This week, we’re diving deeper.
Because here’s the radical truth: our kids’ faces are shrinking. And it’s not just about appearance. It’s about brain development, airway health, and nervous system regulation. And it all starts with what and how they chew.
Smaller Jaws, Bigger Problems
We weren’t born to need braces. But today? Crowded teeth and narrow arches are the norm. We’re told it’s genetics. But the real answer is environmental and functional.
Dr. Kevin Boyd, a pediatric dentist and craniofacial expert, explains that by age 7, 80% of the craniofacial respiratory complex is already developed. If we’re waiting until middle school for orthodontics, we’ve already missed the window.
The way kids chew and breathe in their early years builds their facial structure. Swap out real food for pouches and puffs, reduce chewing and oral motor input, and we see:
- Smaller jaws
- Less tongue space
- Collapsed airways
- Poor sleep and behavior
This isn’t just cosmetic.
Smaller jaws mean:
- Less space for the tongue
- Narrowed airways
- More sleep-disordered breathing
- Greater risk for attention and emotional dysregulation
We’re not evolving. We’re devolving due to lifestyle.
Chewing Builds Brains
Here’s what most people don’t realize: chewing is neurological.
It stimulates the brain. It regulates the nervous system. It supports speech, posture, and emotional balance.
Kids who skip those critical chewing stages? They show:
- Speech delays
- Sensory sensitivities
- Shirt chewing or pencil biting
- Constant fidgeting
These aren’t random habits. They’re clues that something is underdeveloped.
Want to support jaw growth and brain development?
- Bring back raw veggies, jerky, crusty bread, dried fruit
- Use Myo Munchee or silicone chew tools
- Make chewing part of play (chew like a dinosaur!)
Sharon Moore, author of Sleep-Wrecked Kids, shows how jaw and airway dysfunction can masquerade as ADHD, anxiety, and mood swings. Because poor sleep equals poor brain regulation.
Remember: jaw growth is about more than food. It’s about tone, resistance, and functional strength.
The Pottenger Cat Warning
In the 1940s, Dr. Francis Pottenger ran a study with cats. One group ate raw food. The other ate processed.
By generation three, the processed group had:
- Narrower faces
- Weakened bones
- Infertility
- Behavior issues
Sound familiar?
This is what’s happening to our kids thanks to processed foods, mouth breathing, soft textures, chronic stress, and lack of early chewing.
The solution? Don’t wait for the system. Create change at home.
What To Look For + What To Do
If your child is under age 7, this is your moment. And if they’re older? It’s not too late. But we need to start asking better questions:
- What are they chewing?
- How are they breathing?
- Where is their tongue at rest?
- Are they showing signs of collapse not just in posture, but in function?
Let’s break it down:
CHEW: Strengthen the Jaw
- Raw carrots, celery, apples
- Jerky, dried mango, thick crusts
- Myo Munchee, chew toys
NOURISH: Feed the Structure
- Vitamin D: egg yolks, salmon
- K2: grass-fed butter, natto
- Magnesium/Zinc: pumpkin seeds, legumes, oysters
BREATHE: Train the Tongue
- Tongue up, lips closed, nose breathing
- Play “Sticky Tongue” or breathing races
- Check nighttime breathing for snoring or restlessness
OBSERVE: Watch the Clues
- Open-mouth rest posture
- Speech delays or sound swaps
- Picky eating or sensory meltdowns
- Chewing on clothes or toys
Ask your providers:
- “Can you assess my child’s airway and tongue posture?”
- “Do you refer to airway-focused professionals?”
Even if they say no you’re planting a seed. And changing the conversation.
This is how we change health from the ground up. One chew, one breath, one shift at a time.
Let’s raise kids with strong jaws, clear airways, and regulated brains. And let’s start now.
Follow me on Instagram @dental_hygiene_411 for more insights during Mouth Breathing Awareness Month.
Because when you shift the way you see the mouth, you shift everything.
