Ultra-Processed Food Health Risks for Children May Include Dental Problems, Jaw Deformities: Study

A group of Spanish researchers warn that the high amount of ultra-processed food eaten by toddlers may cause misaligned teeth and underdeveloped jaws.

According to a report from The Telegraph, a team of researchers from the Catholic University of Valencia suggest that the softness of ultra-processed foods may prevent the growth of jaw muscles and the jaw itself, resulting in other dental side effects.

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are made from heavily refined ingredients, combined with additives, to mimic the taste, appearance and texture of real food. They include a wide variety of products, including sugary breakfast cereals, frozen ready-to-eat meals, soda and chips.

These types of food products often contain emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners and preservatives that are used to enhance the taste, texture and shelf-life of the products while offering no real nutritional benefits.

Evidence in recent years has raised concerns about the link between ultra-processed foods and metabolic disruptions, chronic inflammation and increased risks of chronic illnesses.

As a result, a growing number of lawyers across the U.S. are now investigating potential ultra-processed food lawsuits for families of children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or fatty liver disease, claiming that the food industry has failed to disclose health risks, while employing marketing practices that prioritized profits over consumer safety.

Researchers from the Catholic University of Valencia note that, in general, ultra-processed foods are fairly soft and easy to chew. This may be speeding up a process of lower jaw development in humans that started when homo sapiens stopped being hunter-gatherers, they theorize.

The study analyzed the diets and jaw development of 25 children aged three to five, finding that those who consumed softer, often ultra-processed foods tended to develop misaligned teeth.

The researchers suggest that a diet of softer, ultra-processed foods may not adequately stimulate jaw and muscle development, leading to narrower gaps between baby teeth. Consequently, as adult teeth emerge, the insufficient spacing may cause misalignment.

Recent research has indicated that more than half of toddler’s diets in the U.S. and the U.K. comes from ultra-processed foods.

Health experts are calling for parents and caregivers to make sure to feed their children tougher foods, like raw vegetables, nuts and hard fruits, which will help them develop jaw muscles. In addition, they suggest children and adults reduce their intake of ultra-processed foods.