Episode 7 | The Pediatric Breathing Project
Speech, Tongue Ties & Airway Health with Courtney Scaggs, M.S., CCC-SLP

In this episode of The Pediatric Breathing Project, Dr. Piya Gandhi sits down with Courtney Scaggs, M.S., CCC-SLP, speech language pathologist and founder of Space City Speech, to explore the critical connection between speech development, oral function, tongue ties, myofunctional therapy, and pediatric airway health.

Together, they discuss how airway issues can show up in speech patterns, why narrow palates and oral restrictions can affect articulation, when speech therapy may need deeper structural support, and how collaboration between dentists, speech therapists, ENTs, occupational therapists, and myofunctional therapists can create better outcomes for children.

They also cover early speech milestones, red flags parents should watch for, prolonged thumb sucking and oral habits, when therapy may be plateauing, how to know when it’s time to dig deeper, and what both parents and providers should look for in a truly collaborative care team.

Whether you’re a parent navigating speech concerns or a provider interested in interdisciplinary airway care, this episode offers practical insights into how these systems are deeply connected.

In This Episode We Cover:

✔ How speech and airway health are connected
✔ Tongue ties, oral restrictions and articulation
✔ When speech delays may signal deeper functional issues
✔ Narrow palates and their effect on speech sounds
✔ Myofunctional therapy vs traditional speech therapy
✔ Thumb sucking, oral habits and tongue posture
✔ When therapy plateaus and what to do next
✔ Early speech milestones and red flags
✔ Why pediatric airway treatment requires a team approach
✔ What providers should look for in collaborative referrals

Connect with Courtney Scaggs

🌐 Space City Speech
https://spacecityspeech.com/about-dr-courtney-scaggs/

📱 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/spacecityspeech/

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The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures.

If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development.

Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS

BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST

Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | YouTube | Website

Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi:

• Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/
• Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory

In this episode of The Pediatric Breathing Project, Dr. Piya Gandhi sits down with Leah Whitley, IBCLC, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with SOS Lactation, to talk about the powerful connection between infant feeding, tongue function, airway development, & long-term health.

Leah shares her personal story of how painful early breastfeeding challenges with her first child led her into the world of lactation support and ultimately into a career helping families navigate feeding difficulties with more clarity and confidence. They discuss what an IBCLC actually does, why feeding issues are often more complex than they appear, and how oral restrictions, tongue ties, and poor tongue mechanics can impact both breastfeeding and airway development.

They also cover the signs that a baby may be struggling with feeding, including maternal nipple pain, atypical feeding patterns, poor milk transfer, recurrent plugged ducts, mastitis, and milk supply decline. This episode highlights why things can “look fine” from the outside while significant dysfunction is still happening inside the mouth.

This episode is for parents, lactation professionals, pediatric providers, dentists, and anyone passionate about helping babies feed, breathe, and develop well from the very beginning.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Leah Whitley’s journey into lactation after her own breastfeeding struggles
• What makes an IBCLC different from other breastfeeding support providers
• Why tongue function matters for breastfeeding and airway growth
• Common signs of feeding dysfunction that families may miss
• Why diaper counts alone do not always tell the full story
• Nipple pain, blanching, creasing, plugged ducts, and mastitis as red flags
• How early milk supply hormones can mask poor transfer before supply drops
• Bottle feeding techniques and how flow rate affects sucking mechanics
• Thoughts on pacifier use and which shapes better support tongue function
• How Leah prepares families for tongue tie release and post-release care
• What baby readiness looks like before a release procedure
• Why collaboration between IBCLCs, bodyworkers, dentists, and SLPs matters
• When to refer to a speech language pathologist
• Common myths about breastfeeding pain and milk supply
• Why parents should advocate for a thorough oral assessment
• The gaps that still exist in hospitals and traditional medical settings

About Leah Whitley

Leah Whitley, IBCLC

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The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures.

If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development.

Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS

BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST

Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | YouTube | Website

Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi:

• Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/
• Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory

Pediatric Chiropractic, Tongue Ties & Airway: Dr. Caroline Long on Craniosacral Care, Fascia, and Infant Red Flags

Dr. Piya Gandhi interviews Dr. Caroline Long, a chiropractor and owner of West U Wellness with 25 years of experience, about pediatric and pregnancy-focused chiropractic care and its role in airway and tongue-tie care. Dr. Long shares her path into pediatric chiropractic, her additional pediatric certification training, and how she built trust with doulas, midwives, and parents. They discuss how pediatric chiropractic differs from adult-style adjustments, the gentle approach used with infants, and craniosacral concepts including skull plate motion, intracranial pressure, and indicators for early cranial work before bones fuse. Dr. Long explains preparation goals for tongue-tie revisions by addressing compensatory body patterns, jaw/neck/shoulder/pelvic mobility, and breathing mechanics, and describes fascia as a body-wide connective membrane that can contribute to tension patterns. They cover signs infants may benefit from chiropractic care (limited head turning, head tilt, mouth breathing, poor seal/dribbling milk, colic, reflux, prolonged feeding, chronic ear infections, constipation) and how chiropractic and PT can work together for issues like torticollis and plagiocephaly to potentially reduce or avoid helmet time. They also touch on buccal ties as often more flexible, typically managed with stretches and observation unless clearly restrictive, and share examples of children seeking care for symptoms like a choking sensation related to neck tightness and athletes optimizing performance. The conversation emphasizes increased awareness driven by social media, the need for scientifically valid education, and multidisciplinary collaboration among pediatricians, dentists, chiropractors, PTs, and other providers. The episode ends with guidance on finding a qualified pediatric chiropractor, mentioning ICPA coursework and craniosacral training leaders, suggested screening questions for parents, and West U Wellness’s location in Bel Air at Bel Air and South Rice.


00:00 Welcome + Meet Dr. Caroline Long (25 Years in Pediatric Chiropractic)
01:16 Her Origin Story: Scoliosis, First Chiro Experience, and Finding Pediatrics
03:28 What Pediatric Chiropractic Really Looks Like (Gentle Touch, Birth Patterns, Colic/Reflux)
05:05 Building a Pregnancy & Pediatric-Focused Team (Including Newborn Success Stories)
06:10 Craniosacral Therapy Explained: Skull Motion, Pressure, and Baby Head Shape Clues
07:36 Tongue-Tie Prep: Changing B

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The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures.

If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development.

Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS

BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST

Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | YouTube | Website

Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi:

• Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/
• Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory

Episode 4: From Motherhood to Myofunctional Therapy - The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi

In this episode of The Pediatric Breathing Project, Dr. Piya Gandhi is joined by Catherine Kangas, orofacial myofunctional therapist, educator, and author of Your Tongue Has a Home. Catherine shares her powerful journey into myofunctional therapy—one that began as a mother searching for answers for her own children struggling with tongue ties, feeding challenges, and sleep-disordered breathing.

Together, Dr. Gandhi and Catherine explore how oral rest posture, tongue function, and airway health impact sleep, development, and overall wellness in both children and adults. This conversation highlights the importance of a holistic, team-based approach to airway care and why myofunctional therapy plays a critical role in long-term success.

Catherine also introduces her newly developed Oral Recovery Kit, designed to support healing and function after procedures such as expansion or frenectomy, and offers guidance on how parents and practitioners can find the right myofunctional therapist.

This episode is a must-listen for parents, dentists, pediatricians, therapists, and healthcare professionals who want a deeper understanding of airway health and collaborative care.

• 00:00 Introduction & Guest Welcome
• 00:41 Catherine’s Personal Journey into Myofunctional Therapy
• 01:32 Challenges & Early Discoveries
• 02:16 Transitioning into a Professional Role
• 03:04 What Is Myofunctional Therapy?
• 04:38 Treating Children vs. Adults
• 07:44 Goals & Importance of Therapy
• 10:06 Your Tongue Has a Home — The Story Behind the Book
• 11:45 Personal Experiences with Expansion Therapy
• 13:33 Advice for Practitioners & Parents
• 15:23 Introducing the Oral Recovery Kit
• 16:45 Kit Components & Use
• 17:51 Instructions & Recommendations
• 20:18 Finding the Right Myofunctional Therapist
• 23:13 The Importance of a Collaborative Team
• 24:47 Final Thoughts & Encouragement

Resources & Links

• Your Tongue Has a Home by Catherine Kangas
  • https://www.amazon.com/dp/1965341101
• Oral Recovery Kit
  • https://www.thewholisticfam.com/
• Follow Catherine Kangas:

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The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures.

If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development.

Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS

BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST

Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | YouTube | Website

Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi:

• Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/
• Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory

The Power of Teamwork in Treating Pediatric Airway Disorders

Join Dr. Piya Gandhi, a pediatric dentist, as she discusses the critical role of a collaborative team approach in treating pediatric airway disorders. Through the story of a 4-year-old patient, she illustrates the importance of involving various specialists like ENTs and myofunctional therapists to achieve optimal outcomes. Gandhi emphasizes the necessity of continuous learning, parental advocacy, and open communication among practitioners. She provides insights for parents on choosing the right providers who employ a holistic, team-based strategy for their child's airway and sleep health.

00:00 Introduction to Airway Disorders

00:38 Case Study: A 4-Year-Old's Journey

01:19 The Importance of a Team Approach

02:31 Collaborative Treatment Success

02:54 The Humbling Experience of Treating Airway Disorders

03:49 Choosing the Right Provider

04:55 Parental Involvement and Advocacy

05:11 Questions Parents Should Ask Providers

07:03 Conclusion: The Journey of Treating Pediatric Airway Disorders

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The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures.

If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development.

Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS

BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST

Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | YouTube | Website

Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi:

• Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/
• Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory

Oral ties (tongue-ties and lip-ties) are one of the most debated topics in both the parenting and professional dental world.

Are they over-diagnosed? A trend? Or a critical piece of airway and functional health that we’ve been overlooking for far too long?

In this episode, Dr. Piya Gandhi shares her perspective as both a pediatric dentist and a mom. She breaks down the myths, explains why oral ties are not “new,” and outlines how they can affect feeding, speech, breathing, jaw growth, and overall development at every age.

You’ll learn:

• Why oral ties matter for infants, toddlers, children, and even adults
• How tongue-tie and lip-tie symptoms often go unnoticed (and why screening is inconsistent)
• The importance of function-first treatment: therapy ➝ procedure ➝ therapy
• Why “just clipping” isn’t enough for long-term results
• What parents should look for in a provider and evaluation process
• Resources for finding trusted airway-focused practitioners

Whether you’re a parent struggling with feeding challenges, a provider curious about functional dentistry, or someone who’s just now learning about airway health — this episode will leave you with the knowledge and confidence to advocate for the right care.

Resources Mentioned:

Airway Circle Provider Directory: https://airwaycircle.com

The Breathe Institute: https://www.breatheinstitute.com

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The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures.

If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development.

Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS

BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST

Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | YouTube | Website

Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi:

• Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/
• Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory

The Pediatric Breathing Project: Changing Lives One Airway at a Time with Dr. Piya Gandhi, DDS - Episode 1

The Importance of Pediatric Airway Health

In this episode, Dr. Piya Gandhi explores pediatric airway health, emphasizing the critical impact good sleep quality has on a child's development, behavior, and overall health. Sharing personal experiences and patient success stories, Dr. Gandhi discusses the significance of early intervention, the role of oral and facial structures, and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in treatment. She highlights the need for awareness and education among parents and practitioners, offering guidance on identifying signs of compromised sleep and seeking appropriate care.

• 00:00 Introduction to Pediatric Airway Health
• 01:04 Signs of Compromised Pediatric Sleep
• 01:54 The Role of Oral Facial Growth and Development
• 03:00 Case Study: Lillian's Transformation
• 05:42 Case Study: Dylan's Journey
• 07:58 Comprehensive Approach to Airway Health
• 10:07 Personal Story: Dr. Gandhi's Daughter
• 14:53 Conclusion and Call to Action

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The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures.

If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development.

Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS

BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST

Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | YouTube | Website

Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi:

• Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/
• Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory

The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi is a groundbreaking podcast dedicated to one of the most overlooked foundations of childhood health: breathing.

Hosted by Dr. Piya Gandhi, DDS—functional pediatric dentist and airway health advocate—this show explores the vital connection between oral development, jaw growth, sleep, and overall wellness. From mouth breathing and snoring to pediatric sleep apnea, Dr. Gandhi breaks down the science in a way that parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals can easily understand and apply.

Each episode brings together real stories from families, practical screening strategies, and insights from leading experts across medicine, dentistry, and therapy. The goal is simple: to empower you with the knowledge to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and to take proactive steps that can change a child’s life.

If you’re a parent who wants to understand your child’s health on a deeper level, or a practitioner looking to expand your knowledge in pediatric airway health, you’ll find this podcast a trusted resource and supportive community. Together, we’ll uncover how proper breathing leads to better sleep, stronger development, and healthier futures for our children.

Helping kids breathe better, sleep deeper, and grow healthier.

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The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures.

If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development.

Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS

BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST

Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | YouTube | Website

Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi:

• Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/
• Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory