It's time dentistry and medicine start working as one.

Elevate your understanding of oral-systemic connections and what drives disease in our bodies.

Let's grow together

Case Reports ● Blog ● Resources

Intentions

My goal is to create a comprehensive learning platform for sharing cases

and having open and constructive conversations that help providers & patients increase their understanding of all things oral and systemic health.

Big news!

I am now a Certificate Holder in Oral Systemic Education through the National Network of Healthcare Hygienists!

Why is this important?
The Oral Systemic Educator Certificate Program™ has been accredited by ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), the largest multi-disciplinary accreditation body in the western hemisphere, marking it as the first dental certificate program in the world to receive such recognition.

Read more

What now?
With this certificate, I am able to collaborate with hospitals and medical clinics to develop screening, assessment, and preventive care protocols focused on oral health in various healthcare settings.

The impact this will have on patients and our healthcare system as a whole can (and should) be life-changing for many, both in terms of whole-body health & financial stability. Stay tuned for updates!

Interested in working together on a pilot program for oral-systemic integration? Email me at rootccauserdh@gmail.com

Watch my free, on-demand webinar hosted by the Integrative Dental Medicine Scholar Society Study Club!

Follow along @root.cause.resolutions

👪 As a parent of three kids with oral ties, I’ve been there.

"They can stick their tongue out. They’re fine."

"All babies struggle with nursing to start. They have to learn how to eat. Give it more time."

"You just have a colicky baby."

💥 I’ve had healthcare providers in top-ranking positions at nationally recognized hospitals tell me directly, “My opinion is that oral ties aren’t a real thing. It’s a fad...” and then proceed to assess for oral ties in arbitrary, completely unproven ways.

This is when I have to hold my tongue & do my best to politely tell them ➡️ "If you don’t know, don’t say no!!!!" ⬅️

📚 I’ve gone as far as purchasing books and printing research articles that I gave to providers at follow-up visits for my children...who magically had their symptoms improved after their oral ties were released “against medical advice” from the provider who deemed my children to be “just fine.”

👩‍🏫 So trust me when I say this - I am not a provider to ignore the concerns of patients and parents. I will help you find new providers who are able to drop their ego and pick up a book.

Healthcare providers:
The research in support of oral ties is there.
Find it.
Read it.
Do better.

#rootcause #airway #tonguetie #wholebodyhealth #sleep #sleepapnea #bedwettingsolution #snoring #tmjdisorder #oralsystemichealth #health #healthcare #rdh #airwaymanagement #myofunctionaltherapy #airwaydentistry

💤 Sleep-disordered breathing puts stress on the body at a time when it should be relaxing, resetting, and restoring.

For patients with upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) or sleep apnea, this stress on the system often shows itself through clenching and grinding of the teeth.

➡️These habits result in wear on the teeth, cracked teeth, and can lead to facial muscle and/or jaw pain.

While chronic high stress may also impact clenching and grinding habits, it’s important to understand that an undiagnosed airway disorder could also impact sleep and overall health. This is why every patient should be screened for airway dysfunction!

🌐 Check out my blog to learn more & explore my website for free downloadable airway screening forms that can be used chairside.

#rdh #rootcause #airway #airwaymanagement #myofunctionaltherapy #wholebodyhealth #stress #sleep #sleepapnea #tonguetie #snoring #oralhealth #oralhealthcare #oralsystemichealth #dentalhygienemonth #education #awareness

🎓 I completed the next step in my professional life, and I am now a Certificate Holder in Oral Systemic Education (CH-OSE) through the National Network of Healthcare Hygienists. @healthcarehygienists

This certificate fills a gap between my bachelor's degree and a master's degree, and it puts me a step closer to helping the Midwest work towards improved interdisciplinary, whole-body care.

🪥At a time when the profession of dental hygiene is being put at risk - and during National Dental Hygiene Month - I'm excited for the next chapter of my career to start! With the outreach I am working towards, my goal is to educate healthcare providers in all fields on the importance of preventative oral healthcare and the impact dental hygienists can have on so many factors of life.

