How Kids’ Jaw Joints Grow and Change

The TMJ starts forming while a baby is still inside the mother. By about three months of pregnancy, the basic shape of the joint is already there. The bones and the soft disc begin to take shape.

After a child is born, the joint keeps growing for many years. The rounded top of the lower jaw bone can keep changing shape into the teenage years. This helps the face grow and the teeth come in the right way.

As kids get older and start chewing harder foods, the joint adapts. It gets stronger and better at handling bigger forces. The muscles around it also get stronger with use.

By the time someone reaches adulthood, the TMJ has finished most of its major growth. It is ready for a lifetime of talking and eating.

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