Jaw stability is one of the most overlooked pieces of oral motor function. Every day, I see clinicians jump straight to the “sexier” parts of a feeding assessment, tongue mobility, bolus management, even respiratory coordination, while the jaw gets ignored.
But let me stop you right there: if you’re skipping the jaw, you’re missing the foundation.
Chewing on one side isn’t “better than nothing.” It’s a clinical red flag.
Sure, the child is chewing… but that’s not the whole story. As feeding therapists (or aspiring ones), our role isn’t to check the box for basic function – it’s to make sure the system is working as efficiently, safely, and symmetrically as possible.
Form and function matter.
Why does unilateral chewing matter?
When you see a side preference for chewing, it often points to weakness or instability on the non-preferred side. Over time, that imbalance can create compensatory patterns, joint instability, or even set the stage for TMJD (temporomandibular joint dysfunction).
The jaw is the powerhouse that drives feeding skills.
Without stability, everything else – tongue control, bolus formation, safe swallowing – sits on shaky ground.
So when you see unilateral chewing, think of it as your clue: “I need to dig deeper here.”
Assess jaw movement both during feeding tasks and non-feeding tasks. Don’t just assume the child will “grow out of it.”
Here’s the thing…
Chewing on one side isn’t just a quirky preference… it’s a window into jaw stability, strength, and coordination.
And if we want to truly support our pediatric clients, we have to catch these early before they snowball into bigger dysfunction.
👉 Want to get better at spotting these red flags?
Join my free 3-day training and learn how to screen pediatric feeding.
You’ll learn exactly what to look for (including jaw stability!) so you can start identifying feeding difficulties with confidence, make sense of what you’re seeing AND get super clear on the next steps to take with each child.
