Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic

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The hidden epidemic is that many people's jaws and faces aren't developing properly. There are lots of potential reasons why - anything that causes a person to have improper oral posture (tongue resting on the roof of the mouth, teeth slightly touching, mouth closed). Together, this proper posture gives the 'scaffolding' required to keep your dental arches wide enough for the tongue to fit, and for the bone of the upper jaw to grow upward and out. When proper oral posture is not in place, the bone grows inward and down, leading to all kinds of health problems. The main being restricted breathing, especially during sleep (sleep apnea), which itself leads to poor cognitive function, daytime tiredness, behaviour issues, anxiety/depression, etc. Poor jaw development also leads to crowded teeth (why more and more people need braces these days), sunken chin or elongated face, etc. P. Gopalakrishnan and T. Tak. 2011. Obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease. Cardiology in Review 19: 279–290; M. Kohler, J. Pepperell, B. Casadei, S. Craig, N. Crosthwaite, J. Stradling, and R. Davies. 2008b. CPAP and measures of cardiovascular risk in males with OSAS. European Respiratory Journal 32: 1488–1496; H. K. Yaggi, J. Concato, W. N. Kernan, J. H. Lichtman, L. M. Brass, and V. Mohsenin. 2005. Obstructive sleep apnea as a risk factor for stroke and death. New England Journal of Medicine 353: 2034–2041. Except for the occasional slight incisor crowding and rotation, observation of the teeth indicated that they were well-aligned with very-good-to excellent occlusion, in general. Thorough analysis of dental data from the Amarna burials has shown that Egyptian and most ancient teeth have extensive tooth wear on occlusal (chewing) surfaces of even the youngest individuals. Malocclusion is rare in Amarna but very common in America; tooth wear is extensive in Amarna yet rare in America. 16

Humblest apologies to the authors for any harsh criticism, but thank you for writing this. I want to say that I am on your side. But the material needs to be taken to much, much further depth even for myself as a general audience. I hope this succeeded in planting the seed for change, and I am sure this is only one among your many commitments to health in our times.Parents should watch their kids for signs that their jaw development is going in the wrong direction, such as mouth breathing, “gummy” smiles, trouble sleeping and morning tiredness. Snoring in kids is a strong danger sign. Get help early. But you are correct in saying it isnt just chewing. But considering absolutely no-one had malocclusion prior to agriculture, chewing is definitely a factor. In a new co-authored book, biologist Paul Ehrlich describes the connection between underdeveloped jaws, modern life and myriad health and quality-of-life issues. (Image credit: L.A. Cicero)

When I say that the people profiled in Dr. Price’s book had “far better” facial development than those who ate more modern foods, I really do mean it. As the authors of Jaws state in the introduction to the book: “The clincher for him and many others, was image 4, showing what a hunter-gatherer’s jaws look like, with roomy perfect arches of well-aligned teeth, with no impacted wisdom teeth – a movie star’s dream jaw, 15,000 years before movies!” You rely on anecdotal evidence and some clinical outcomes and are upfront about the level of speculation in the book. Why are you talking about this now instead of waiting for more robust studies? In 1974, following the massive success of the book, The New York Times Magazine published Ted Morgan’s riveting (and exhausting) behind-the-scenes piece about its publication.In Jaws , the authors present the biological, dietary, and cultural changes that have led to a rapid shift in oral evolution towards smaller jaws and crooked, crowded teeth. They explore the serious health implications of such afflictions including sleep deprivation and heart disease before concluding with simple adjustments that people can actually follow! The role of the Rectifier is just to stretch the muscles and make them develop. Then the temporary elongation of the face it is necessary to allow the enlargement of the face itself.