180: Dr. Ratti Handa, DMD: How Hidden Tongue Ties Could Be Sabotaging Your Sleep (And How to Fix It!)

Dr. Ratti Handa, a practicing dentist in the Boston area since 1999, has always been deeply curious about the person behind the teeth. Her journey toward promoting overall health and healing through dentistry eventually led her to adopt a biologically holistic approach, with a focus on airway-centered dentistry. Dr. Handa’s philosophy shifted to viewing the person through the lens of airway health, rather than solely focusing on teeth and gums. Today, she rarely addresses issues related to teeth, gums, or bite without first evaluating the patient's airway. Over the years, Dr. Handa has successfully collaborated with professionals from various fields, including functional medicine, nutrition, health coaching, myofunctional therapy, physical therapy, sleep specialists, general dentists, chiropractors, and optometrists. Together, they work toward the common goal of optimizing airway health for overall well-being. Dr. Handa finds the field of dentistry exciting for its potential to improve nasal breathing, while ensuring optimal bite alignment, tongue positioning, and TMJ joint health. Her approach promotes a relaxed, closed lips posture, which has a profound effect on the parasympathetic nervous system. She is passionate about watching the benefits of this body-centric approach, where teeth, bite, and the fascia all work in harmony, allowing for better communication between the head, neck, and the rest of the body. In addition to her airway-centered practice, Dr. Handa incorporates sleep hygiene awareness and coaching into her treatments. She believes that with the right approach, a good night’s sleep can become the norm, rather than a luxury, even in today’s fast-paced world.