Chew On This: The Importance of Chewing in Jaw Development and Airway Health

Chewing is a fundamental aspect of jaw development in children. It plays a crucial role in shaping the jaw and supporting airway health. This blog will explore how chewing influences jaw growth, the impact it has on preventing airway disorders, and strategies you can use to encourage healthy chewing habits. And, what about the effects of modern diets on jaw development? We’ll share some insights from health professionals.

Chewing has a vital role in jaw development and airway health. By encouraging your child to chew more, offering a variety of textured foods and oral activities (more on this later), you can help prevent airway disorders and support your child’s overall health. Health professionals continue to highlight the risks associated with modern diets. It is, therefore, crucial that you recognize chewing as part of a healthy lifestyle.

How Chewing Affects Jaw Development

Chewing is not just a passive process. It actively stimulates jaw growth by engaging the muscles attached to the jaw and skull. This consistent resistance guides bone development, and promotes a wider, more forward presenting jaw — which supports a healthier airway. Research has found that diets requiring less chewing effort, such as those consisting primarily of soft foods, can lead to smaller jaws and narrower oral arches.

Preventing Airway Disorders

Proper jaw development is essential for maintaining open airways. And, an open airway is critical for healthy breathing and rejuvenative sleep. Narrow jaws, which are often the result of inadequate chewing, can restrict airway dimensions and increase the risk of sleep disordered breathing conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Long-Term Health Consequences

The long-term consequences of inadequate jaw development can be severe. Besides sleep disordered breathing, there is an increased risk of dental problems, such as malocclusion (misaligned bite), tooth crowding, and tooth decay. Kids may also be more prone to speech delays, feeding struggles, and even posture issues. Establishing healthy chewing habits early can mitigate these risks.

Impact of Modern Diets on Jaw Development

The prevalence of soft diets has been linked to narrower jaws. This can lead to breathing difficulties and increased risk of sleep disorders. Health professionals are urging parents to reintroduce more firm, fresh, and fibrous foods into their children’s diets to stimulate jaw growth. There are health professionals (and not a few early childhood care providers) who worry that the widespread use of “food pouches,” and other processed foods that require minimal chewing, may contribute to weaker jaw and facial muscles in children. This can have negative long-term health implications.

Parents can encourage healthy chewing habits by offering a variety of textured foods. Try this:

• Give foods like thick-crusted bread, steamed broccoli or cauliflower, or meat chunks mixed into rice or pasta meals to provide resistance and stimulate jaw muscles. By gradually introducing harder and varied textures into your child’s diet, you help them learn what they must do to successfully chew whatever they are given.

• Provide non-food items that are safe to chew on, such as chew toys.

The Role of Chewing in Oral Motor Skills

Chewing is not just about breaking down food, even though chewing’s role as the beginning of digestion should not be overlooked. It also strengthens oral motor skills, which are essential for speech development and overall oral, jaw, and airway health. Myofunctional therapists and speech and language pathologists emphasize the importance of chewing in developing strong oral motor skills. They recommend activities and exercises that improve jaw coordination and strength — such as blowing bubbles, using a straw, and more.

A Collaborative Approach to Jaw Health

Addressing jaw development requires a multidisciplinary approach from pediatric dentists, orthodontists, ENT specialists, as well as other allied health professionals including, but not limited to, speech language pathologists and myofunctional therapists. These providers can work together to identify and treat underlying issues, ensuring that your child receives comprehensive care for optimal jaw and airway health.

As research continues to highlight the importance of chewing in jaw development, it is imperative that parents, healthcare providers, and any who care for young children*, promote healthy eating habits. By doing so, we can reduce the incidence of airway disorders and support the overall well-being of children.

—*Through their Early Childhood Development Program, CAFF is leading the effort to educate the early childhood community about the importance of healthy diets in contributing to airway fitness, and wellbeing. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to learn more.

Dive Deeper

Listen to Episode 49 of the Airway First podcast with Dr. Mary Bourke to learn more about the myo munchee, a tool to give children more opportunities to strengthen their jaws and develop proper chewing habits:

Resources

• https://evergreenkidsdentist.com/the-connection-between-oral-health-and-airway-health/

• https://taylorkulik.com/empower-your-childs-growth-how-chewing-shapes-jaw-development-and-breathing/

• https://library.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/how-to-support-your-child-develop-their-chewing-skills/

• https://myofunctionaltherapyofkansas.com/blog/chew-chew-chew

• https://www.tmd.ac.jp/english/press-release/

• https://familydentalguelph.com/3-keys-to-promoting-healthy-jaw-and-facial-development-in-infants-and-children/

• https://pediatricdentalpractice.com/functional-chewing-and-nasal-breathing/

• https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2024/oct/toddlers-get-nearly-half-their-calories-ultra-processed-foods

• https://news.llu.edu/health-wellness/hidden-risks-processed-foods-childrens-diets