179 - Rethink Your Child's Smile: How Oral Health Impacts Everything with Dr. Rafif Tayara
This week on Sense by Meg Faure, we're joined by leading pediatric dentist Dr. Rafif Tayara to explore the powerful and often-overlooked connection between your child's mouth and their overall health. This conversation goes far beyond just teeth, revealing how oral habits can impact everything from sleep and behavior to long-term well-being.Key discussion points include:The Red Flag of Mouth Breathing: Learn why it's not normal for a child to breathe through their mouth while sleeping and how it can be a sign of underlying issues like allergies, tongue ties, or airway obstructions.Early Oral Hygiene: When should you start brushing your baby's teeth (or gums!)? Dr. Tayara provides a clear timeline, from cleaning newborn gums with gauze to introducing a toothbrush and a smear of toothpaste.Toddler Toothbrushing Battles: Get expert tips on how to manage a toddler who resists brushing, including the potential benefits of an electric toothbrush.Diet, Sugar & Juice: We discuss the impact of diet on oral health, why "100% organic" juice can still be problematic, and why eating a whole fruit is always better than drinking its juice.The Paediatric Dentist Difference: Understand the importance of early, positive dental visits and how a pediatric specialist is trained to manage children's health, behavior, and potential phobias.This is a must-listen for any parent who wants to raise a healthy, well-rested child, starting from the inside out.About Our Guest:Dr. Rafif Tayara is the co-founder of JuniorDental in Dubai and was voted “Best Pediatric Dentist 2025.” She is an international speaker, author, and mum of three with 16 years of experience in Pediatric Dentistry and Early Orthodontics. Dr. Tayara offers functional and integrative oral health care with a focus on the whole-body health of babies and children, and is highly skilled in treating special needs children. Her book, "Danny and Sarah go to Dr Smile," prepares young children for their first dental visit.Episode References and Links:Find Dr. Rafif Tayara: @drtayara and @juniordental.ae on Instagram📱 Parent Sense App – Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. Download it here.CONNECT WITH MEG FAUREWeb: megfaure.comSocial Media Channels: Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/MegFaure.Sense Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megfaure.sense/Parent Sense mobile app:Download Parent Sense App Web: https://parentsense.app/I hope you enjoyed this episode of SENSE BY Meg Faure! If you want to support or follow the podcast, here’s how:Subscribe, or listen on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5* rating and review on Apple PodcastsFollow my social media channels or sign up to my mailing listFor episode feedback & suggestions, or to nominate yourself or a friend to appear as a guest on the show, please email
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