Beyond Brushing: How Oral Health Influences Speech, Feeding, and Learning with Dr. Sheyda Maghsoudi

Oral health is about so much more than cavities. In this episode of More Than Words: Treating the Whole Child, Tristen sits down with Dr. Sheyda Maghsoudi, board-certified pediatric dentist and founder of Lansdowne Pediatric Dentistry, to explore how oral structure, airway health, and daily habits influence speech, feeding, sleep, behavior, and learning.

Dr. Maghsoudi explains how tongue position, jaw and palate development, and breathing patterns play a critical role in how children communicate and function at school. She also shares early warning signs families and therapists can watch for, why collaboration between dentists and other specialists, like speech language pathologists, matters, and how personalized, sensory-informed dental care can transform a child’s experience.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that supporting the mouth and airway is a part of supporting the whole child.

What You’ll Learn:

• How oral health connects to speech, feeding, and learning
• Why tongue posture and nasal breathing are critical for development
• Early signs of oral or airway issues, including mouth breathing and picky eating
• How tongue ties can impact function and why team-based care matters
• The importance of collaboration between dentists, SLPs, OTs, and other providers
• How dental care can be adapted for children with sensory sensitivities
• Everyday habits that support healthy jaw, facial, and airway development
• A real-life example of how improving breathing changed a child’s focus and behavior

About Dr. Maghsoudi

Dr. Sheyda Maghsoudi is a board-certified pediatric dentist and the founder of Lansdowne Pediatric Dentistry in Lansdowne, Virginia. She takes a whole-child approach to oral health, focusing on how dental development, airway health, and oral function influence speech, feeding, sleep, and learning. Dr. Maghsoudi is passionate about early intervention and interdisciplinary collaboration, working closely with speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and other pediatric specialists to support children’s overall development. She is especially known for her compassionate, individualized care for children with sensory sensitivities and neurodiverse needs.

Links & Resources

Dr. Maghsoudi’s Practice: https://lansdownepediatricdentistry.com/

Lansdowne’s Phone number: 571-210-2771

Reading & Language Learning Center:

Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/readingllcenter

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/readingllcenter

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlbl8Ea8DJFADaNU9ZK1Vw

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center

Subscribe, rate, and review to help more families find the show.