A growing body of research suggests that the modern diet, particularly ultra-processed foods (UPFs), could be contributing to an alarming trend of shrinking jaws and dental deformities in children. Researchers at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Catholic University of Valencia have warned that the increasing consumption of soft, processed foods is leading to significant changes in dental development, which could cause issues like “buck teeth” and overcrowded teeth.
The study highlights a shift away from the traditional “hunter-gatherer” diet, which was rich in meat and foraged foods, towards a diet heavier in cereals, grains, and ultra-processed foods. This dietary transition, the researchers say, is playing a central role in the shrinkage of jawlines over the decades, reducing the space in the mouth needed for teeth to align naturally.
Ultra-processed foods—such as cereals, yogurts, ice cream, and ready meals—are particularly concerning. In the UK, toddlers obtain nearly half of their daily calories from these foods, with this percentage rising to 59% by age seven. The research suggests that the consumption of these softer foods, which require less chewing, is affecting the development of jaw muscles and the size of the jaw itself.
For younger children, especially those aged three to five, a diet primarily made up of liquids and semi-solid foods was found to have a notable impact on their jaw development. The study observed that those with a softer diet were more likely to have dental issues like buck teeth and less natural spacing between teeth—spaces which are essential for the proper eruption of larger adult teeth.
Leading health scientist Prof. Tim Spector explained that this phenomenon of jaw shrinkage has been accelerating in recent decades, contributing to a significant rise in orthodontic issues and the widespread use of braces. He suggested that the modern diet, which relies heavily on processed foods and baby food-like textures for children, is preventing proper jaw development. The absence of hard, natural foods, which require more chewing, is resulting in smaller jaw sizes and increased dental problems.
Prof. Spector also noted that while much of the discourse around ultra-processed foods focuses on the chemicals they contain, the soft texture of these foods is just as important. The ease with which children can consume large quantities of soft foods not only contributes to obesity but may also be shrinking their jaws and affecting their long-term dental health.
This research points to a broader concern about the impact of modern diets on children’s physical development, with teeth and jaw issues becoming a growing challenge in many Western countries. The shift towards softer, more processed foods is taking its toll, and experts are urging a return to more natural, whole foods to preserve healthy jaw and dental development in future generations.
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