Stay tuned for more! I have several things I'm working on right now, and I'm excited to share when they're finalized.

#rdh #rootcause #wholebodyhealth #dentalhygiene #standardofcare #oralhealth #oralsystemichealth #wholebodyhealth #myofunctionaltherapy #airway #airwaymanagement #dentalhygienemonth #education #awareness

💕 A whole day dedicated to raising awareness for airway health!! My favorite kind of day.

#myofunctionaltherapy #rootcause #airway #airwaymanagement #wholebodyhealth #sleep #sleepapnea #bedwettingsolution #snoring #tmjdisorder #oralsystemichealth #rdh

While the endothelium’s responsiveness to nitric oxide doesn’t change as we age, the level of nitric oxide (NO) is available and the body’s ability to generate nitric oxide declines, especially around age 40.

🏃‍♀️Exercise and a nitrate-rich diet are natural ways to support optimal levels of NO.

Foods that support bioavailable NO levels:
➡️ Beets
➡️ Garlic
➡️ Citrus Fruits
➡️ Leafy greens
➡️ Cabbage
➡️ Cauliflower
➡️ Carrots
➡️ Broccoli
➡️ Nuts and seeds

✍️ Check my blog to learn more about nitric oxide and its impact on systemic health.

#dentalhygienist #dentalhygiene #rdh #nitricoxide #microbiome #periodontaldisease #health #healthcare #rootcause #inflammation #oralhealth #oralhealthcare #oralsystemichealth #wholebodyhealth #awareness #standardofcare #biofilm #oralbiofilm

Endothelial dysfunction is a condition where the lining of the blood vessels (endothelium) doesn’t function properly, and it is an early indicator of cardiovascular risk.

Having insufficient systemic levels of nitric oxide causes endothelial dysfunction via
➡️ Impaired vasodilation
➡️ Increased oxidative stress
➡️ Damage to the endothelium
➡️ Reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide
➡️ Disrupted vascular homeostasis

By reducing blood vessel relaxation, increasing oxidative stress, and impairing the protection of the endothelium from damage, atherosclerosis, hypertension & cardiovascular diseases develop.

❤️ Early intervention of endothelial dysfunction can help prevent the development of more serious cardiovascular diseases & events, such as a heart attack or stroke.

✍️ Check my blog to learn more about nitric oxide and its impact on systemic health.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cardiores.2004.06.020
PMID: 34829799
PMID: 36118034

#dentalhygienist #dentalhygiene #rdh #nitricoxide #microbiome #periodontaldisease #health #healthcare #rootcause #inflammation #oralhealth #oralhealthcare #oralsystemichealth #wholebodyhealth #awareness #standardofcare #biofilm #oralbiofilm

Nitric oxide (NO) is a powerful molecule and is essential for optimal oral and systemic health.

The human body produces NO in two ways:
➡️ The endogenous pathway uses enzymes and an oxidative pathway known as Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) to produce NO.

There are three main enzymes in this pathway, and each has a specific role
🟣 Neuronal NOS acts as a neurotransmitter & is neuroprotective
🟣 Inducible NOS is activated by inflammation & the immune response
🟣 Endothelial NOS is involved in the control of vascular function and tone

➡️ The non-enzymatic pathway focuses on dietary intake of nitrate-rich foods, which are processed via the Nitrate-Nitrite-Nitric Oxide Pathway and enter into enterosalivary circulation to produce an end-product of NO.

‼️BONUS: Nasal breathing and exercise also impact NO production!

✍️ Check out my blog to learn more about this miracle molecule.
Www.rootcauseresolutionsllc.com

🔗 Link in bio

#dentalhygienist #dentalhygiene #rdh #nitricoxide #microbiome #periodontaldisease #health #healthcare #rootcause #inflammation #oralhealth #oralhealthcare #oralsystemichealth #wholebodyhealth #awareness #standardofcare #biofilm #oralbiofilm

‼️ Are you still recommending chlorhexidine gluconate and other antimicrobial mouthwashes? If so, it's time to update your protocols!!

