Breastfeeding Myths and Realities with Sherri Gunn

Breastfeeding Myths and Realities with Sherri Gunn

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Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of More Than Teeth, the podcast. I’m your host, Dr. Michael Bennett. I’m here with my sweetheart, Cathy Bennett.

Hello everyone.

And I’m also excited to be here with Sherri Gunn, a wonderful practitioner in the area in which I serve patients. Hi, Sherri.

Hi, so glad you’re here with us.

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Understanding Infant Feeding Challenges

For the listening group, I’m throwing a question out there—Is poor feeding in the zero-to-six-month range for infants just a phase, or is that a red flag? Think about that while I have Sherri give her introduction, and then we’ll dive into the topic.

Hey, hello everyone. I love chatting about all things like this—we could talk for days and hours. But I am the mom of six kids, a registered nurse, and a lactation consultant, IBCLC. I’m also a myofunctional therapist, but I always say my greatest training has come from the home, because that’s what our kids do—they teach us a lot of lessons.

Yes, I have been an RN for twenty-three years, a lactation consultant for fifteen, and a myofunctional therapist for four. I just graduated with my Family Nurse Practitioner in August.

Congratulations! That’s a huge milestone.

It really is. I just keep realizing there’s more I don’t know, and more I need to know to help my patients—so I keep learning and learning.

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Identifying Red Flags in Feeding

So, the question was—difficulty feeding in zero to six months: red flag or not?

There are a lot of red flags that can happen with that. The newborn phase is a difficult one. I always say it takes a while for mom and baby to figure out how they’re going to work together—or not, sometimes. Each baby is different. One of my six was one of my hardest nursers, and I do this as a profession! I even knew all the answers but couldn’t get that one to work as well as I’d hoped.

Some red flags include long feedings—whether breast or bottle. Parents will say, “It takes forty-five minutes to get them fed, and then they only sleep for thirty minutes and wake up to do it all over again.” Marathon feedings like that are a red flag.

So, how long should it be?

It depends on the age and ability of the baby. For example, an average eight-pound baby at forty-one weeks with a mom whose milk supply flows well might take around thirty minutes, give or take. A slower flow might take longer; a faster flow, shorter. Bottle feedings should take fifteen to twenty minutes. It makes me nervous when a baby downs a bottle in five minutes—that’s too fast and can cause problems.

Another red flag is clicking—if I hear clicking at the breast or bottle with every or every other suck. That means the tongue isn’t staying in contact with the nipple as it should. Painful breastfeeding or blisters around the baby’s lips are also red flags.

It’s hard because well-meaning friends and family might say, “It just hurts; push through it,” but sharp or shooting pains, pins and needles, or pain between feedings aren’t normal. Those are times to get checked out.

“Every baby is different. Even as a professional, I had one that was my hardest nurser—and that taught me that knowledge doesn’t replace patience or connection.”

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Common Misconceptions and Realities

That’s the hardest thing for new moms, right? No one really talked about it back then. I remember when I started, no one said, ‘Breastfeeding is really painful.’ So when I began, I thought—wait, this hurts a lot!

Totally. And I love that we have lactation specialists now to help and reassure new moms: “Hey, you’re doing good. There is pain involved, and that’s okay—you’ll figure it out.”

True. We have six kids as well, and I nursed all of them. Some were so easy, others not at all.

Yes, exactly. It’s unique to each child. Every single one is different.

I remember thinking I shouldn’t have eaten that chocolate—it must be bothering the baby!

Yeah! We all go through that.

“Moms always think it’s their fault when feeding is hard—but it’s not. Most of the time, it’s something structural, not emotional.”

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The Role of Tongue and Lip Ties

Sometimes feeding issues stem from deeper functional or structural problems—like tongue or lip ties.

If a baby comes in crying during every feeding, I have to assess every piece of the puzzle. I once had a baby who was completely bottle-fed but would start crying in the middle of feeding. Babies are simple creatures—you feed them, change them, hold them, and they sleep. So if they’re crying, something’s bothering them.

