Feeding children ultra-processed foods like cereals and ready meals leads to shrinking jaw sizes, increasing risks of dental deformities such as buck teeth, warns a study by the Catholic University of Valencia. The shift to soft, hyper-palatable diets reduces necessary chewing, impacting jaw development and promoting malocclusion, obesity, and other health issues.
Making your kids cereal or bacon for breakfast may be a convenient plan for you, but not for their health. Ultra-processed foods are linked to shrinking jaw sizes in children, according to a new study. This could also lead to your child having dental deformities such as
buck teeth
.
Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Catholic University of Valencia, have recently warned about the risks of feeding children with
ultra-processed foods
. The scientists noted that the jaw of the younger generation is shrinking due to the modern diet.
The researchers said that the shift from the ‘hunter-gatherer’ diet rich in meat and foraged foods, towards cereals and grains, had fuelled some of these changes. They also pointed out that the shift towards ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and a far softer diet, which are ‘hyper-palatable’ has led to overeating.
According to their study, toddlers in the UK get half of their calories from a UPF diet including cereals, yogurts, ice cream, and ready meals. This rises to 59 percent when they reach the age of seven.
The scientists looked at the diet of children between the ages of three and five and found that their primary diet was liquids and semi-solid food, which has an impact on
jaw development
. They also studied the eating habits, dental structures, and skull shape, and found that softer foods are linked with buck teeth and lack of natural gaps.
Laura Marques Martinez, one of the researchers, said, “Chewing plays a crucial role in the proper development of the jaws as it stimulates bone growth, strengthens facial muscles, and promotes proper dental alignment. Chewing solid and fibrous foods, such as fruits, vegetables, or natural proteins, exercises the jaws, helping to prevent issues like malocclusion (misalignment of teeth) and deficiencies in the size and shape of dental arches.”
The Wanted Singer Max George’s Health Battle Far From Over; New Lung Problem Revealed | WATCH
“On the other hand, diets based on ultra-processed foods, which are soft and require minimal effort to chew, negatively impact jaw development. These foods, by failing to adequately stimulate the maxillofacial muscles and bones, can lead to underdeveloped bone structures and increase the risk of malocclusion and respiratory problems,” Martinez added.
UPFs are also linked with obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, decreased immune function, poor gut health, and increased cancer risks.
I’m Manas Ranjan Sahoo: Founder of “Webtirety Software”. I’m a Full-time Software Professional and an aspiring entrepreneur, dedicated to growing this platform as large as possible. I love to Write Blogs on Software, Mobile applications, Web Technology, eCommerce, SEO, and about My experience with Life.
