Ways to Promote Proper Jaw Development in Kids

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Does Your Child Suffer from Any of the These Problems?

ADD/ADHD
Bed Wetting
Delayed Speech
Overweight/Obesity
Learning Difficulties
Vertigo/Clumsiness
Restless Legs
Aggression/Defiance
Teeth Grinding
Snoring
Mouth Breathing
Noisy Breathing
Daytime Sleepiness
Nightmares/Night Terrors
Allergies/Asthma
Anxiety
Frequent Illness
Stunted Growth
Crooked Teeth
Swollen Tonsils/Adenoids
Forward Head Posture
Recessed/Stunted Chin
Dark Circles Under the Eyes
Teeth Grinding
Drooling

Research has discovered that many of these problems may only be symptoms of a Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder (SDB), which stems from a very correctable deformity and dysfunction in the child’s oral and facial structure due to improper jaw development and tongue placement.

Culprits of Underdeveloped Jaws

Children Aren’t Chewing

Ever since the Industrial Revolution people, especially children, aren’t chewing the way they use to. With the development of soft baby foods, pouches, chicken nuggets, puffs, yogurt melts, etc., we are seeing a weakening of children’s tongues and jawbones.

Soft foods are “pre-chewed,” which causes the child to simply place the food in their mouth and swallow. There is no pressure put on the jawbone which tricks it into thinking it is not needed, therefore stunting its growth.

As for the tongue, it is weakened because it is not being exercised by positioning food for chewing. Through this process the jawbone and tongue can shrink, while the rest of the head continues to grow – which results in closing off the child’s airway.

Daily Sucking on Objects

When a child sucks on a thumb, pacifier, or bottle their cheeks and lips are pulled in, which forces the upper gums inward. The tongue pushes the object into the roof of the mouth for the child to suck, pushing up against the nasal airways. The sides of the tongue are also being forced outward against the lower gums and pushing them apart.

Improper Tongue Placement

The tongue should rest up in the roof of the mouth. By resting in the roof, each time the cheeks and lips squeeze it pushes outward promoting head growth and upper palate expansion. If the tongue rests below, then it causes the child to develop a “tongue thrust.”

There are a few reasons why the tongue may not rest in the roof of the mouth:

the tongue and jaw may be too weak
the tongue may be restricted by a tongue tie

Easy Ways to Promote Proper Jaw Development

Breastfeed as long as possible
If you must bottlefeed, use the Momi bottle
Avoid pacifiers (or at least wean by 4 months)
Use a Myo Munchee
Give child chewy foods, not just pouches and puffs
- Dried fruits
- Jerky and Tough Meats
- Apples, Carrots, Celery, etc.
Make sure any tongue/lip tie is addressed
Skip the sippy & 360 cups, instead choose…
- non-valved straw cups
- open cups
- thin, short straws
- hard straws if child has a biting/chewing habit
- use ARK’s Lip Blok to naturally exercise the mouth muscles, discourage tongue thrusting, promote tongue retraction, and correct overall tongue positioning
Incorporate oral activities into daily routine
- blow through whistles
- drink through straws
- blow cotton balls across the table
- blow bubbles (ARK’s Bubble Straw is a great tool)