This baby would cry almost immediately after milk began entering his stomach. The more I watched him feed, the more I realized there was a food sensitivity at play. We had to explore that. A baby taking four to six ounces of milk should fall asleep afterward with a full belly. So if the baby is crying instead, we have to ask—is this a food reaction? A swallowing issue? A tongue tie? Are they swallowing air?

Air is painful. Anyone who’s had gas pains knows it can bring you to your knees. Babies feel the same way. Research even suggests that dysphagia—improper swallowing—can cause reflux. Dysfunctional swallowing from tongue ties often leads to air intake and discomfort. So I evaluate whether we’re dealing with air, flow, or structure.

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Choosing the Right Bottles and Nipples

That’s fascinating. What about bottles and nipples—how can parents choose the right ones?

I don’t love marketing people because every company claims their bottle is “the most like the breast” or “orthodontic-friendly.” Parents are overwhelmed by options. When you and I had babies, there were maybe two bottle types. Now, every mom who comes in has a different bottle or pump brand, each promising miracles.

That’s why I keep over $200 worth of bottles in my office—so I can test which works best for each baby. When a parent says, “This is the only bottle my baby likes,” I immediately suspect a tongue tie. There’s no such thing as a baby who doesn’t want to suck—it’s that they can’t suck efficiently.

If a baby rejects every other bottle, it’s not preference—it’s function. Neurologically, anatomically, or mechanically, something’s off. That natural calming suck reflex is designed for a reason—to soothe and regulate the nervous system. So when a baby can only take one specific bottle, we know there’s more to explore.

That makes sense. Have you ever treated cases where you did everything—release, therapy, adjustments—and still didn’t get results?

Yes, just like in any area of healthcare, there are non-responders.

Have you found any particular bottle nipple that works better than others?

That’s a loaded question. The truth is—what works depends on the baby’s oral anatomy and tongue function. Many pediatricians only look for an anterior tongue tie—the tip attached to the gums. If they don’t see that, they’ll say, “Your baby’s fine.” But tongue ties come in many forms and depths.

I had one mom who brought in her baby, and while we were talking, she asked me to check her three-year-old. That child had a classic tongue-to-tip tie. The mom said, “They told me it was mild.” But this little girl had ear infections, poor sleep, and difficulty feeding. The mom was heartbroken—she had trusted her doctor but knew something wasn’t right.

Wow. That must have been hard for her.

It was. She was an incredible advocate and had been dismissed multiple times. We ended up releasing both her toddler and her baby on the same day. Every tongue deserves good function and a full range of motion.

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The Importance of Post-Procedure Care

That’s powerful. But what about aftercare? I know some parents think it ends once the tongue is released.

Exactly. The laser release itself is the easiest part—it takes thirty seconds. The real work is in rehabilitation and stretches. Parents have to do exercises four times a day for four weeks to keep the wound open.

I didn’t know that until a few years ago. Several friends had their kids’ ties released and had no idea they needed to do exercises.

Yes! The mouth heals incredibly fast—which is both a blessing and a curse. The wound can reattach in just days. When we release the frenulum, it creates a small diamond-shaped wound. If both sides touch, the body naturally heals it shut. That’s great for most wounds—but not here.

I’ve seen babies reattach in as little as a day or two. Instead of healing open, the tissue seals back together, often worse than before. That’s why I tell parents: if you can’t commit to the stretches, it’s not worth doing the procedure.

That’s an important message. I’ve told parents the same thing—if you can’t do six sessions of two-minute stretches daily, we risk making it worse.

Exactly. I’ve had to tell parents “no” to a release when they weren’t ready. It’s not about being harsh—it’s about protecting the baby. Reattachment with scar tissue can create even thicker, tighter ties.

