🌿 Ready to get to the root of your oral health? 👉 Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course 👉 Book Your Personalized Consultation with Dr. Carver

In this episode of Oral Health: The Root of the Matter, Dr. Rachaele Carver sits down with Karese Laguerre, registered dental hygienist and myofunctional therapist, founder of The Myo Spot. Karese's journey into myofunctional therapy started at home, with four kids whose struggles, ranging from ADHD and bedwetting to chronic ear infections and sleep issues, turned out to have one surprising thing in common: airway.

What unfolded was a story that so many parents will recognize. And what Karese discovered changed everything for her family, and for the families she now helps every day.

4 THINGS YOU'LL TAKE AWAY FROM THIS EPISODE

• Your child's "common" symptoms may not be normal. Bedwetting, teeth grinding, mouth breathing, crowding, and chronic ear infections can all point to an underlying airway issue, and there's a lot more that can be done than waiting it out or reaching for a prescription.
• There's a 70% overlap between sleep deprivation in children and ADHD symptoms. That's not a small detail. It's a conversation worth having with your child's provider before trying a fourth medication.
• Myofunctional therapy is not just exercises. It's a step-by-step process of retraining the muscles of the face, jaw, and tongue, in the right order, for lasting change. Think of it like physical therapy for the mouth.
• It's never too late, but earlier is easier. Whether you're looking at a five-year-old or a forty-year-old with TMJ, the body has an incredible capacity to adapt and heal. Starting sooner just means a shorter road.

WHAT THEY COVER

Dr. Carver and Karese unpack what myofunctional therapy actually is, and why so many people have never heard of it until something goes wrong. They talk about the four pillars of healthy oral function, nose breathing, lips closed at rest, tongue resting on the palate, and teeth slightly apart, and why getting these right from an early age can shape everything from jaw development to immune health to anxiety levels.

RESOURCES + GUEST INFO

Karese Laguerre, RDH Myofunctional Therapist | Founder, The Myo Spot Serving patients in-person in New Jersey and Florida, and virtually worldwide 🌐 www.themyospot.com | Free consultations available

READY TO GO DEEPER?

If this episode had you thinking about your own health or your child's, check out Dr. Carver's 6-Week Gum Disease Course

👉 Join the course here

Or if you want a personalized plan, book a one-on-one consultation. 👉 Book your consultation

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner. Before using any products mentioned or attempting methods discussed, please speak with a licensed healthcare provider. This podcast disclaims responsibility from any possible adverse reactions associated with products or methods discussed. Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests. We do not provide guarantees about the guests' qualifications or credibility. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

Gum disease can look quiet while it drives loud inflammation throughout the body. We sit down with Dr. Alex Volchinuk, Biologic Board Certified Periodontist & Oral Implantologist, to unpack what’s really behind bleeding gums, gum recession and bone loss and why the story isn’t just “brush and floss.” We talk about the oral microbiome, genetic susceptibility and the immune response that can turn everyday bacteria into a chronic, bone-resorbing problem.

From there, we get practical about regeneration. Dr Volchinuk explains modern periodontal treatments designed to rebuild support around teeth, including minimally invasive pinhole gum rejuvenation for recession and laser-assisted new attachment approaches that aim to remove toxic burden and help the body heal with its own clot and biology. We also tackle the part most people miss: biofilm. If you’ve tried oil pulling, ozone or rinses and still feel stuck, you’ll hear why hardened biofilm can block penetration and why professional disruption plus the right home routine matters.

Finally, we dive into dental implants, peri-implantitis and how to stack the odds in your favour. We compare titanium vs zirconia ceramic (zirconia) implants, including plaque resistance, aesthetics and concerns around corrosion and titanium particle release in an acidic, inflamed environment. We also cover smart pre-implant prep: controlling periodontal disease first, checking inflammation, blood sugar and vitamin D, and using better diagnostics like salivary testing and CBCT 3D imaging to catch hidden infections early. If you want implant longevity, better bone health and fewer surprises, this conversation gives you a clear roadmap. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s considering implants and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

Connect with Dr. Volchonok

Practice Name:
My Tetra Health

Website:
www.mytetrahealth.com

Phone:
929-293-0200

Social Media:
Instagram: @MyTetraHealth

Office Locations:
• Upper East Side, New York City
• Greenwich, Connecticut

Consultations Offered:
• In-person consultations
• Virtual consultations

Connect with Dr. Carver

Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course: https://reversegumdiseaseinsixweeks.info/optinpage

Book Your Personalized Consultation: https://calendly.com/drcarver-1/health-coaching-consult?month=2025-10

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner. Before using any products mentioned or attempting methods discussed, please speak with a licensed healthcare provider. This podcast disclaims responsibility from any possible adverse reactions associated with products or methods discussed. Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests. We do not provide guarantees about the guests' qualifications or credibility. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

Feeling unwell while your labs keep saying “normal”? We take a practical, empowering path: reading your hands as a living dashboard. By mapping each finger to organ systems and decoding nail clues—ridges, half-moons, shapes, and white spots—we connect everyday signals to gut health, liver load, circulation, adrenals, and immune balance. It’s a grounded, actionable guide to asking better questions and choosing the right next step.

We walk through the thumb-to-pinky organ map popularized by Roger Bezanis—thumb for gut, pointer for liver and gallbladder, middle for heart and lungs, ring for kidneys and adrenals, pinky for brain and immunity—and show how localized skin flares or joint tenderness can direct your focus. You’ll learn why nail ridges often mean absorption issues, how missing half-moons may flag poor microcirculation, and why liquid minerals can outperform capsules when stomach acid is low. We also share a simple baking soda burp test to screen for hypochlorhydria and explain how digestive enzymes help both at meals and between meals to support nutrient breakdown, thin thick blood, and ease joint congestion.

Along the way, we touch on white nail spots and potential dairy reactions, nail tips that flip up as a parasite clue—especially around full moons—and how unusual nail shapes may nudge you toward targeted cardiac or kidney checks. The goal isn’t to self-diagnose; it’s to sharpen your lens so you can pair smart self-observation with the right functional tests when needed. If you’ve struggled with chronic skin issues, fatigue, or “mystery” symptoms, this walk-through offers simple, at-home ways to tune into your body and make progress without guesswork.

We share a simple way to spot root causes that labs often miss by reading signs in your fingers and nails. From gut and liver stress to circulation and low stomach acid, we show how to translate hand clues into practical next steps.

• mapping each finger to organ systems
• nails, ridges, and nutrient absorption
• missing half moons and circulation
• thick blood, enzymes, and movement
• low stomach acid and the baking soda test
• white spots, dairy reactions, and hormones
• nail shapes, parasites, and timing cleanses
• choosing minerals and when liquids help
• targeting tests based on visible signs

If you found this helpful, follow the show, share it with someone who needs answers, and leave a review to help others discover it. Want personalized support? Tap the link in the show notes to book a 1:1 consultation and let’s map your path to lasting health together.

Connect with Dr. Carver

Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course: https://reversegumdiseaseinsixweeks.info/optinpage

Book Your Personalized Consultation: https://calendly.com/drcarver-1/health-coaching-consult?month=2025-10

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner. Before using any products mentioned or attempting methods discussed, please speak with a licensed healthcare provider. This podcast disclaims responsibility from any possible adverse reactions associated with products or methods discussed. Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests. We do not provide guarantees about the guests' qualifications or credibility. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.