➡️ The impacts these products have do more harm than good, and there are alternatives available. It's 2025. Let's start using protocols that follow current research.

💫 Comment below - what are your favorite oral care products that *support* a healthy oral microbiome, not kill it?

Some of my favorites:
@mysupermouth
@stellalifehealing
@shoprivenofficial
@probiorahealth
@biogaiausa

✍️ Check out my blog post on antimicrobial mouthwash to learn more. ❓️Have questions? Head to my forum & let's chat!

🔗 Link in bio

#rdh #rootcause #microbiome #periodontaldisease #saliva #dentalhygiene #standardofcare #oralhealth #oralsystemichealth #health #biofilm #oralbiofilm #airway #airwaymanagement #wholebodyhealthohio

Dental hygienists are oral prevention specialists, and our skills and education deserve more respect.

‼️ Trying to eliminate our profession rooted in years of education, research, and hands-on practice is detrimental to patient health and safety.

✍️ Let's create a list of dental hygiene services that could never be *appropriately* learned on the job...I'll go first:

➡️ Understanding root morphology to allow complete removal of hard and soft deposits that initiate and perpetuate disease.

Comment below... Let's see how long the list can get!

#rdh #dentalhygiene #dentalhygienist #dentalhygieniststudent #rootcause #wholebodyhealth #oralhealth

👄 Do you still recommend long-term use of antimicrobial mouthwashes?

Check my blog to learn why it's no longer considered best practice!

🔗 Link in bio

#rdh #rootcause #microbiome #periodontaldisease #saliva #dentalhygiene #standardofcare #oralhealth #oralsystemichealth #health #biofilm #oralbiofilm #airway #airwaymanagement #wholebodyhealthohio

👄 The use of antimicrobial mouthwash (AMW) is known to kill both pathogenic and beneficial bacterial species, which contributes to oral dysbiosis.

🦠 If oral dysbiosis is left untreated, it results in an increase in oral and systemic disease and inflammation such as gingivitis, periodontitis, oral thrush, xerostomia, increased caries risk, increased oral cancer risk, decrease in nitric oxide, increase in blood pressure, and more.

Use of oral probiotics helps promote symbiosis; the top strains to use include:
➡️Lactobacillus reuteri
➡️Lactobacillus salivarius
➡️Streptococcus salivarius K12 and M18

Additionally, for individuals who suffer from xerostomia, I highly recommend @periovance Dry Mouth Oral Moisturizing Gel from @orabio_inc

‼️Controlling xerostomia is one of the best ways to support oral microbiome homeostasis and mitigate the progression of several oral diseases!

Check out my blog post “Antimicrobial Mouthwash: Helpful or Harmful?” to learn more.

🔗 Link in bio

#rdh #rootcause #microbiome #periodontaldisease #saliva #dentalhygiene #standardofcare #oralhealth #oralsystemichealth #health #biofilm #oralbiofilm #airway #airwaymanagement #wholebodyhealthohio

🗣 If you have airway concerns and a provider isn't using these words to discuss symptoms and treatment options, it's time for a second (or third or fourth) opinion!

Not all providers have the training needed to appropriately assess and educate parents and patients on airway disorders, AND THAT IS OKAY.

‼️ However, it's important to know when to seek help from someone else with more training.

For Omaha and Lincoln locals, I have a list of some airway aware providers on my website!

www.rootcauseresolutionsllc.com/schedule

🔗 Link in bio

#rdh #rootcause #airway #airwaymanagement #myofunctionaltherapy #wholebodyhealth #sleep #sleepapnea #tonguetie #tonguetie #snoring #oralhealth

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About Liz

Interested in learning more about the founder of Root Cause Resolutions?

Check out the blog to learn about Liz's passion for improving the standard of care through health-centered dentistry, orofacial myofunctional therapy, and more!

Disclaimer: Nothing recommended within this website is to be taken as direct medical or dental advice. This platform is used as a way to share information and have open, constructive conversations. Always consult your healthcare provider(s) before implementing any dietary or lifestyle supplementation or modifications.