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Challenges and Success Stories

I’ve seen everything from instant success stories to heartbreaking struggles. Some babies change overnight—the latch improves, the crying stops, and everyone sleeps better. Others see no change or even temporary setbacks.

That’s the reality of medicine—there’s no guarantee. I’ve had parents do everything right: exercises, craniosacral therapy, nutrition support—and still, some babies just don’t respond. One baby I worked with twice had no improvement and later developed dysphagia, needing thickened liquids. It was devastating.

That must be difficult emotionally—for both practitioner and parent.

Absolutely. It’s hard when we want to help so badly. But I’ve learned to recognize when a case might not respond and to refer out for swallow studies or neurological assessments first. Sometimes what looks like a tongue tie is actually a nerve issue or a swallowing disorder.

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Debunking Breastfeeding Myths

At the beginning of this conversation, you mentioned that feeding shouldn’t necessarily hurt—it might just be uncomfortable. What other myths do you encounter that need to be cleared up?

One big myth is that breastfed babies don’t need to be burped. That’s absolutely false. Any baby with air in their belly—whether breastfed or bottle-fed—will be uncomfortable. You may not always get a burp, but you should always give them the opportunity to try.

That’s so important. What else do parents often get wrong or misunderstand?

Another major myth is that babies should sleep through the night early on. Books and social media tell parents that by six weeks, their baby should be sleeping eight to ten hours straight. But biologically, that’s not realistic or healthy.

Moms come to me saying, “My milk supply dropped suddenly!” And I’ll ask, “Is your baby sleeping through the night?” Usually, the answer is yes. That’s the problem—when milk isn’t removed from the breast for over six hours, the body gets the message to stop producing.

The first three months are critical. Babies should wake up every three to four hours to feed. As they grow, they take in more volume and can sleep longer, but not twelve-hour stretches. If milk isn’t emptied regularly, the body naturally begins to wean.

That makes perfect sense. It’s about biology, not convenience.

Exactly. I understand that parents want rest—believe me, I do too—but it’s not sustainable to expect newborns to fit adult sleep schedules. For milk supply to stay strong, you need at least six feedings every twenty-four hours.

“Breastfeeding works on supply and demand. Skip the demand, and the supply disappears.”

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Ideal Duration for Breastfeeding

So what’s the ideal duration for nursing? Is there a target you recommend?

As long as both mom and baby are still interested, that’s ideal. Breastfeeding is a relationship. If one party is done—whether that’s the baby or the mother—it’s okay to stop. Some babies wean early, others nurse for years. Every situation is valid.

That’s a refreshing way to frame it.

It has to be. For some moms, stopping early is heartbreaking; for others, continuing too long is exhausting. The goal is a healthy bond, not a number.

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Breastfeeding in Public and Its Benefits

I love how much more supportive the world is now for breastfeeding moms. I’ve seen those private nursing pods in airports—they’re such a game changer.

Oh, absolutely. They’re so much better. I remember sitting in bathroom stalls thirty years ago trying to nurse—it was awful. Now, there’s more public acceptance, better accommodations, and more community.

Breast milk never stops being beneficial. It’s a living fluid that changes to meet the baby’s needs. If a baby gets sick, within twenty-four hours the mother’s body starts producing antibodies tailored specifically for that illness. It’s incredible.

That’s truly amazing.

It really is. From a developmental standpoint, breast milk supports not just immunity but facial and airway growth too.

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The Role of Breastfeeding in Facial Development

Now, this is where things get fascinating for me as a dentist. When I think about facial and jaw development, breastfeeding plays a huge role.

Yes! The sucking motion during breastfeeding helps shape the craniofacial structure. The act of latching, pulling, and maintaining suction strengthens the jaw, cheeks, and tongue.

Exactly. From a dental perspective, I see it constantly. Most adults don’t have enough room for all 32 teeth—including wisdom teeth—because of underdeveloped jaws. When babies don’t breastfeed or can’t nurse efficiently, that natural stimulation never happens.

