Bite & Alignment Issues
6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics
An open bite is one of the trickier bite problems, because fixing the teeth is only half the job. The other half is addressing what caused it, often a tongue or thumb habit, so it doesn't come right back. If you or your child can't quite bite through a sandwich with the front teeth, this is probably what's going on. Here's what an open bite is and how we correct it for good.
What is an open bite?
In a normal bite, your upper and lower teeth touch when you close. An open bite is when they don't, there's a gap even with your back teeth together. The most common form is an anterior open bite, where the front top and bottom teeth don't meet, so you can't bite through food with them. Less often it's a posterior open bite, affecting the back teeth. Our open bite page has more detail.
What causes an open bite?
- Tongue thrusting, pushing the tongue against or between the front teeth when swallowing or at rest, which forces them apart.
- Thumb-sucking or prolonged pacifier use, especially past the toddler years.
- Jaw growth patterns and genetics, where the way the jaws develop leaves the teeth from meeting.
- Mouth breathing, often tied to airway issues, which can affect tongue posture and jaw growth.
Why an open bite is worth fixing
When the front teeth can't meet, biting into foods like sandwiches or pizza becomes awkward, and the back teeth take on extra load, wearing unevenly over time. Open bites frequently come with speech differences, especially a lisp, because the tongue slips into the gap. And because a tongue-thrust or mouth-breathing habit usually underlies it, there's often an airway or muscle pattern worth evaluating too. Correcting the bite improves function, speech, and long-term tooth health.
How an open bite is fixed
| Piece of the plan | What it does |
|---|---|
| Braces or clear aligners | Move the teeth vertically so they meet, often with elastics |
| Habit correction | Stops thumb-sucking or tongue thrusting so it doesn't relapse |
| Early treatment (kids) | Guides jaw growth and habits while they're easiest to change |
| Surgery (rare) | For severe skeletal open bites in adults only |
The critical point is that treatment and habit change go together. We can bring the teeth into contact with braces or aligners, but if a strong tongue thrust remains, the open bite tends to reopen. That's why we pair the mechanics with habit correction, and why open bites in growing kids are often the easiest to resolve completely. An exam tells us what's driving yours.
Struggling to bite with your front teeth?
We'll find the cause and build a plan that lasts. Start with a free consultation.
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Why families trust Elate Orthodontics
With over 1,000 five-star reviews across three locations, Elate Orthodontics is led by Dr. Kevin Baharvand, DMD, MS, a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, whose clinical work was recently selected for the cover of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, the most prestigious peer-reviewed journal in the field, and a national speaker on clear aligner treatment. Alongside Dr. Julia Kang, DMD, MS, both Boston University graduates and members of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon national honor society, our husband-and-wife team has been recognized as D Magazine Best Dentist 2026, Living Magazine Readers' Choice 2026 Best Orthodontist in Frisco & Plano, Readers' Choice Best Orthodontist in The Colony, Best New Business by the Chamber of Commerce, Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite, and featured in Orthotown and Authority Magazine.
We serve families through three convenient offices in West Frisco, North Frisco, and The Colony, each staffed by the same trusted team, equipped with advanced technology, and committed to the personalized approach that consistently helps patients finish treatment sooner than expected. From braces and clear braces to Angel Aligners, we offer treatment for every age and every stage of life. We stay in-network with most insurance plans and offer flexible financing to make exceptional orthodontic care accessible for every family we serve.
Need general and family dentistry too? Our sister practice, Tribute Family Dentistry, provides dental care for all ages.
