Alexandra Clinton, a myofunctional therapist, airway coach, and biological dental hygienist converses with Dr. Tara about the importance of breathing, oral posture, and nutrition in children's health. They discuss how breathing affects sleep, the role of saliva in dental health, and the significance of proper oral rest posture. Alexandra shares insights on teeth grinding, mouth taping, and finding the right practitioners for airway health. The conversation emphasizes a holistic approach to building healthy faces and bodies, highlighting the interconnectedness of breathing, nutrition, and overall well-being. Alex Clinton is a biological dental hygienist, myofunctional therapist, and breathing optimization coach based in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. She serves clients virtually worldwide and in-person at an osteopathic clinic in Kingston. She's practiced as a dental hygienist since 2011 and launched my myofunctional therapy practice in 2019. She grew up immersed in this field: her father is a semi-retired biological and neuromuscular-trained dentist, and her mother is a nurse and holistic nutritionist. They integrated a whole-body approach into their practice until retiring in 2022. Inspired by their legacy of helping people with sleep disorders, breathing issues, and chronic pain, she founded Functional Oral Health six years ago to continue their work. As the oldest of four siblings, my parents recognized that these health foundations begin in childhood. They used their children as their “test subjects” to pioneer airway-centric strategies for developing strong facial structures and bodies—prioritizing tongue space over retraction or elimination. Her own education began at age 12, when she and her dad explored orthodontic pathways together, focusing on natural structural growth. Since then, interest in airway-centric facial and body development for children has exploded. She has just launched Building Healthy Faces, a program starting with Breathing Optimization—the foundation of all our work. • Cohort 1: Late 2025 • Course 2: January 2026 Find her on Instagram and Facebook@functionaloralhealth Websitehttps://www.functionaloralhealth.ca/ About Dr. Tara Hogan Dr. Tara Hogan is a highly accomplished and dedicated Doctor of Chiropractic with 15 years of experience in Prenatal and Pediatric Chiropractic. Known for her expertise in brain-based approaches to healing and pain, Webster Certified Pregnancy Care, and stress reduction protocols for all, Dr. Hogan consistently delivers exceptional results and drives innovation for the “Family Nervous System,” a term she’s coined to help us understand whole healing as a family. Dr. Tara’s work, in a more ethereal notion, can be thought of as releasing reverent rivulets of life force for physical, mental, emotional spiritual healing across all time, space, dimensions and realities. Instagram: @drtarahogan TikTok: @drtarahogan www.drtarahogan.com myofunctional therapy, airway management, breathing, children's health, sleep issues, oral posture, nutrition, teeth grinding, mouth taping, holistic dentistry
