The Face Place/Foundations for Growing Faces Masterclass

You've noticed the open mouth, the restless nights, the teeth coming in crowded.

These aren't separate problems. They're one and the same.

Two toddlers aged 1 to 4, the target age range for the Foundations for Growing Faces oral function masterclass

Foundations for Growing Faces

This masterclass is for you if...

  • You've noticed your toddler breathing through their mouth, during the day or night (or both), and you want to understand why.

  • You've seen early crowding and wondered whether it's just genetics or something you can actually influence.

  • You've been told to wait and see, and it doesn't sit right.

  • You want to know what you can do at home right now, during this important period of your child's development.

The habits forming right now — how your toddler breathes, chews, and rests their tongue — are actively shaping the growth of their face.

Mother and toddler at home — supporting oral function and healthy development in children aged 1 to 4

After this masterclass, you'll be able to:

  • Recognise the day and night signs of mouth breathing

  • Understand what's driving the open mouth, the crowding, and the disrupted sleep, and why they're connected

  • Know what to change at home, from bottles and dummies to meal posture and chewing habits

  • Feel confident about when to seek further support, and who to see first

What's included:

  • 45-minute on-demand video

  • 90-days access

  • Downloadable resources

Foundations for Growing Faces masterclass content overview: toddler oral function, breathing and sleep, chewing and diet, habits at home, and support

This masterclass will give you a clear list of things to actually do.

Which products to change, what to put on the plate, and simple daily habits that support nasal breathing.

Mel Van Schelven, AHPRA-registered Oral Health Therapist and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist, founder of The Face Place

Have we met?

Hi, I'm Mel.

I’m an AHPRA registered Oral Health Therapist and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist with over 15 years experience in the dental world.

Over the years, I've seen how often parents notice something early, ask questions, and leave without real answers.

At The Face Place, the goal is to always leave you with clarity and a next step. This masterclass gives you a place to start from home.

Your instinct is already telling you something is worth looking into...

Mel Van Schelven, founder of The Face Place, an online holistic dental and oral function practice for children aged 1 to 17

But, I often see parents who:

  • Noticed the mouth breathing, the waking unrefreshed, the teeth tightly packed together — and mentioned it at their child's last check-up, only to be told it's nothing to worry about yet

  • Left that appointment with the same feeling they walked in with, and went home to Google it instead

  • Found a lot of general information but nothing that actually connected the dots or told them what to do next

  • Are now here, still looking for someone to take it seriously

You've found the right place. This is your next step.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What's included in the masterclass?

Foundations for Growing Faces is an on-demand video you can watch in your own time. It covers toddler oral function, breathing and sleep, chewing and diet, and practical habits to support development at home. Downloadable resources are included for product choices and monitoring sleep and breathing symptoms.

Is this a substitute for a professional assessment?

This masterclass is educational and designed to help you understand patterns and next steps. It does not replace personalised assessment.

1:1 Oral Function Consultations are available Australia-wide if you want personalised guidance after watching. More information is available on the Services page.

I've already seen a dentist and been told everything is fine. Is this still useful?

Conventional dental appointments are focused on teeth, not on how the mouth functions as a whole. Mouth breathing, tongue posture, chewing patterns, and their effect on facial development often fall outside the scope of a standard check-up. If something still doesn't sit right after being told everything is fine, this masterclass will help you understand why.

What can I actually do at home?

More than you might think. The masterclass covers practical adjustments to products, habits, meal posture, nasal hygiene, and chewing, with clear guidance on what's worth prioritising at this age.

Is this masterclass helpful if I don't live in Australia?

Yes. The content is based on developmental principles that apply regardless of where you live. If you want to follow up with a provider locally, the masterclass will help you know exactly what to ask for.

Preview of the Foundations for Growing Faces on-demand masterclass by The Face Place, supporting toddler oral function at home for ages 1 to 4

The early years offer a valuable window to support healthy development.

This is your place to start.