healthier, and more empowered you.
It wasn’t all that long ago that I worked in traditional dentistry and questioned my career choice, but then I found biomimetic dentistry, I found whole wellness, and I found my calling. Fast forward to now, I love what I do, I’ve grown a large social media following and built a successful dental practice on the foundation of disrupting traditional dentistry.
This is more than just a podcast about teeth, this is a podcast about whole wellness and out-of-the-box root cause solutions. I’ll have guest experts come join us for great discussions and more disruption of the healthcare system.
I am so excited to facilitate a place where we can learn together, definitely laugh together, and grow together.
Whether you are a dentist, a person who struggles with cavities, or a person who has perfect oral health, there will be something for you here. So hit that subscribe button and join me on this journey to feel empowered, refreshed, and excited to become the healthiest version of yourself!
USA