Are you seeing dark circles under your child’s eyes? Do they sleep with their mouth open, or have you noticed they’ve started snoring? While often dismissed as "cute" or just a phase, these are actually red flags for a quiet epidemic affecting the development of our children.

In this episode of The Wellness Path, Dr. Vic Manzo dives deep into the intricate relationship between oral function, cranial structure, and the nervous system. He breaks down why the tongue is the "internal architect" of the face and how early intervention can prevent a lifetime of health hurdles.

• The Internal Architect: Why breastfeeding is about more than just nutrients—it’s a workout that shapes the hard palate and skull.
• The Cranial Connection: How birth trauma (C-sections, forceps, or prolonged labor) can shift the sphenoid and occiput bones, impacting the nerves that control the tongue.
• The Neurological Cascade: How mouth breathing traps a child in Sympathetic Overdrive (fight-or-flight), potentially leading to symptoms that mimic ADHD and sensory processing issues.
• The Nitric Oxide Factor: The vital role of nasal breathing in oxygenating the brain and supporting the immune system to prevent chronic ear infections and enlarged tonsils.
• A Collaborative Path to Healing: Why Dr. Vic works alongside lactation consultants and airway-focused dentists to restore "vagal tone" and help the body self-regulate.

• [02:25] Anatomy of the tongue: Why a "high, narrow palate" isn't just genetic—it's structural.
• [04:50] The Hypoglossal Nerve: Understanding how the top of the neck controls the bottom of the tongue.
• [07:11] Nasal vs. Mouth Breathing: The science of Nitric Oxide and brain oxygenation.
• [12:01] Birth Trauma & TOTS: How "Tethered Oral Tissues" (tongue and lip ties) affect the nervous system.
• [16:47] The ADHD Link: Why fragmented sleep from poor airway health leads to prefrontal cortex dysfunction.
• [23:48] Beyond Braces: Why you should see a chiropractor before starting a dental palate expander.
• 
  

If you are noticing these "allergic shiners," mouth breathing, or restless sleep in your child, don't wait for them to "grow out of it." Let’s ensure their nervous system is in a state of growth, not survival.

Book an Appointment: If you live in the Knoxville, Maryville, or Morristown area:

• Text us: 865.214.7438
• Schedule Online: thewellnesspath.janeapp.com

Have Questions? Reach out via text at the number above or email us at info@wellnesspathchiro.com.

Follow the Journey: Stay updated with holistic health tips and office news on social media:

• Instagram: @wellnesspathchiro
• Facebook: @wellnesspathchiro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mouth breathing isn’t a habit—it’s a warning sign.

In this episode, Dr. Vic Manzo uncovers the hidden neurological and structural issues behind mouth breathing, weak tongue posture, snoring, and poor sleep in children. Learn why these signs point to deeper nervous system stress, how birth trauma and tongue ties play a role, and why the brain will choose mouth breathing as a survival strategy.

Dr. Manzo breaks down the neurological cascade linking airway dysfunction to sleep problems, ADHD-like symptoms, sensory processing issues, and immune challenges—and explains how addressing the nervous system can shift kids out of fight-or-flight and into growth mode.

If you’re a parent, this episode will change how you see breathing, sleep, and childhood development.

Follow us for more:

IG: @WellnessPathChiro

FB: @WellnessPathChiro

YT: @WellnessPathChiro

Live in the Knoxville/Maryville/Morristown Area:

If you are looking for support for your child and want them to be evaluated, you can:

1. Text us at 865-214-7438
2. Send us a request online: www.WellnessPathChiro.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are so many children today overstimulated, anxious, and struggling with focus, coordination, and emotional regulation? The answer may lie in a hidden, unresolved issue from their earliest days of life. In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Vic Manzo, a certified pediatric chiropractor, pulls back the curtain on Primitive Reflexes—the survival reflexes every baby is born with that are supposed to "turn off" as the brain develops.

Dr. Vic reveals how a stressful birth process or early trauma can cause these reflexes to stay "stuck" or active, creating a domino effect that disrupts your child's entire neurological development. He breaks down the four critical layers of brain development and explains how a single stuck reflex can lead to challenges in balance (vestibular), hand-eye coordination (ocular), and even language, cognition, and behavior.

If your child has been labeled as clumsy, anxious, or struggling with focus, this episode provides a powerful, hopeful new perspective. Learn how specific, gentle chiropractic care, combined with primitive reflex integration, can help "reset" the nervous system, close the "brain gap," and help your child not just cope, but truly thrive.

• (00:00) - The Overstimulated Child: What We're Seeing Today
• (02:23) - What Are Primitive Reflexes?
• (04:15) - The Birth Process: Where It All Begins
• (09:00) - The Domino Effect: From Dysregulation to Labels
• (10:59) - The 4 Layers of Brain Development
• (15:35) - The Game-Changer: Integrating Reflex Work with Chiropractic
• (20:26) - A Real-Life Transformation: From Social Anxiety to School Excitement

What you just learned isn't just information; it's a potential turning point for your child. The struggles with anxiety, focus, coordination, or emotional regulation don't have to be your child's "normal." There is a root cause, and more importantly, there is a solution.

If you listened to this and saw your child in this story, it's time to take the next step. Your intuition that something deeper is going on is correct. Let's get you the answers and the help you deserve.

Here is exactly what to do:

1. If you are in the Knoxville, Maryville, or Morristown area and are ready to have your child's nervous system assessed, this is your first step. We will perform a specific, scientific evaluation to identify any stuck reflexes or neurological interference. Don't wait. Book your initial appointment now at thewellnesspath.janeapp.com.
2. If you have questions or want to see if this approach is right for your child, we are here to help. Text us directly at 865-214-7438. Let's have a conversation about your child's specific challenges and how we can create a plan to help them thrive.
3. If you are outside of our Tennessee service area, we have a trusted network of certified pediatric chiropractors nationwide and internationally. Text us at the number above, and we will do our best to connect you with a qualified provider in your area.
4. For ongoing support, education, and empowering content for parents, follow us on social media. Find us on Facebook and Instagram at @wellnesspathchiro for daily insights into raising healthy, resilient kids.

You are your child's greatest advocate. Trust your gut. Take that first step today.

Thank you for listening. I'm Dr. Vic Manzo. Until next time, keep believing in your child's potential.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.