The Core-Mouth Connection: Diastasis, Tongue Ties, and Whole-Body Healing

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Season 4 | Episode 13 | May 13, 2025

About this episode

In this mind-expanding episode, Kelly Dean welcomes Dr. Neel Bulchandani—a chiropractor specializing in airway, fascia, and feeding—to explore the deep and often overlooked connection between tongue ties, diastasis recti, and whole-body function.

Dr. Bulchandani shares how his clinical path was transformed after his daughter was born with a tongue tie. This personal experience launched him into an intensive journey of exploring how restrictions in the floor of the mouth can profoundly affect posture, breathing, digestion, nervous system regulation, and core strength across all ages.

Headshot of Kelly Dean, MPT—founder of The Tummy Team and expert in functional core rehabilitation and pelvic floor therapy.

Kelly Dean, MPT

Kelly has a Masters in Physical Therapy and focuses her career on Diastasis Recti and core related issues.

More Than Just a Tongue Tie

Dr. Bulchandani explains how undiagnosed tongue ties and tension in the floor of the mouth can contribute to—or even drive—diastasis recti, especially when combined with unresolved fascial tension, organ misalignment, or nervous system dysregulation. He and Kelly unpack why traditional medical models often miss these complex interactions, and how the core is a critical “container” that influences the alignment and function of every organ.

“Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” – Dr. Neel Bulchandani

Healing That Follows the Body’s Lead

The conversation touches on intuitive healing, clinical pattern recognition, and the challenge of reverse-engineering complex cases that don’t fit the mold. Kelly and Dr. Bulchandani share their shared approach of listening to the body and following functional feedback rather than rigid protocols—especially when working with babies, adults with chronic tension, and those dismissed by conventional care.

The Floor of the Mouth: A Missing Piece in Diastasis Care?

Dr. Bulchandani describes the floor of the mouth as a “diaphragm” that mirrors the pelvic floor and explains how tension here can limit healing throughout the body. He offers real-world examples of how releasing tension in the tongue and mouth can unlock the hips, reduce TMJ symptoms, and even resolve bedwetting in children.


🔑 Key Takeaways:

  • Tongue ties aren’t just about breastfeeding or speech—they can disrupt nervous system function and core alignment in adults too.

  • Diastasis recti is not a cosmetic issue; it impacts organ support, breathing, and regulation.

  • The mouth, core, and pelvis are deeply connected through fascial and neurological pathways.

  • You don’t have to know exactly what’s wrong to start healing. Trusting the body’s feedback leads to transformation.

  • Body tension often stores unresolved emotion—releasing one can release the other.


🔗 Related Links:

Whether you’re a parent, practitioner, or someone who’s been dismissed by traditional care, this episode offers powerful insight into how our bodies hold stories—and how healing starts when we finally listen.


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