Buteyko Clinic International

Struggling with sleep apnea, poor sleep, or CPAP that doesn’t seem to fix everything? In this powerful conversation, Dr. David McCarty, author of Empowered Sleep Apnea, joins Patrick to unpack a new way of understanding and treating sleep apnea. Instead of treating sleep apnea as a simple “CPAP problem,” Dr. McCarty explains why it’s really a complex constellation of moving parts: Unstable breathing during sleep (obstructive + central sleep apnea) Mouth breathing vs nose breathing Craniofacial development (narrow palate, jaw position, tongue posture) Functional breathing and myofunctional therapy Posture, position, and lifestyle factors In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the traditional “label-based” approach (you have sleep apnea, here’s a CPAP) often fails How diagnostic thresholds (AHI, RERAs, oxygen desaturations) can miss real sleep-breathing problems The difference between obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea physiology How mouth breathing at night destabilizes breathing, drops CO₂ too low, and worsens airway collapse Why nose breathing, nitric oxide, and better diaphragm recruitment can help stabilize the upper airway The role of asthma, nasal obstruction, and inflammation in worsening sleep apnea How craniofacial development, narrow jaws, and tongue posture affect airway size Why the future of sleep medicine is collaborative: medicine, dentistry, myofunctional therapy, and breathing education working together What “narrative-based medicine” means and why your personal story matters more than just your AHI score If you or someone you love has sleep apnea, snores, wakes unrefreshed, or has been told “your AHI is normal” but you still feel awful, this discussion will give you a deeper framework to understand what’s really going on — and where new solutions may come from. Key Topics: - Empowered Sleep Apnea & Dr. David McCarty’s approach - Limitations of standard sleep studies and AHI-based diagnosis CPAP: when it helps, when it’s not the full answer - Nasal breathing vs mouth breathing during sleep - Loop gain / central apnea physiology explained in simple language - Functional breathing, posture, and myofunctional therapy - Airway-focused dentistry, craniofacial development, and high narrow palate - The need for interdisciplinary collaboration in sleep medicine #sleepapnea #cpap #sleephealth #nosebreathing #mouthbreathing #functionalbreathing #myofunctionaltherapy #snoring #sleepmedicine #drdavidmccarty #empoweredsleepapnea #airway #asthma #nasalbreathing #healthpodcast #breathing #sleepdisorders #restorativesleep #sleepbetter

Are mouth breathing, poor sleep, and dental problems silently sabotaging your health? In this powerful conversation, Patrick McKeown (Buteyko breathing expert and author) sits down with Dr. Staci Whitman, a pediatric and functional dentist, to reveal how your airway, oral microbiome, and breathing habits can shape your sleep, energy, brain, and long-term health.
You’ll learn:
Why mouth breathing can increase your risk of cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and chronic illness
The critical difference between nasal breathing vs mouth breathing for sleep, performance, and recovery
How the oral microbiome links your mouth to your gut, brain, hormones, and immune system
Why so many dentists miss airway and sleep issues (and what functional dentistry does differently)
How children’s facial growth, adenoids, tonsils, and tongue posture affect their sleep and behavior
Why teen trends like “mewing” and jawline optimization accidentally tapped into real airway science
The hidden problem of sleep-disordered breathing in women and upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS)
Practical steps: mouth taping, myofunctional therapy, nasal hygiene, and airway-focused dental care If you or your child struggle with: Snoring, mouth breathing, or dry mouth at night
Frequent cavities despite “doing everything right”
Brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, or poor recovery from exercise
ADHD-like symptoms, restless sleep, or dark circles under the eyes …this episode will help you connect the dots between your breathing, sleep, dental health, and whole-body wellness.
🔔 Subscribe for more deep-dive conversations on breathing, sleep, airway health, and functional dentistry.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro – Why this dentist changed how she practices 3:30 What functional dentistry really is
10:20 Mouth breathing, jaw growth & teen “mewing”
15:50 Oral microbiome, cavities & chronic disease
21:00 Mouth taping, nasal breathing & saliva
27:00 Kids, adenoids, tonsils & airway-first dentistry
34:00 Sleep studies, UARS & why women get missed
41:00 The future of dentistry & the airway revolution
#mouthbreathing #nasalbreathing #functionaldentistry #airwaydentistry #dentalairway #oralmicrobiome #sleepapnea#sleepdisorderedbreathing #upperairwayresistancesyndrome#UARS #Buteykobreathing #PatrickMcKeown #DrStaciWhitman #pediatricdentist #holisticdentistry #biologicaldentist

