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 Body Patterns for Better Breathing, Jaw Function, and Posture
08:42 Fascia 101: The Body-Wide Connection from Tongue Tension to Movement Issues
10:18 When Ties Keep Pulling Things Back: Compensation Patterns + Her Daughter’s Posterior Tie
11:25 Airway, Palate Expansion, and Whole-Body Alignment (Jaw–Pelvis Link, Growth & Hormones)
13:31 Chiropracti

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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

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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:
  • https://www.instagram.com/integrative_myo/

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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

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