Children's Eating Habits to Review Before Summer Break – "Gulping Down Food" Affects Jaw Growth

The Japan Society for Pediatric Orthodontics (Location: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Shinichi Sugioka) will hold a free online seminar for dentists titled "Treating Children's 'Functions' and 'Dental Arches'" (limited to 500 participants, held via ZOOM) on July 16, 2026 (Thu) from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM. The seminar will feature Hidefumi Kanno, DDS, PhD (Director of Kanno Dental Clinic for Pediatric Dentistry), as the lecturer, who will organize and present the concepts of functional appliance therapy and the practice of oral function management to a level that can be implemented in general dental practices.

In addition, for the July installment of our bimonthly expert column for parents, we have published "Eating Habits to Review Before Summer Break – Is 'Gulping Down Food' Reducing Chewing Frequency?" Before summer break, when opportunities to choose meals at home increase, Mio Yonesaki, Vice Director, explains the impact of reduced chewing frequency on jaw growth and provides tips that can be incorporated at home.

Free Online Seminar "Treating Children's 'Functions' and 'Dental Arches'" Held

We will hold a free online seminar for dentists aimed at enabling them to confidently handle pediatric orthodontics in their general dental practices.

Date and Time

July 16, 2026 (Thu) 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Format

ZOOM Online Seminar (Limited to 500 participants, free to attend)

Lecturer

Hidefumi Kanno (Director of Kanno Dental Clinic for Pediatric Dentistry / Supervising Instructor, Japan Society for Pediatric Orthodontics)

Target Audience

General dentists interested in pediatric orthodontics, those struggling with the management of oral functional developmental disorders, etc.

【What You Will Gain from the Seminar】

Gain the confidence to treat children as a general dental practice.

Acquire the concepts and practices of oral function management.

Learn how to utilize dental orthodontic consultation fees (insurance billing).

※Details and Registration: https://jsro.jp/seminar/

Overview of July Expert Column (Part 1)

Theme: Eating Habits to Review Before Summer Break – Is 'Gulping Down Food' Reducing Chewing Frequency?

Author: Mio Yonesaki, Vice Director, Japan Society for Pediatric Orthodontics (Wakabayashi Dental Clinic, Toyoda City, Aichi Prefecture)

Column URL: https://jsro.jp/leaning/20260701/

【Key Points of the Column】

Summer break is a time when foods that require little chewing, such as cold noodles, jellies, ice cream, and shaved ice, become more common. In the July column, we focus on how continuous eating habits of gulping down food with water or tea can hinder the stimulation that supports jaw growth. Vice Director Mio Yonesaki explains, referencing the book "Functional Appliance Therapy for Clinicians: A New Approach with Biofunctional Therapy" (Ishiyakku Shuppan, 2022) by Shinya Hanada, DDS, PhD, Director and Chief Instructor.

About the Expert Column Series

Our society has been distributing expert columns twice a month since March 2026. The themes are set to align with parents' daily lives, aiming for content that is medically accurate yet easy for parents without specialized knowledge to understand.

Back Numbers: https://jsro.jp/leaning/

About the Japan Society for Pediatric Orthodontics

The Japan Society for Pediatric Orthodontics views pediatric orthodontics not merely as "treatment of malocclusion" but as medical care that addresses children's growth and development itself, aiming to promote oral healthcare that leverages developmental growth. Malocclusion is deeply related to the underlying jaw growth and the development of oral functions such as breathing, swallowing, and chewing. Our society explores ways of providing medical care that supports the healthy growth of children from a comprehensive perspective, focusing on these developmental processes.

In addition to sharing knowledge and providing educational activities through study groups and seminars for dental professionals, we also communicate concepts of oral environments appropriate for different developmental stages in an easy-to-understand manner to the general public, including parents.

【Contact Information】

Japan Society for Pediatric Orthodontics

Mail: [email protected]

Web: https://jsro.jp/