In this episode, Andrew Cohen, DMD, who is board certified in dental sleep medicine and a comprehensive restorative dentist, explains how anatomy, behavior, and overall health impacts sleep-related breathing. We discuss common issues like mouth-breathing, teeth grinding, thumb-sucking, and extended pacifier use and how these impact dental health and sleep. For more information, visit the CHOP Sleep Center.

Opinions expressed in this episode are those of Andrew Cohen, DMD, and not necessarily representative of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

We learned a lot about pediatric asthma during the COVID-19 pandemic, including how significant the impact of viruses is on causing asthma flares. In this episode, Shikha Saxena, MD, from our Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Pulmonary Asthma Program, and Pulmonology and Allergy Personalized Asthma (PAPA) Clinic, discusses ways to help keep asthma in good control through the viral season. We discuss when to use inhaled corticosteroids, school-based management approaches, and navigating insurance coverage challenges. Also, Dr. Saxena reinforces the importance of getting a flu shot!

Can you reduce the risk of concussion through specialized protective equipment? In this episode, two of our Minds Matter Concussion Program experts, Kristy Arbogast, PhD, and Christina Master, MD, FAAP, CAQSM, FACSM, FAMSSM, discuss whether the specialized equipment used by NFL players has evidence in pediatric athletes. We also learn other ways that parents, coaches, and trainers can mitigate concussion risk and how we can keep young athletes safe. This episode is a mix of physics and physical education classes, and you are certain to learn a lot about football protective equipment!