What if the way you breathe, swallow and hold your tongue is affecting more than just your oral health?

In this episode of Grounded Wellness, we’re joined by Jenae Ciuffreda, Bethany’s personal Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist, to explore the surprising connections between tongue posture, mouth breathing, jaw tension, facial development and overall well-being.

Jenae explains how everyday habits we rarely think about may influence the way our faces develop, how we breathe and sleep, and even how we experience tension as we age. From the rise of mouth taping and mewing to jaw Botox, tongue ties and crowded teeth, she challenges conventional approaches that focus on treating symptoms without asking what’s causing them.

They also explore why early oral development matters so much for children, how modern diets and feeding habits may play a role in jaw development, and what our faces can reveal about underlying patterns of dysfunction.

Plus, Jenae walks Bethany through simple tongue posture and facial tension-release exercises you can try at home.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why tongue posture matters for breathing, swallowing and jaw function
• The overlooked signs of airway dysfunction, from mouth breathing and snoring to jaw clenching and poor sleep
• How oral function and chronic facial tension may influence facial appearance and aging
• Why mewing and mouth taping aren't necessarily addressing the root cause
• What jaw Botox can and can't do for clenching and grinding
• How breastfeeding, tongue ties, chewing and early childhood habits relate to oral development
• Why crowded baby teeth may be worth paying attention to
• How modern diets and softer foods may be influencing jaw development
• Simple exercises to explore tongue posture, lip function and facial tension

About Jenae Ciuffreda

Jenae Ciuffreda, BS, RDH, CBBA, CSOM, is a dental hygienist, Certified Breathing Behavior Analyst and Certified Specialist in Orofacial Myology. Her work focuses on the relationship between oral muscle function, breathing, swallowing, facial development and overall health. Through a whole-body approach, she helps children and adults identify and address dysfunctional oral habits and patterns.

Resources For Jenae Ciuffreda:

• Follow: https://www.instagram.com/oralposture/
• Learn more: https://www.oralposture.com/

Explore More from Primally Pure:

• Follow Bethany: https://www.instagram.com/bethanyjmcdaniel/
• Shop Primally Pure: https://bit.ly/4e1HzVv
• Blog: https://bit.ly/4gAeIsY
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primallypure