SARASOTA, Fla. — Accredited cosmetic dentist and co-owner of World Class Dentistry® in Sarasota, Dr. Jill Morris, is spreading the word on the dangers of mouth breathing one chapter at a time.
Dr. Morris recently co-authored the book “Stories that Heal,” which is a collaborative collection of stories designed to encourage, inspire and heal. In her chapter, “A Deadly Compromise,” Dr. Morris discusses the topic of mouth breathing and the problems associated with the condition.
Often a result of processed foods, allergies and the use of pacifiers, among other contributing factors, mouth breathing can lead to sleep apnea, attention problems and trouble focusing as well as facial changes such as narrow elongated lower faces, retruded chins and crooked teeth, if not corrected early on.
“When you breathe through your mouth, you don’t filter the air properly,” says Dr. Morris, who was a mouth breather herself as a child. “What happens is the child doesn’t get enough oxygen to the organs and the brain, so they don’t sleep well.”
If the condition goes unnoticed, children are more likely to have to have teeth pulled to make room for their adult teeth and to get braces. Although Dr. Morris says mouth breathing can be easily reversed with a few simple steps.
At World Class Dentistry, Dr. Morris and her team work with children as young as 4 years old to help correct the problem by teaching them to how to stand properly, proper tongue position and most importantly how to breathe through their noses. Through the program, Dr. Morris has been able to help children eliminate the need for braces by allowing their dental arches to grow and expand.
“It’s an overall big health issue,” Dr. Morris says. “Basically any child with crooked teeth has this problem. It’s become normal now in the U.S.”
“Stories that Heal”, which was published in March, is available on Amazon for $19.95.
About World Class Dentistry
Dr. Jill Morris opened the doors to World Class Dentistry® in 1987. She and her husband, Dr. Burr Bakke, have 60 years of combined talent and expertise. With advanced training and the latest equipment, the doctors are leaders in the field and teach many pioneering techniques. The team at World Class Dentistry can comprehensively treat a patient with a multitude of issues at the Sarasota facility, which maintains the quality control and streamlines treatment. With a focus on individualized patient care and connection, the doctors and their on-site dental laboratory technician offer implant surgery, cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, biological dentistry and more.
Located at 3951 Swift Road in Sarasota, World Class Dentistry is one of only a small number of area practices that have a Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramic (CEREC), which is a machine that enables the doctors to fabricate and place exceptional restorations right in their Sarasota office. For more information, visit SarasotaDentist.com or call 941-451-5543.
About Dr. Jill Morris
Dr. Jill Morris has been in private practice for over 30 years in the Sarasota area. She is the only accredited cosmetic dentist with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® in Sarasota. Dr. Morris achieved the accreditation, a privilege shared by only 450 dentists worldwide, in 1999. She is a fellow of the International Academy of Dental Facial Esthetics and a past scientific editor of dental journals. She has been a test consultant on dental products for most of the major dental manufacturing companies.
She has trained internationally in facial plastics with Botox® and dermal fillers. Dr. Morris helped pioneer the dental facelift and is one of the few practitioners trained in the use of the facial cannula for dermal fillers. Her practice was featured in the book “How to Create and Exceptional Aesthetic Practice” written by Dr. Nate Booth and Dr. Bill Dickerson. She has taught at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute’s post doctorate teaching facility and lectured nationally on topics of cosmetics and adhesive dentistry.
Dr. Morris earned a degree in naturopathic medicine from the American College of Integrative Medicine and Dentistry. As an integrative dentist, she is a member of the Holistic Dental Association. Trained by pioneer Hal Huggins, her practice follows safe mercury removal as a member of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.