Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Changes in Jaw Development, Say Experts


Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Changes in Jaw Development, Say Experts

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Scientists are raising concerns that the rise in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) may contribute to changes in jaw development, a shift potentially tied to softer diets and reduced chewing.

Research has long suggested that diet plays a pivotal role in shaping the human jaw.
Studies of skulls from different populations reveal that those relying on agriculture tend to have smaller, differently shaped jaws than hunter-gatherers.
Similar findings have emerged in populations pre- and post-industrialization, a period marked by increased reliance on processed foods.

Experts note that while teeth have become smaller over time, the reduction in jaw size has outpaced these changes, often resulting in dental overcrowding, crooked teeth, or misaligned bites.
“We can really see (malocclusion) accelerating when we transition to an industrialized diet,” said Dr. Carolyn Rando, an associate professor at UCL.

The shrinking of jawbones has also been associated with linguistic shifts, such as the emergence of “f” and “v” sounds in human speech.

A leading theory is that harder, chewier foods like raw vegetables and meat require greater bite force, stimulating jaw growth—a process less common with today’s softer diets.

UPFs, typically soft and requiring minimal chewing, are believed to contribute to smaller jaw development in children.

A pilot study in Spain, involving 25 children aged three to five, highlighted a possible link between diet consistency and jaw development.

Children primarily consuming liquids or semi-solid foods had smaller gaps between their lower teeth than those with a diet of solid foods, the study found.

However, the small study size and lack of focus on UPFs limit the ability to establish definitive conclusions.

Prof. Tim Spector, known for his research on gut health, emphasized the impact of prolonged exposure to soft diets.
“The strongest current theory… is that we’re feeding our kids baby food really for the whole of their lives,” Spector told The Telegraph.

Dr. Hayley Llandro of the British Orthodontic Society acknowledged that diet could influence jaw development but pointed to the role of genetics.

“Simply eating more food that needs chewing will not override our pre-existing genetic tendencies,” she said.

Llandro supported limiting UPFs, citing their high sugar content and potential for tooth decay, but urged parents not to worry about feeding hard foods solely to avoid braces.

Dr. Rando highlighted the ongoing debate between environmental and evolutionary explanations for jaw changes.

“It might be that small tooth size is more evolutionary, more genetic, but small jaw size seems to be more related to our environment, which is food,” she said.

Rando expressed skepticism about dramatic changes resulting from UPFs alone, noting, “The softness (of food)... has been similar for quite a number of years now,” even during the Victorian era.

The debate underscores the complex interplay between diet, evolution, and environment in shaping human physiology.

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