Six-Foot Tiger, Three-Foot Cage: Take Charge of Your Health by Taking Charge of Your Mouth

Dr. Liao is one of a growing number of clinicians in the US and around the world who are coming to understand the true genesis of sleep and breathing disorders that are so prevalent in our modern world. Turns out that modern man is a victim of our own "progress" and a Western Culture that promotes limited or no breastfeeding and soft diets of processed foods that don't require sufficient chewing to stimulate forward jaw growth. And when the jaws (upper and lower) are not fully developed forward and wide in the face, the human airway is impacted and we can't breathe. Makes so much sense that one wonders why it took everyone so long to report on it. So many children today exhibit underdeveloped jaws, crowded / crooked teeth, and high narrow palates. No wonder they resort to mouth breathing and snore like chimneys!One thing that was of particular interest is Dr. Liao's use of the DNA appliance to actually restore and remodel adult airways without surgery. As I understand it, this is completely different than the typical mandibular advancement devices available at most dental offices. They simply hold your lower jaw forward during sleep (which does hold your airway open), but never address the fundamental cause, which is that the cage is too small for the Tiger (the tongue). By stimulating the body's own stem cells to activate and remodel the boney and soft tissues of the oral cavity and jaws, everything (the "cage") becomes larger and the airway opens up. It looks like Dr. Liao may be on to the first actual cure for sleep apnea and other breathing disorders. For those of us who have suffered for years with sleep apnea, that alone is worth the price of the book!Overall, I thought this was an excellent introduction and an easy 2 hour read. Very informative and timely!

This is an amazing book I am a Nurse Anesthetist so I loved the case study format but yet it is written so the lay public can achieve a good understanding of having an impaired mouth and its consequences. I started this journey of educating myself in Sept 2017 in four months with the help of both his books, also read the 2nd book Early Sirens, I have an excellent grasp. This fall I randomly complained to my dentist that my son had bad breath in the morning especially he asked me if he was a MOUTH BREATHER.... Hmmm yes I guess so then he said to go to an Orofacial Myologist who diagnosed a problem and also needed a revision tongue tie. So took both kids to ENT who specialized in Frenulectomy found out daughter needed a revision and I was also posterior tongue tie. When ENT fiberoptically scoped son he said is had a NARROW AIRWAY!!!!! He is skinny and 12 years old plays sports and that he may have sleep disordered breathing. Also that his braces that were on can be RETRACTIVE.....I had the braces immediately taken off and went in search of a way to expand and grow his jaws forward. I also discovered that my own teeth grinding had caused lingual tori (bony outgrowths in bottom of mouth). I never knew what these were or their clinical significance till I saw the pictures in this book. I can tick off most of the symptoms. All my previous dentist said was wear your mouth guard that is a "Bandaid solution".....why was I grinding my teeth...which lead to a root canal, TMJ, gingivitis despite immaculate care. Bottom line both myself and my son are getting the DNA appliance that Dr. Liao uses. I have bought many copies to give to our dentist, chiropractor and friends who have impaired mouth syndrome. Our new dentist uses the DNA but providers are hard to find..This book helped me make an informed decision despite out original orthodontist who can't put thepieces together and practices old school dentistry. 100% recommend to all without reservation!!!!!!!!!!!

Dr Liao's brilliance lies in his ability to ask the right questions. The most significant inquiry he made was: why would the body destroy its strongest tissue (the teeth/bones?) It was from delving into this issue that the holistic mouth was born. In his model, the mouth is brought to the forefront in hopes that it will no longer fall between the cracks with respect to the medical doctor and the dentist (who focuses primarily on the teeth inside the mouth and not the habitat itself.) The metaphor for a six-foot tiger in a three-foot cage, is a great way to describe the forces impacting the tongue that can lead to a myriad of health problems. Even small adjustments can reap big rewards by optimizing the airway to get the oxygen we need for better sleep, digestion and even postural alignment. This message is a Godsend for those with major sleep issues but also for athletes who aren't getting the air they need or moving efficiently due to postural imbalances caused by problems with the mouth. I plan to share the information with as many people as I can, and encourage you to take time to read about it yourself.

Contains much crucial info about facial forms and sleep disordered breathing and related issues, written mostly in accessible style. But the book seems to have been done on the cheap and it shows... typos, some writing is a bit rough, lot of repetition, some graphics/photos are poor quality. And there is no index! Cant believe people are publishing non-fiction books w/o an index. Also the book focuses exclusively on professional care with oral appliances, and there is no info on self-care e.g. tongue posture exercises.

All health care providers and their patients need to learn the importance of Dr. Liao's work and how it can help the difficult and non-responsive cases regain their health by correcting deficient jaws in a Holistic way. A structurally impaired mouth is associated with a myriad list of symptoms such as poor sleep, musculoskeletal pain syndromes, scoliosis, TMJ, chronic fatigue and inability to respond to medical, dental and Chiropractic treatments/adjustments.An easy to read book that is based on solid clinical experience.M.S., D.C. Conroe, Texas

Every person with sleep apnea, and especially dentists interested in treating patients with OSA should read this book!

Essential reading for every dentist and body worker. This knowledge is a game changer. Joins the dots for so many health concerns.