Studies published in the last decade suggest that chewing (or mastication) and other chewing-like activities such as biting, clenching and bruxing, are involved in regulating bone growth, development and maintenance, reducing stress, increasing attention, contributing to better cognition, stabilizing the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), flagging a possible obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), clearing the oral cavity and allowing the absorption of foods more efficiently. Chewing exerts a considerable force that normally is absorbed by teeth and bones but when it’s disordered, it creates disharmony of the oral structures and functions. Therefore, mastication is an important and complex oral function involving the coordination of muscles and hard tissues such as bones and teeth, as well as nerves and saliva. The evolution of oral health is now intertwined with the devolution of the human face and is linked to reduced chewing in humans, which begins with the modern and Western-like weaning of babies. A new oral health paradigm, including physiologically and epigenetically appropriate weaning and chewing practices, is needed.

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Licia Coceani Paskay, MS, CCC-SLP

This article originally appeared in Oral Health