Tim Spector says children's jaws and teeth changing due to one food

A child at the dentist
-Credit:Getty


The shape of children's faces is changing due to modern diets with an increase in dental problems, according to nutrition and health expert Professor Tim Spector. Ultra Processed Food (UPF) such as cereals, crisps, soft drinks and processed meats and meals are increasingly being linked to potential health problems.

Now a new study has said they are changing the way the shape of the jaws and teeth of children in the UK, causing serious dental and even breathing problems. New research in Spain found that children who eat a mostly UPF diet have a soft, weak jaw that does not develop properly as they grow.

In the UK, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) make up a significant proportion of the average diet. Studies have found that around 55%–60% of total dietary energy intake in the UK comes from ultra-processed foods. This is among the highest levels in Europe.

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UPFs are products that undergo extensive industrial processing and typically contain ingredients not used in home cooking, such as additives, preservatives, colourings, and artificial flavours. Examples include ready meals, sugary drinks, packaged snacks, and reconstituted meat products.

A diet high in UPFs has been linked to various health risks, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. It is also associated with lower overall dietary quality due to higher levels of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.

Study author Dr Laura Marques Martinez 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.

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"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."

UPFs - including bread, oven chips, nuggets and burgers - are designed to be easy to eat, requiring very little effort to chew.

The latest study looked at the eating habits, skull chapes and teeth of children aged from three to five. Those eating softer foods were more likely to have deformed teeth and lack the spacing required for adult teeth to come through.

Professor Tim Spector, founder of ZOE Nutrition, told The Telegraph: "We've been going through this epidemic of jaw shrinkage for a few hundred years but it has really accelerated over the last two decades. As a result, we're seeing a huge rise in orthodontic problems in children – a massive use of braces, and far more crooked teeth."

He added: "The strongest current theory about why the jaws have been shrinking so rapidly is that we're feeding on our kids baby food really for the whole of their lives. So that they just don't develop the jaw muscles or the size of the jaw, and you aren't really adapted for chewing."