That’s right. Proper feeding literally molds the face. The human breast provides the exact resistance and movement needed for the mouth and airway to develop properly. Babies are born with cone-shaped heads that gradually round out—and that transformation comes, in part, from suckling.

Yes, that’s a perfect point. When the mouth is small, the airway is small. What we do early in life—feeding, breathing, swallowing—determines facial growth. That’s why the work you’re doing with families is so vital. It’s not just about feeding—it’s about building the foundation for lifelong health.

Absolutely. That’s what excites me about this field. It’s never just about milk intake—it’s about development, sleep, airway function, and long-term wellness.

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Personal Experiences with Tongue Ties

My journey into this world actually began because of my own family. All six of my children are tongue-tied—every single one. I didn’t even know I was tongue-tied myself until I was 38 years old. I was in a myofunctional therapy training on Zoom, and part of our exercise was to assess each other’s mouths. When I showed mine, the instructor said, “You’re tongue-tied.”

I laughed and said, “No, I’m not! I’ve been in the tongue-tie world for years. I had no feeding or speech problems.” But then they asked, “Do you sleep with your mouth open?” and I said, “Yes.”

In the 1990s, orthodontics often focused on pulling teeth and tightening everything, not expanding. That left me with a smaller airway and a long, narrow face—the classic mouth-breather profile. My kids inherited that structure, and it shows in varying degrees across all of them. Some have textbook symptoms; others are more subtle.

One of my children had a severe, tongue-to-tip tie with zero function. He was my sixth baby and had his tongue released twice—once by scissors at three days old and again by laser at six weeks. That meant double the exercises, double the worry.

I can imagine how intense that must’ve been.

It was! I became hyper-focused, constantly checking if his mouth was closed, gently repositioning his tongue. But here’s what I learned: the tongue can’t rest on the roof of the mouth if there’s no space for it. That’s why expansion and function go hand in hand.

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How Myofunctional Therapy Changed Everything

When I discovered my own tongue tie and sleep issues, it all made sense. I’d been tired my entire life. My husband used to joke that I needed more sleep than a bear. I could sleep twelve hours and still wake up exhausted.

People would talk about their dreams, and I’d think, “Dreams? What dreams?” For me, it was just black when I went to sleep and black when I woke up. That’s how poor my deep sleep was.

Doing my own myofunctional therapy changed that. Learning to rest my tongue on the roof of my mouth, improving nasal breathing, and correcting my posture transformed my energy.

That’s incredible. And that’s exactly why I love our collaboration—what you do in function supports what I do structurally.

Exactly. I can release and retrain the tongue, but if the palate isn’t wide enough, it’s like trying to fit a big puzzle piece into a small space. Expansion has to happen early—while kids are still growing—so their faces and airways can develop properly.

I’ve seen it firsthand. When my oldest daughter was 14, we used a palatal expander. It was painful, gave her headaches, and only changed her facial structure slightly. But when we expanded my four-year-old’s palate, it was easy. He said, “Mom, that tickles!” No pain, just progress.

Watching his face change over the next two years was amazing. His airway opened, his sleep improved, and his posture changed. Early intervention makes all the difference.

That’s such a powerful example of prevention versus correction.

Exactly. I’m even considering expansion for myself now, because I know my narrow 26-millimeter palate affects my breathing. I’ve done the release and therapy, but there’s still not enough room. That’s the reality many adults face—it’s never just one thing.

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Why a Team Approach Matters

You’re absolutely right—it’s not just about one piece of the puzzle. I often tell patients: we can’t just release the tongue and call it a day. Without therapy and expansion, relapse is inevitable.

Yes! That’s why I always emphasize teamwork. The laser release is one part. Myofunctional therapy retrains the tongue. Expansion provides the room. Nutrition, airway support, and even sleep positioning all play roles.

Unfortunately, many parents are told they have to make these decisions alone. They’re told, “It’s up to you whether your baby needs this,” which is unfair. Parents aren’t medical professionals—they’re just trying to do what’s best for their child.

