It’s easy to miss how big a role the jaw plays in our kids’ overall health. We usually don’t think about it until the dentist brings up braces, or we notice our child snoring, breathing through their mouth, or dealing with constant congestion. But jaw growth? It’s a major piece of the puzzle when it comes to breathing, sleep, and even brain development.
So let’s talk about why jaw development matters, how chewing supports it, what age-appropriate strategies you can start using today.
Why Jaw Development Actually Matters
Here’s the thing most people don’t realize: the jaw doesn’t just hold teeth—it shapes the airway.
When a child’s jaw doesn’t grow wide and forward enough, it can crowd the space behind the tongue, making the airway smaller. That’s when we start to see things like:
- Crowded teeth
- Mouth breathing
- Snoring or disrupted sleep
- A high palate that can compress the nasal passages
- And in some cases, sleep-disordered breathing (like obstructive sleep apnea)
That’s not just about poor sleep. A 2020 study in Nature and Science of Sleep found that kids with sleep-disordered breathing had lower scores on tests of attention, memory, and executive functioning.¹ Their sleep is lighter, they’re waking more often (even if it’s not fully visible), and their oxygen levels can dip through the night—which has a downstream effect on everything from energy to behavior to hormone regulation.
So if your child is constantly tired, hyper, cranky, or congested… this could be part of the story.
So Where Does Chewing Fit In?
Jaw development isn’t just about genetics—it’s about function. The jaw needs to work to grow properly. And one of the most important ways it gets that stimulus is through chewing.
Chewing activates the muscles that attach to the jaw and skull. That consistent resistance tells the bone where to grow—wider, more forward, and more supportive of the airway.
We have research to back this up. In both animal and human studies, diets with reduced chewing effort have been linked to smaller jaws and narrower dental arches.² A systematic review in Clinical Oral Investigations also found that chewing skills and jaw coordination improve significantly with age, especially when kids are exposed to a variety of textures.³
The problem? Lots of kids today don’t get that opportunity. Modern diets are super soft—think pouches, cut-up finger foods, and processed snacks. Add in bottle-feeding, pacifiers, and even mouth breathing itself, and the jaw just doesn’t get the chance to develop the way it should.
What You Can Do (That Doesn’t Involve a Full Lifestyle Overhaul)
This doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Here are some age-appropriate ways to support jaw growth through everyday choices:
Babies (0–12 months)
- Under 6 months: You can start with oral play—think gentle, intentional exercises like encouraging tongue movement side to side with a clean finger, massaging the gums or inner cheeks, or offering different textures (washcloths, chewy teethers) for baby to explore with their mouth. These kinds of activities help build oral tone and jaw coordination even before solids. Here are some of my favorite oral play and teething toys.
- Offer resistive teething toys—things baby can gnaw on to activate those jaw muscles
- If bottle-feeding, choose nipples that support good suction and tongue movement
- Breastfeeding (when possible) promotes natural jaw and palate growth
Babies (6–12 months)
- Move beyond smooth purees early—soft finger foods like avocado, banana, steamed broccoli or squash can encourage chewing
- Teething toys with resistance (like those silicone “chew brushes”) help activate the chewing muscles
- Continued breastfeeding as long as mutually desired
Toddlers (1–3 years)
- Cut back on food pouches—offer whole fruits and veggies instead
- Include safe but challenging textures: roasted veggies, small pieces of meat, dried mango, jerky, raw veggies as safely tolerated
- Open cups and straws over sippy cups (less oral disorganization)
- Keep an eye on whether they’re breathing through their nose or mouth—mouth breathing can be both a cause and a symptom of underdeveloped jaws
Preschoolers and up (4+ years)
- Raw fruits and veggies like cucumbers, celery, carrots, apples
- Meats that require some effort—shredded chicken, ground beef, even safe bones for gnawing
- Chewy snacks like dried fruit or jerky
- If you’re seeing signs like snoring, frequent congestion, or crowded teeth already, it might be time to look at more targeted support
When More Support Is Needed
Sometimes, even with thoughtful feeding and chewing habits, a child may still show signs of an underdeveloped jaw—like crowded teeth, chronic congestion, or mouth breathing during sleep. In those cases, it can be helpful to work with an airway-focused dentist or myofunctional therapist—someone who understands how the structure and function of the mouth impact breathing, sleep, and growth.
Depending on your child’s needs, they may recommend tools to gently guide jaw development—like removable oral appliances that are worn during sleep. One example is the Toothpillow, which is designed to support natural growth by encouraging better tongue posture, widening the upper jaw, and promoting nasal breathing. It’s typically used alongside myofunctional therapy for best results.
Every child is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution—but having a provider who looks at the whole picture (not just teeth) can make a big difference.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re curious about how jaw growth, breathing, and sleep all connect—and what options might be available if your child is struggling—watch this free webinar all about airway health from a leading airway dentist. It’s a good starting point if you’re wondering whether what you’re seeing is “just normal congestion” or something that might need support.
And if you’re considering an oral appliance like the Toothpillow, I do have a discount code to share. You can use KULIK at checkout to save $200 on treatment and get a free consult.
References
Kwak, E. Y., Kim, W. S., & Lee, K. H. (2020). Neurocognitive function in children with obstructive sleep apnea. Nature and Science of Sleep, 12, 501–508.
Engström, C., Linder-Aronson, S., & Thilander, B. (1986). Craniofacial morphology and head posture in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. European Journal of Orthodontics, 8(2), 107–114.
Krüsi, M., Eliasson, A. C., & Johansson, E. (2018). Development of the jaw sensorimotor control and chewing—a systematic review. Clinical Oral Investigations, 22, 1513–1526.
