Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Becerra-Lising.
Hi Jacqueline, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have worked in the dental hygiene profession since 2005. Since graduating from Loma Linda University, I found my niche working in general dentistry for privately owned practices. Our profession can be viewed by most as just technicians that clean dirty teeth and teach you how to brush and floss. There is so much more to our amazing career. Our field requires intensive science undergraduate courses, research, educating patients, behavior modification, and skills in hand and eye coordination. Clinically, we gain such an in-depth understanding of the mouth-body health connection. Our mouths can tell us so much about our general health.
That statement became even more true after my husband and I had our second child. We traditionally decided to not know the gender of our baby until he/she arrived into this world. During the year 2016, gender reveal parties and 3D ultrasound parties were the new phenomenon. I was not about that baby trend. I, instead, wanted to use my other senses to feel my baby, hear my baby, connect with my baby on a deeper level. We did the same with our firstborn and had no regrets. So, on October 18, 2016, our happy and perfect baby girl was born.
As lovely as my pregnancy was, our baby’s birth story seemed contradictory at first. We received a heartbreaking post-natal diagnosis that our daughter was born with Down Syndrome. The next few days in the hospital were spent flowing through emotions of denial, blame, hurt, fear, acceptance, happiness, and love. I was unaware that a human being can feel a vast amount of emotions in such a short amount of time. It did not take long until my mama bear instincts kicked in. Once I discovered that the Trisomy 21 genetic mutation known as Down Syndrome meant low muscle tone throughout the entire body, I knew breastfeeding was going to be the first thing I could do to help my daughter’s speech when she grew older. This was the first experience that opened my world to orofacial myofunctional disorders.
The AOMT (Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional therapy) explains Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are disorders of the muscles and functions of the face and mouth. OMDs may affect, directly and/or indirectly, breastfeeding, facial skeletal growth and development, chewing, swallowing, speech, occlusion, temporomandibular joint movement, oral hygiene, stability of orthodontic treatment, facial esthetics, and more.
I credit my dental hygiene background and being an experienced mother that allowed me to see that my daughter’s tongue thrust, and open mouth posture needed more strength and endurance to be able to successfully breastfeed. I had no idea what myofunctional therapy was at this time, but here I was, working with a lactation consultant to help me latch my baby with low muscle tone, which would inherently begin my daughter’s life-long journey for inclusivity. I advocated to find her a myofunctional therapist.
As our daughter turned 3, I was becoming more aware of this secret world of myofunctional therapy. No one seemed to know much about this type of holistic therapy. I would repeatedly ask our daughter’s case worker if she had resources in this field. It was not until we began to work with an SLP who had oral motor therapy background that I realized there was very limited access to this care and there was such a high need in typical and neurotypical individuals.
In 2022, I decided to take a specialized course in myofunctional therapy and became the owner of “Upside Down Frown Care, LLC,” offering myofunctional therapy services to children and adults in various office spaces throughout the Inland Empire. I have since taken additional courses in the areas of TMJ dysfunction, The Breathe Institute’s Oral Habits program, and Talk Tools A Sensory and Motor Approach to feeding in the Down Syndrome population.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think the statistics state 90% of start-up businesses usually fail. So that means only 10% of these small businesses survive. So, yes, owning a business comes with many challenges. When I first opened the business, I did not think it was going to grow as fast as it did. I suppose that is a good problem to have. I am now coming to terms with the fact that my passion project is evolving into a larger-scale business. Finding balance in work life and family life is the biggest challenge currently. I also think when we work so hard we tend to forget to check in with our mental health. My family has been so supportive in my endeavors with this business, so it is important for me to also make sure they are being seen and heard.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Upside Down Frown Care, LLC?
Because of our daughter’s post-natal diagnosis and her strong will to latch and breastfeed successfully, I was inspired to pursue an advanced career in myofunctional therapy; I named the business with the word “Down” in it as a way to commemorate my beautiful Down Syndrome community I am proud to be a part of and to embrace my “why” for helping others.
My approach to therapy is comprehensive. I take a thorough intake form to determine severity and risks in the areas of nasal obstruction, obstructive sleep apnea, full medical history, oral habits, and TMJ symptoms. I do a lot of education for parents during the process. I check for tongue function, basic nasal breathing tests, posture, and intra-oral photos with measurements and chewing and swallowing tests. I like to explain to patients that I am their fitness trainer for the muscles above the shoulders and below the eyes. I teach therapeutic exercises to reduce muscular dysfunction and restore function of the orofacial muscle complex.
I am most proud of the recent podcast I was interviewed by Children’s Airway First Foundation. I was nervous as heck and didn’t know why anyone would want to hear my story. Some of the Airway-centric giants have been interviewed by them, so I was most humbled to have that opportunity to share my daughter’s story.
I would like your readers to know that orofacial myofunctional disorders are also common amongst typical peers. OMDs can occur in adults, adolescents, and children. Certain symptoms can include poor sleep, snoring, allergies, asthma, jaw and facial pain, difficulty swallowing, digestion problems, brain fog, fatigue, open mouth position, mouth breathing, headaches, neck and shoulder pain, speech, behavioral problems, ortho relapse, and tongue-tie restrictions.
What does success mean to you?
I remember a little book my dad had around when he was alive. It was called “Purpose-Driven Life.” That is what I intend to do. Love what you do, have purpose for what you do, simplify your decisions, and prepare for eternity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.frowncare.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upside_down_frown_care/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frowncare
Image Credits
@caragdagcreations
Matt & Abby