Exactly. It’s the blind leading the blind in some ways. How can a parent decide something they’ve never been educated about?

Right. I do believe in parental intuition—moms know when something’s off—but they need informed guidance. My goal is always to give parents the facts, explain the options, and then empower them to follow their instincts with confidence.

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The Importance of a Holistic Approach

And it’s not just structure or muscle function, right? Nutrition, environment, and habits matter, too.

Absolutely. Everything’s connected. Once babies become toddlers, what we feed them impacts how their jaws develop. If we rely too heavily on soft, processed foods, their chewing muscles never strengthen properly. That affects facial growth.

Kids need durable foods—carrots, apples, whole foods that engage the jaw. Processed snacks might be convenient, but they don’t build structure. On top of that, additives and allergens can inflame the sinuses, making it hard for kids to breathe through their noses. That leads to mouth breathing, which restarts the whole cycle.

That’s a crucial insight. I tell parents the same thing: if a child can’t breathe through their nose, they’ll breathe through their mouth—and mouth breathing shapes the face differently.

Exactly. It’s all about the long-term picture. The structure, function, and environment must work together.

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The Need for a Team Approach

You know, as I listen to you, it becomes clear—a true team is essential. Pediatricians, ENTs, allergists, nutritionists, lactation consultants, and dentists all need to collaborate.

One hundred percent. No single provider can do it all. Parents often feel overwhelmed, but they don’t have to. Finding a professional who understands developmental systems—how feeding, breathing, and structure interconnect—is key.

And early intervention is everything. Waiting until age twelve to expand, for instance, misses those crucial developmental windows between zero and eight when the brain and bones are most responsive.

Exactly. You can’t wait until the permanent teeth come in to address foundational growth. By then, much of the neurological development has already occurred.

And to the moms listening—you’re not alone. Overwhelm is part of the journey, but so is hope. I’ve seen kids transform through better breathing, sleep, and function.

That’s such an important message.

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Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Before we close, any final words for the parents and caregivers listening?

Yes—don’t give up. You’re your child’s best advocate. Whatever you can do to help them live healthy, balanced lives is worth it. We’re all just doing our best with what we have, and that’s enough.

Beautifully said. And for the dads listening—support the process. Be there, be patient, and understand that your involvement matters.

Absolutely. Dads play such a vital role. This work takes a family.

Thank you, Sherri, for joining us today. We’ll definitely have you back for another discussion.

Thank you for having me.

And to our listeners, remember: healthy development starts with connection, awareness, and a team approach. Take care, and we’ll see you next time.

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If you found this episode valuable, share it with a colleague or friend who wants to breathe better, sleep deeper, and live healthier. Your support helps us expand the conversation around airway-focused care and whole-body wellness.

Together, we can move dentistry beyond the chair.

Michael Bennett, DDS, PhD

Board-Certified Dentist | Healthcare Professions Educator

Empowering total health through airway-focused dentistry

Advanced Dental Care – Dr. Bennett’s clinical practice and patient-centered services

Connect on LinkedIn – Join the movement for airway-first, total health dentistry

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About Guest: Sherri Gunn

Sherri is passionate about helping individuals and families on the road to better health. She is a wife and mother of 6 and all of her kids were tongue tied. She started as a NICU RN, became an IBCLC to help mothers and infants on their breastfeeding journeys, then took a deep dive into tongue ties and became a myofunctional therapist. She knew she wanted to create a space for families and with her partner Anne Tullis, the Utah Breastfeeding and Tongue Tie Center was born. There with incredible team members they have created a space that offers craniosacral therapy, speech therapy, myofunctional therapy as well as lactation education and support. They do weekly tongue/lip tie releases with local pediatric dentists and support their families through their journeys. Sherri loves traveling with her family, baking, driving carpool to dance and taking care of their mini farm.

Website: https://www.utahbreastfeedingandtonguetie.com/

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