Understand the Connection Between TMJ, Sleep, and Airway Health | Episode 71 with Dr. Emily Levy

Emily Levy is a dentist at Billings Family Dentistry, and she joins us for a third, deeper conversation on TMJ, this time focusing on sleep and sleep-breathing disorders. We dig into why so many symptoms are dismissed as “normal” simply because they’re common, and how sleep issues are frequently missed in both medical and dental care. Emily breaks down how airway obstruction, neurologic regulation, and craniofacial structure all intersect with TMJ, pain, and overall health, and why proper screening matters for both kids and adults.We also talk through the real-world signs of sleep-breathing disorders, from snoring misconceptions and bruxism to behavioral issues, anxiety, learning challenges, and bedwetting in kids. Emily explains why quick fixes like night guards or tonsillectomy alone often miss the root problem, and how early, functional intervention can lead to meaningful improvements in sleep, development, and quality of life. This conversation is essential listening for parents, caregivers, and providers who want to better understand the connection between sleep, TMJ, and long-term health.Join Dr. Lauren LaRose, psychiatrist and mom of three, as she brings on experts in mental health, physical health and education and explores ideas outside the traditional medical model. The Little Brain Campaign aims to make issues kids and caregivers face easier to understand, while always keeping in mind that we need to look beyond the usual answers to find what really works.Follow The Little Brain CampaignInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thelittlebraincampaign/⁠