Caring for your toddler's dental health takes more than just brushing.

As a parent, you’re told to buy (toothbrushes, cups, snacks), but rarely are you told how much those choices matter for your child’s facial growth, airway health and oral muscle function. The small, everyday habits you build now are shaping their smile, their airway, and even how they sleep.

Here are three simple changes that can make a real difference to your child’s jaw growth, breathing, and dental health.

1. Get Your Toddler To Chew (and Chew Some More)

Modern diets are softer and more processed than ever before, and children’s faces are changing because of it. Chewing isn’t just about eating; it’s exercise for growing jaws. Research has shown that changes in how we prepare and eat food over thousands of years have actually altered how our faces grow.

"Over the past 300,000 years, not only has the way we consume food from birth through our lifetime changed, there have also been changes related to the methods of food preparation, availability, processing, and storage. These diet-related factors, along with other epigenetic factors, have led to a widespread increase in orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) and resultant human malocclusion phenotypes (HMPs) worldwide."

Boyd K, Saccomanno S, Lewis CJ, Coceani Paskay L, Quinzi V, Marzo G. Myofunctional therapy. Part 1: Culture, industrialisation and the shrinking human face. Eur J Paediatr Dent. 2021;22(1):80-81. doi: 10.23804/ejpd.2021.22.01.15. PMID: 33719489.

When your child chews firm, varied textures like carrot sticks, meat, or apple slices, they strengthen the muscles that shape their face, support digestion, and even stimulate brain function. Strong, well-developed jaws also support the airway, helping your child breathe through their nose and sleep more soundly.

The benefits of chewing include: 

👌Optimal jaw growth 

👌Support for digestion 

👌Increased oral and facial muscle strength 

👌Stimulation for brain function 

👌Parasympathetic Nervous System activation

👌 Lymphatic drainage from the head and neck

👌Better sleep quality

2. Rethink the Convenience Gear

Some of the most common baby and toddler products are designed for ease, not development. They may seem harmless but long-term use of most convenience options can interfere with how your child uses their muscles to chew and swallow.

Sippy Cups

Sippy cups may look handy, but they’re not a feeding milestone. Despite those “dentist recommended” labels, when used long-term, sippy cups can interfere with developing a correct swallowing pattern and encourage overuse of the lips to draw liquid.

What to do instead:

• If you choose to use a sippy cup, limit how often it's used and for how long. For example, save them for reducing spills during outings and transition away from using sippy cups once your child has mastered straws.

• Opt for open cups and straws whenever possible to support skill development.

“No Mess" Food Bottles and Yoghurt Pouches

While these products are, in fact, convenient, they don’t support healthy jaw growth or swallowing patterns. Regular sucking on mushy food doesn’t help with correct oral function and limits the opportunity for chewing.

What to do instead:

• If you choose to use food bottles or yoghurt pouches, limit how often they're used. For example, save them for the car or daycare, but don't offer them daily.

• Choose open cups, straws, or spoons whenever possible.

Dummies Beyond 6 Months

Dummies can be helpful for settling and may offer some protection against SIDS but their benefits diminish after six months. Continued use can lead to dental malocclusion, increased risk of ear infections, and long-term reliance on the dummy. And yes, even the so-called 'orthodontic' dummies.

What to do instead:

• Follow the 'soothe and remove' principle for dummy use to limit the amount of time the dummy remains in your child's mouth.

• Plan to wean your child off the dummy by six months.

• Offer plenty of other opportunities for oral stimulation, like teething and chewing toys, and baby-led weaning foods when your child is old enough for solids.

Bottle Feeding After 12 Months

While offering milk is fine after one year, the bottle isn’t necessary. Like sippy cups and pouches, bottles don’t promote correct swallowing or facial development when used long-term.

What to do instead:

• Transition to an open cup for liquids from 12 months onward.

3. Choose Tools That Work With Your Child, Not Against Them

When it comes to toothbrushes, not all products are created equal. The right size and shape matter far more than what cartoon character is on the handle. The majority of children's toothbrushes on the supermarket shelves are too big and too round to effectively clean baby teeth.

The wrong toothbrush choice can be uncomfortable to use, trigger a gag reflex, and generally result in less cooperation.

A favourite at The Face Place clinic is the TePe Mini X-Soft toothbrush. It’s small enough to reach every corner of little mouths, including under the top lip.

Want My Full List of Toddler Favourites?

The tools and tips above are just a glimpse into what can make daily routines easier for you and your family.

You can download the free Toddler Top 10 guide to see the full list of my tried and tested toddler products, along with how each one supports oral function and dental health.

Inside, you’ll find:

• My top product picks for ages 1–5

• Why I've recommended each item

Understanding why something matters is the first step toward creating real change for your child’s health.
Here’s to small, confident steps that make a big difference.

Mel 🦷✨

About The Face Place
The Face Place supports families with early intervention care for children’s oral function and dental health. Led by Oral Health Therapist Melanie Van Schelven, our approach blends clinical insight with family-centered education, helping parents understand why something’s happening and what to do next.

Visit thefaceplaceofm.com.au for more free guides and evidence-based support.