A hidden epidemic of shrinking jaws is behind many orthodontic and health issues

Bones grow in response to the stress placed on them? I think that's a general principle...

The article makes a point about recent generation of Japanese people having gained 5 inches height since adding more protein and dairy to their diets:

> For instance, since World War II, a switchover from heavy rice consumption to more dairy and protein in childhood has been linked to Japanese men gaining around 5 inches in average adult height.

Dairy is a much better source of calcium than rice and meat. I think children who have calcium-poor diets will develop smaller jaws, but the article doesn't mention calcium.

At least it knocks genetics:

> Assuming that genetics are chiefly responsible for the sudden modern rise of these dental maladies does not make sense, said Ehrlich. “There’s not been enough time for evolution over the span of only several generations to have made our jaws shrink,”

tl/dr: make sure the children in your orbit get adequate calcium and foods that need chewing.