In this NEW episode of the Buteyko Clinic Podcast, Patrick McKeown speaks with Professor Dave Singh (Stanford, craniofacial sleep medicine) about why the upper airway is a living system—not just a pipe—and how this controls sleep, breathing, and long‑term health. We cover: What good sleep really is (beyond “8 hours in bed”) Upper airway homeostasis – why the airway behaves like a dynamic, self‑regulating system Sleep apnea causes: craniofacial structure, obesity, neurology, muscle tone and more Tongue posture & nasal breathing – why waking up with your tongue on the palate matters Children’s sleep: bedwetting, grinding, mouth breathing, pacifiers, tongue‑tie & development Women’s sleep & UARS (Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome) – the subtle, underdiagnosed side of sleep‑disordered breathing Chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, insomnia & sleep fragmentation Hormones, melatonin, growth hormone, cortisol and weight gain when sleep is disrupted Breathing retraining: nasal breathing, diaphragm function, nitric oxide and loop gain Cultural insights: didgeridoo, conch shells, bagpipes and airway vibration for sleep apnea The future of integrative craniofacial sleep medicine and accessible, affordable care worldwide
🔍 Who this episode is for People with snoring, sleep apnea, UARS, insomnia or unrefreshing sleep Women with chronic fatigue, pain, “normal” sleep studies but poor sleep Parents worried about children’s sleep, mouth breathing, bedwetting or teeth grinding Dentists, orthodontists, ENTs, sleep physicians, OMTs, breathing instructors & therapists Anyone interested in breathing retraining, nasal breathing and airway-focused dentistry
📅 Professor Dave Singh’s London Event Craniofacial Sleep Medicine – London, UK
📅 May 1–2
🔗 More info & registration: https://rema-sleep.com/product/sleep-medicine-london-2026/
🔗 Resources & Links Professor Dave Singh – REMA Sleep: https://rema-sleep.com Buteyko Clinic & breathing retraining: www.buteykoclinic.com
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Introduction & Prof. Dave Singh’s background
4:20 – Why sleep is central to human health
8:00 – Upper airway homeostasis explained
13:30 – Causes of airway collapse & sleep apnea
20:00 – Tongue posture, breastfeeding, pacifiers & development
27:30 – Women, UARS & underdiagnosed sleep disorders
36:00 – Sleep hygiene, blue light, diet & nervous system
45:30 – Hormones, weight, growth hormone & cortisol
52:30 – Breathing retraining, nasal breathing & nitric oxide
1:02:00 – Didgeridoo, conch, bagpipes & airway vibration
1:10:00 – Future of integrative craniofacial sleep medicine
1:18:00 – Dave’s London course & closing thoughts

Breathing plays a critical role in mental health, stress, and anxiety. In this talk for IMMH, Patrick McKeown, founder of the Buteyko Clinic, explains why up to 75% of people with anxiety and panic disorders experience dysfunctional breathing patterns.
Patrick explores how chronic stress leads to over-breathing, mouth breathing, and irregular breathing habits that can trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response. He explains the role of the brain’s pre-Bötzinger complex in regulating breathing and how fast, shallow breathing can negatively impact the nervous system, sleep quality, focus, and emotional regulation.
You’ll learn why generic breathing advice doesn’t work for everyone, and how Buteyko breathing techniques—including nose breathing, reduced breathing, and gentle breath holds—can help retrain your breathing for better mental performance, calmer states, and improved sleep.
This evidence-based presentation includes:
- The link between breathing dysfunction and anxiety
- How breathing affects the default mode network
- Why nose breathing is essential for mental health
- Practical Buteyko Clinic breathing exercises to reduce stress
- How to improve breathing patterns for long-term wellbeing
Whether you’re struggling with stress, panic attacks, poor sleep, or simply want to improve your breathing efficiency, this talk offers practical tools to help you breathe better and live better.
👉 Learn more about the Buteyko Method and breathing for mental health at Buteyko Clinic
👉 Subscribe for expert insights on breathing, anxiety reduction, and optimal health #buteykomethod #buteykohealth #breathingexercises #patrickmckeown #buteyko #breathingtechniques #breathwork

Join Patrick McKeown at the Vienna Airway Congress 2025 as he shares his powerful journey from childhood asthma to becoming a leading authority on breathing. Discover the surprising impact of nasal breathing on sleep, cognitive function, and overall health. Learn practical exercises and actionable advice for transforming your well-being—starting with your next breath!