How to Encourage Lower Jaw Growth: What Actually Works

In order to promote the development of lower jaw among children, the best measure is to carry out early orthodontic assessment, preferably when they are as young as 7 years of age. Natural jaw development is also assisted by myofunctional habits like breathing in through the nose, proper tongue position, and proper chewing. Early consultation with an orthodontist in Encino is important to diagnosing and correcting jaw discrepancies before growth periods end.

Key Takeaways

• The development of the lower jaw occurs mainly in childhood and adolescence.
• Functional orthodontic appliances also have the ability to direct the growth of the jaw at the appropriate age.
• Badly positioned tongue and too much mouth breathing may adversely impact jaw development.
• Adults can do little to alter the structure of their jaw, but can enhance appearance and performance.
• Early visits to an orthodontist in Encino will provide the best opportunity to your child to have a well-aligned jaw.

Have you ever looked at your child's profile and wondered if their jaw is developing the way it should? Or perhaps you will have found that their chin is drawn in, or that their bite is not quite in the same place. You're not alone. Lower jaw growth is a question many parents and even adults are often left with and whether there is anything which can be done on ‘how to encourage your lower jaw growth’.

The concise answer: yes, there are methods to stimulate jaw growth but at certain developmental stages, and the proper guidance. This blog just makes it all so simple that you understand what you can do, what you can not and when you need to contact an orthodontist in Encino to get your help.

What Is Lower Jaw Growth?

The single movable bone in the face is the lower jaw or mandible. It grips your lower teeth and contributes significantly to the appearance of your face, the way you chew, talk, and breathe. The mandible is developed along growth centers located at the rear of the jaw known as condyles.

The majority of the lower jaw development occurs in childhood with a peak in puberty. Once the growth plates fuse, which can be during the late teens in girls and early 20s in boys, the structure of the jaw is mostly fixed. This is why timing is an important factor.

What Causes a Recessed or Underdeveloped Lower Jaw

A small or set-back lower jaw also known as retrognathia, may have a variety of causes:

• Genetics: The most commonly used is family history.
• Mouth breathing: The development of chronic mouth breathing can cause changes in the face.
• Thumb sucking or extended use of the pacifier: These behaviors may influence the development of the jaws.
• Tongue position: Low tongue position decreases the inherent stimulation the jaw requires to develop forward.
• Premature loss of teeth: Early loss of baby teeth may even alter the bite and alter the jaw setting.

Knowledge of the cause aids an orthodontist to design the best treatment plan.

Can You Actually Encourage Jaw Growth?

Functional Orthodontic Appliances

These are the standards of gold in promoting lower jaw growth. The lower jaw is held forward by devices such as Herbst appliance, Twin Block or Forsus springs which encourage growth at the condyles over time. They are most successful in the pubertal growth spurt. An experienced orthodontist in Encino can determine the right appliance and the right time to start.

Myofunctional Therapy

This includes purposeful exercises that are used in retraining the mouth, tongue, and face muscles. Tongue position (flattening tongue against the mouth roof), nasal breathing and proper swallowing habits all aid in normal jaw formation. Although myofunctional therapy will not radically alter the structure of the jaw, it will provide the proper environment in which the jaw can grow.

Get Rid Of Bad Oral Habits

Interference with normal jaw development can be minimized by stopping thumb sucking, decreasing the amount of pacifier usage and managing chronic mouth breathing. These measures are best handled at an early age preferably before the age of 7.

Healthy Eating and Chewing

It has been suggested there is some evidence that the jaw stimulation during development may be provided by chewing harder, more natural food (as opposed to a highly processed diet). Good nutrition practices help in the overall development of the face though not substituting orthodontic treatment.

What Does NOT Significantly Change Jaw Growth

There are a lot of myths out there. Here's what the evidence does not support:

• Jaw exercises alone: Exercises will only tighten the muscles, but will not shift the bone or prompt condylar growth.
• Mewing without appliances: Proper tongue positioning can be useful but not all-inclusive to correct structural jaw problems.
• Over-the-counter devices: Unproven products sold to increase the size of the jaw are not scientifically tested and can be dangerous.

Options for Adults

There is no more that you can do to stimulate further growth of the bone once it grows. Nevertheless, there are alternatives that adults can use to enhance functionality and look:

• Orthognathic surgery: Jaw surgery to reposition the mandible in the case of large structural discrepancies.
• Braces or clear aligners: Can enhance the function of teeth and bite even without altering jaw bone.
• Dental camouflage: Orthodontic therapy that corrects minor jaw malformations by the tooth mobility.

An orthodontist in Encino will assist you to determine which direction is realistic in regards to your age, jaw structure and objectives.

Signs You Should See an Orthodontist in Encino

Don't wait for a problem to become obvious. Be alert to the following signs in your child or yourself:

• A considerably depressed or small chin.
• Problems with the ability to chew, bite, or close the mouth completely.
• Snoring or chronic mouth breathing.
• Jaw position speech problems.
• Poorly meeting teeth when biting down.
• Slanted face or lopsided profile.

Conclusion

Lower jaw growth is one of those things where timing truly is everything. During childhood and adolescence, the jaw is malleable and responsive to treatment. With the right appliances, habits, and professional guidance, it's absolutely possible to support healthy jaw development.

Should you be worried about the development of the jaw in your child or your own bite, then the first thing is to get a consultation. Our team at Clove Dental is here to help. Call us today to have a visit with a reliable orthodontist in Encino and have situation specific answers.

FAQs

Can you grow your lower jaw naturally without surgery?

During growth years, use of a functional appliance and good oral habits can encourage development of the lower jaw. After growth has ceased, however, there is no further natural development of the jaw, and this can only be addressed through surgical correction.

Does mewing actually help jaw growth?

Correct tongue posture (mewing) is one of the good myofunctional habits that help promote proper growth of the jaw. However, mewing is not proven to fix incorrectly developed jaws by itself.

How long does it take to see results from jaw growth appliances?

Most functional appliances are worn for a period of 12 to 24 months. Results depend on many factors including the age and growth potential of the child as well as the patient’s and parent’s cooperation with wearing the device.

Is jaw surgery the only option for adults with a small lower jaw?

Not necessarily. In some cases, more permanent corrections or even aesthetic enhancements like braces, clear aligners, or dental camouflage can fix severe biting issues, improving both bite and aesthetics / facial balance, without surgery. An orthodontist in Encino can determine if any of these solutions are right for you.