Chew on This!

Did you know that 60% of jaw growth is complete by age 6 with most of the growth occurring in the first 4  years of life? As babies grow and develop, they move from sucking patterns to chewing patterns. Teething  occurs and babies begin solid foods in the form of puréed foods and/or strategically cut up, whole foods.  Chewing is one of the first exercises (after sucking) that can help to develop the jaw and facial structures.  Before looking at the specific benefits of chewing, it is important to know what optimal development looks  like.  

Oral-facial development 

Whether you choose to feed your baby purées, non-puréed foods, or a combination of both, the  development of the jaw, mouth, and face should include the following: 

• Nasal breathing posture with mouth closed 

• Round, symmetrical head 

• Plump cheeks 

• Lips resting together gently in a straight line 

• Symmetry and balance of the face including eyes and ears 

So what is NOT ideal? 

• Mouth breathing 

• Flat head 

• Nose turning upward 

• Short upper lip 

• Recessed chin 

• Protruding ears 

• Eyes of different shape/size 

Benefits of Chewing 

Not only does chewing help develop the jaw and facial bony structures that can impact the appearance of  the face/jaw, it also increases salivary flow, improves oral hygiene, improves blood flow to the teeth (even  ones not visible yet) and surrounding areas, encourages breathing through the nose, and exercises the  muscles of the jaw and face. 

Chewing, or the lack thereof, can later have positive or negative impacts on speech and feeding, drooling,  ear infections, palate shape, sleep, and stability and strength of a child’s posture. 

Conditions We Treat 

If you are noticing your baby has “non-ideal” development of their face or jaw, it is recommended that you  reach out to a healthcare professional trained in oral-motor skills and development to find the root cause  of your baby’s specific challenges. Below are some of the conditions related to chewing skills that can be  improved with the assistance of a healthcare professional:  

• Mouth breathing 

• Cranial imbalance 

• Pacifier replacement 

• Tongue tie (with or without a release) 

• Sinus & Eustachian tube drainage 

• Teething 

• Neurosensory challenges

• Children with special needs (Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, etc) 

I notice one (or more) of these with my baby. What do I do now? 

Face and jaw development can be treated as early as birth, however chewing skills typically increase  after the age of 3 months. For more information on if your baby would benefit from the individualized  physical therapy treatment related to oral motor or chewing skills, feel free to reach out to us here! Our team of clinicians are pediatric physical therapists and certified  breastfeeding specialists, and we are here to help! Year One Wellness offers virtual consultation  everywhere and in-person consultations in and around Austin, TX.

Want to chat with us?