When You Don’t Chew Well: How Poor Oral Function Affects Digestion and Focus

Introduction: Chewing Isn’t Just About Eating

Most people don’t think twice about how they chew—until something goes wrong. Whether it’s jaw fatigue, food avoidance, or a child taking forever to eat, chewing dysfunction can have a ripple effect on physical and cognitive health.

At BreatheWorks, we’ve seen how overlooked issues like poor chewing coordination, low tongue tone, and TMJ dysfunction can impact everything from digestion and posture to focus and speech clarity. Our therapy approach integrates oral function, airway health, and nervous system regulation, helping patients chew more efficiently and feel better throughout their day.

Why Chewing Well Is So Important

Chewing is the first step in the digestive process. It breaks food into smaller particles and mixes it with enzymes in saliva, setting the stage for proper nutrient absorption. But if chewing is weak, uneven, or poorly coordinated, it can lead to:

• Incomplete digestion

• GI discomfort or bloating

• Nutritional deficiencies from avoided foods

• Behavioral feeding challenges

• Muscle fatigue and TMJ dysfunction

Poor chewing can also create secondary problems, like chest pain when breathing (from overuse of accessory muscles) or difficulty maintaining energy and focus throughout the day.

The Connection Between Chewing and Focus

Chewing well supports blood flow to the brain, activates facial muscles tied to alertness, and regulates sensory feedback for emotional stability. Kids or adults who don’t chew well often show signs of:

• ADHD symptoms or distractibility

• Delayed speech clarity or mumbled speech

• Poor posture and head-forward breathing patterns

• Emotional dysregulation around mealtimes

In children, especially, chewing coordination is a foundation for speech development, swallowing function, and even academic performance. That’s why we look closely at eating habits in our speech and language pathology evaluations.

What Causes Chewing Dysfunction?

Chewing issues can stem from multiple sources:

• Tongue tie or restricted oral mobility

• Weak or poorly coordinated jaw muscles

• TMJ dysfunction or jaw misalignment

• Enlarged tonsils or nasal congestion

• Neurological or sensory processing disorders

• Poor oral rest posture or chronic mouth breathing

In many patients, these issues are subtle and go undetected for years—until symptoms like food refusal, slow eating, or fatigue emerge.

How BreatheWorks Approaches Improper Chewing

Our care starts with a detailed evaluation by a speech-language pathologist near you who understands the full-body impact of oral dysfunction. We assess:

• Tongue, lip, and jaw coordination

• Swallowing mechanics

• Oral breathing patterns and airway tone

• Postural control and core stability

• Muscle tone in the orofacial complex

Using myofunctional therapy and targeted oral-motor exercises, we retrain muscles for:

• Stronger, more coordinated chewing

• Healthier swallowing and digestion

• Improved endurance for eating and speaking

Our speech therapy Portland team also provides feeding strategies, pacing tools, and collaboration with ENTs, orthodontists, and nutritionists.

Signs You May Need Chewing Support

You or your child may benefit from improper chewing treatment if you experience:

• Fatigue or jaw discomfort during meals

• Avoidance of certain textures or foods

• Choking or coughing with solids

• Gagging, food pocketing, or poor swallowing

• Difficulty with focus or alertness after eating

• History of swallowing disorders, reflux, or airway congestion

Final Thoughts: Chewing Well Means Feeling Better

Chewing isn’t just about eating—it’s about fueling your body and brain for speech, movement, rest, and recovery. At BreatheWorks, we understand how oral function affects the whole person. That’s why we offer therapy that helps you breathe, sleep, eat, talk, and feel better—starting with the very first bite.

If you're looking for answers and searching for a speech-language pathologist near me, let’s explore how we can support you or your child with personalized, function-driven care.

Sources:

• org: Oral-Motor Function and Feeding

• Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies: Myofunctional Therapy and TMJ

• NIH: Neurocognitive Impacts of Chewing Efficiency

• com: Chewing, Swallowing, and Airway-Integrated Therapy Model