Hard food, strong jaw: Jawbone structure responds to forceful chewing

Chewing, or mastication, is thought to impact jawbone structure as bone is continually reconstructed along with alterations in mechanical load. However, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In a new study, mice fed a hard diet exhibited greater masticatory force, which enhanced growth factors in the osteocytes in the jawbone and enhanced bone formation. This change was predicted by computer simulation, and confirmed by in vivo micro-computed tomography. Thus, jawbone is able to adapt to the mechanical environment to which it is exposed.